Legendary Soul Singer Betty Wright has passed away at the age of 66, and a handful of celebrities have spent the day reacting to the news on social media.
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S-Curve Records founder/president Steve Greenberg spoke with Billboard about the singer's passing: "Betty Wright was one of the foundations of S-Curve's creative family. She and I worked together on so many projects, ranging from Joss Stone to Tom Jones to the O’Jays, to her own album, Betty Wright & the Roots. She was a triple threat as an artist, writer and producer and she always got something extra special out of the singers she was producing. Her mere presence brought a studio to life and she had the gift of making everyone feel confident in their ability to create something magical."
"I loved being around Ms. Betty Wright. She was always so loving and giving to younger artists. Always engaged, always relevant. She will be missed," John Legend writes on Twitter.
"Thank u for bringing me to thankful Thursday’s at your house in Florida years ago for the fellowship mentoring and prayers and blessings u shared with me I know God is pleased with your work," Snoop Dogg says on Instagram. "Tonight is the night u get to heavens. Gates ????. Long live. Betty Wright ??????."
Wright is best known for her tracks "Tonight Is the Night," “No Pain, (No Gain)" and "Clean Up Woman." Check out more reactions to the iconic singer's passing below.
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R&B & Soul Icon Betty Wright Dies At 66
Soul and R&B star Betty Wright has passed away.
The music industry has suffered another tragic loss this weekend with the passing of Betty Wright who died at 66-years-old, TMZ reports. Wright’s niece confirmed the news, though no cause of death has been revealed at this point.
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Wright was a prolific singer, songwriter, and producer during her career who influenced and inspired the generations that came after her. Releasing her first single at 18 years old with “Clean Up Woman,” she became a revolutionary figure in the music industry throughout her lifetime. In the 80s, she launched her own independent label which was unheard of by any female artist. Through the label, she released the single, “No Pain (No Gain)” that ultimately became a notable phrase in the English language.
Though she worked as a solo artist with a steady stream of albums and singles being released throughout the 80s and 90s, her work as a record producer, background singer, and songwriter can be heard on tracks with Stevie Wonder, David Byrne, Peter Tosh, Gloria Estefan and more.
Wright’s music was heavily sampled throughout the course of hip-hop but she also has been involved with some of the biggest names int he game. She’s worked on songs with Diddy, Nas, and Rick Ross in the past, as well as DJ Khaled who she worked with on “Holy Key.” She also collaborated with Lil Wayne on Tha Carter III’s “Playing With Fire.”
Rest In Peace, Betty Wright.
