BETTY WRIGHT
The youngest of seven children, she was born Bessie Regina Norris in Miami on December 21, 1953. She began singing at age two, when her siblings formed a gospel group called the Echoes of Joy. They made an album in 1956 and broke up nine years later. Now eleven years old, Betty Wright (as she had begun to call herself) switched over to soul music. She performed in local talent shows and was spotted by the owner of Deep City, a Miami record label. Wright signed with the company in 1966. Her first two singles, ”Thank You Baby” and “Paralyzed,” were hometown hits. Her debut album, My First Time Around, came out on Atco in 1968. It contained her first nationally charted single, “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do.”
In the fall of 1971, Wright recorded “Clean Up Woman,” co-written by Clarence “Blowfly” Reid and Willie Clarke. Released on the Alston label, it became Betty Wright’s signature hit when it reached #2 on the Soul chart and #6 pop. “Clean Up Woman” sold over one million copies and was certified gold on December 30, 1971. Nine days earlier, Wright had celebrated her eighteenth birthday.
In 1976, she won the Grammy for Best R&B Song as the writer of her hit, “Where Is the Love?” Two years later, Wright was featured prominently on Peter Brown’s disco smash, “Dance With Me.” In 1978, she performed a duet with Alice Cooper, “No Tricks,” and in 1979 opened for Bob Marley on his Survival Tour. Wright also remained a constant presence on the Soul chart throughout the ‘70s and into the ‘80s.
She spent the ‘90s releasing new material and performing a successful live act. In 1991, she arranged the harmonies on Gloria Estefan’s #1 hit, “Coming Out of the Dark.” In 1992, Rhino issued the CD, The Very Best of Betty Wright. She was nominated for a 2005 Grammy in the Best Pop Album category for her production work on Joss Stone’s Mind, Body & Soul. In 2006, Wright appeared on the TV show “Making the Band,” mentoring several young singers. In 2008, she was featured on the Lil Wayne track, “Playing With Fire.” Wright also co-produced two tracks on the 2008 Tom Jones album, 24 Hours, as well as Bible Belt, the 2009 debut release by Diane Birch.
Her 2011 album, Betty Wright: The Movie, featured collaborations with Joss Stone, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne and Lenny Williams. A track from it, “Surrender,” was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Traditional R&B Performance. On New Year’s Eve 2011, Wright performed three songs on the British TV channel, BBC Two. And in 2017, the National R&B Music Society honored Betty Wright with its Unsung Heroine Award.
On April 5, 2020, Wright appeared on the TV show, “Unsung.” On May 10th of that year, she died of cancer at age sixty-six.
Betty Wright had five children and was married three times, most notably to the Jamaican musician, Noel “King Spotty” Williams.
Charted singles:
“Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do” (1968) R&B #15, Pop #33
“Pure Love” (1970) R&B #40
“Clean Up Woman” (1971) R&B #2, Pop #6
“Baby Sitter” (1972) R&B #6, Pop #46
“Is It You, Girl?” (1972) R&B #18
“I’m Gettin’ Tired Baby” (1972) R&B #42
“It’s Hard to Stop (Doing Something When It’s Good to You)” (1973) R&B #11, Pop #72
“Let Me Be Your Lovemaker” (1973) R&B #10, Pop #55
“It’s Bad for Me to See You” (1973) R&B #66
“Secretary” (1974) R&B #12, Pop #62
“Shoorah! Shoorah!” (1974) R&B #28
“Where Is the Love?” (1975) R&B #15, Pop #96
“Tonight Is the Night” (1975) R&B #28
“Slip and Do It” (1976) R&B #21
“If I Ever Do Wrong” (1976) R&B #23
“Life” (1977) R&B #64
“You Can’t See for Lookin’” (1977) R&B #73
“Dance With Me” (with Peter Brown, 1978) R&B #5, Pop #8
“Tonight Is the Night (Live)” (1978) R&B #11
“Lovin’ is Really My Game” (1979) R&B #68
“My Love Is” (1979) R&B #48
“What Are You Gonna Do With It?” (1981) R&B #42
“Goodbye You, Hello Him” (1981) R&B #65
“She’s Older Now” (1983) R&B #22
“No Pain, No Gain” (1988) R&B #14
“After the Pain” (1988) R&B #57
“From Pain to Joy” (1989) R&B #39
“Quiet Storm” (1989) R&B #88
“Keep Love New” (1989) R&B #71
“How’ Bout Us” (with Grayson Hugh, 1990) R&B #30, Pop #67
“For Love Alone” (1994) R&B #98
“Baby” (with Angie Stone, 2007) R&B #22
