Billy Wright (musician)

Billy Wright
Background information
Birth name William Wright
Also known as Prince of the Blues
Born (1918-05-21)May 21, 1918 or 1932
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Died October 28, 1991(1991-10-28) (aged 59-73)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres Soul blues, jump blues, R&B
Occupation(s) Singer
Years active Late 1940s–1980s
Labels Savoy, Peacock

William "Billy" Wright (May 21, 1918[1] or 1932 – October 28, 1991)[2] was an American jump blues singer. Wright is considered one of Little Richard's primary influences.

Biography

Billy Wright was born in Atlanta, Georgia. There is uncertainty over his year of birth. He claimed to have been born in 1932, but researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc state 1918, on the basis of official records and his newpaper obituary;[1] other sources suggest 1928.[3]

As a child, Wright excelled in at singing gospel music in his local church. In his youth, he worked as a dancer,[3] and as a female impersonator,[4] but developed as a singer when he began performing in Atlanta's 81 Theater. Saxophonist Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams caught Wright's act when the two shared a bill with Charles Brown and Wynonie Harris, and recommended him to Herman Lubinsky of Savoy Records.[5][6]

His first record, "Blues for My Baby", recorded with Howard Collander's orchestra, rose to number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1949. He had three more records on the R&B chart: "You Satisfy" (#9, 1949), "Stacked Deck" (#9, 1951), and "Heh, Little Girl" (#10, 1951).[3] A flamboyant performer, he was known as the "Prince of the Blues" throughout his career.[2] He was a key figure in Atlanta blues after World War II and had a major influence on rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, whom he helped get his first recording contract in 1951.[7]

In 1954, Wright signed to Peacock Records owned by Don Robey in Houston, Texas.[6] He made his last recordings in 1959, but primarily worked as an MC in Atlanta.[6] He continued to do shows until he suffered a stroke, and then died of a pulmonary embolism,[2] just before his 1991 Halloween Show at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.

Discography

Singles

Other recordings

Albums

References

  1. 1 2 Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 272. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. 1 2 3 Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed July 2010
  3. 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 495.
  4. ↑ "The REAL Tent Show Queens: What Was On Their Mind?", Corey @ I'll Keep You Posted, April 5, 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2016
  5. ↑ Dahl, Bill. "Bill Wright - Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 J.C. Marion, "Prince of the Blues : Billy Wright", Jamm Up, 2004. Retrieved 27 October 2016
  7. ↑ White, Charles. (2003). The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Authorised Biography. p. 25. Omnibus Press

External links

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