The Interesting Story of Betty Wright's Musical Career

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Bessie Regina Norris is her name ! She's known for her soul and R&B style of music. I choose to Betty Wright because I love her music. She make music that reflects on relationships and life experiences. My favorite song of hers is "Tonight Is the Night". In this song she speaks on her first experience with a man. Like her transformation from a girl to a women.

Bessie R. Norris was born in Miami, Florida. Her birth date is December 21, 1953.

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Bessie was the youngest of seven kids. Rosa Akins Bradd Wright and McAuthur are her parents. Bessie formed a love for music at a early age. She and her siblings formed a gospel group which was called the "Echoes of Joy". Bessie was apart of the group for 11 years before she broke from them. At age 11 she switched her style of music to rhythm and blues. She was spotted out during her performance at a talent show. Bessie already had her stage name; Betty Wright.

The Miami record label owner that spotted her took her in. She signed to this label at age 12. When she released her first songs "Thank You Baby" and "Paralyzed" she became noticed throughout Miami. "My First Time Around" was Betty Wright first album to be released at age 14. "Girls Can't Do What guys Do" was her first hit single.

The big breakthrough for betty Wright happened at age 17. She released her top song "Clean Up Women". This song was number 2 on the R&B charts.

It hen made number 6 on the pop charts. She made it the the Billboards Hot 100 for 3 months and 2 weeks. By the age 18 Betty had sold over a million copies and was certified gold on December 30, 1972. Her son "Baby Sitter" hit the charts. Charted at 50 on the Hot 100 and 6 on the R&B charts. 1973 "Let Me Be Your Lovemaker" hit at 55 on the Hot 100 and 10 on the R&B charts. Another great hit single was "Where Is The Love" which was written by her and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch. This single made the charts at 15 on the R&B, 2 on the dance charts, and also made it to the overseas chart at 25. She even won the best R&B Song Grammy fort his song. "Shoorah, Shoorah" was another son to be a hit on the overseas chart.

During the 80's and 90's she moved to a bigger label and also formed her own label during this time. 1985 is when she formed her own label. Calling her label "Miss B Records". In 1988 she made history for being the first black women to receive a gold album on her own label. Which was the album "Mother Wit". Her song "No Pain No Gain" placed her back on the charts at top 20 on the R&B charts for the first time in decades and "After The Pain". In 1990 she made a hit with Grayson Hugh "How Bout Us" and Gloria Estefans with "Coming Out of the Dark" which was number 1 in 1991. During the 1990's Betty released solos. Her album "B-Attitudes" featured Marvin Gaye's on "Distant Lover".

2000's Betty Wright was still on the move. She released her album "The Very Best of Betty" in 2001. 2008 she featured on Lil Wayne song "Playing With Fire". 2006 she song on the Tv show "Making The Band". At this time in her career she is mentoring other young singers. Singers like Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Jose Stone. Wright was nominated for a 2005 Grammy Awards in "Best Pop Album" and also in December of 2010 for her song "Go". 2011 after ten years she released her album "Betty Wright". She then appeared on the UK's BBC Two Television. She preformed her single "Clean Up Women", "Shoorah, Shoorah", and "In the Middle of the Game" while on the show.

Wright's work was used by many different hip hop, R&B, and rock musicians. She had to sue the producers that created "Color Me Badds" for the song "I Wanna Sex You Up". Betty made this claim because they used she live version without her permission. And also sued for royalties. She won 35% of royalties fort he son they put out.