Betty Wright began her professional career at the age of two when her siblings formed the Echoes of Joy, a gospel group.
20 Facts About Betty Wright
2.
Betty Wright contributed to vocals on the group's first album, released in 1956.
3.
Betty Wright released the singles "Thank You Baby" and "Paralyzed", which found Wright local fame in Miami.
4.
Betty Wright's first hit single was "Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do".
5.
About a year later, Betty Wright released her signature song "Clean Up Woman", written by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke and recorded when she was 17.
6.
Four years later, Betty Wright released a "live" version of the song.
7.
In 1977, Betty Wright discovered musician Peter Brown and sang background on Brown's hits "You Should Do It" and "Dance with Me" from the successful LP A Fantasy Love Affair.
8.
In 1985, Betty Wright formed her own label, Miss B Records, issuing the album Sevens the following year.
9.
In 1988, Betty Wright made history as the first black female artist to score a gold album on her own label, when her 1987 album, Mother Wit achieved that certification.
10.
Betty Wright then self-released several more recordings while still performing successfully as a live act.
11.
In 2001, the compilation album The Very Best of Betty Wright was released, along with Fit for a King, her first studio album for several years.
12.
In 2008, Betty Wright was featured on a Lil Wayne track titled "Playing with Fire".
13.
In 2006, Betty Wright appeared on the TV show Making the Band, appointed by Sean Combs as a vocal coach for new female group Danity Kane.
14.
Betty Wright mentored several young singers and did vocal production for such artists as Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.
15.
Betty Wright's last appearance was on the TV show Unsung on April 5,2020, which was a month before her death.
16.
In 1976, Betty Wright married Jerome McCray and together they had a daughter.
17.
Betty Wright was married to Patrick Parker from 1982 until 1983 and together they had two children.
18.
Betty Wright was married to Jamaican musician Noel Williams, better known as King Sporty, from 1985 until his death in 2015.
19.
Betty Wright died from cancer, on May 10,2020, at her home in Miami, aged 66.
20.
My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is in need of all your prayers.