Report: Soul singer Betty Wright has passed

Betty Wight?

Quite a range (from about 2:40).

Recorded when she was 17!

2020 sucks

Mariah WISHES!

Passed what? A kidney stone?

I used to have an 8-track tape of one of her albums-I picked it up in the 99 cents bin to test the 8-track tape player I had in my car.

My car (actually my dad’s) was a 1980 station wagon. Apparently 1980 was the last year 8-tracks were installed in cars.

Anyhow, I discovered the player played tapes faster than normal, making everyone sound like the Chipmunks, including Betty Wright.

What a VOICE. As was mentioned upthread, much better control of her whistle register than Mariah, Chante Moore, etc. (all the way into her 60s). Also a terrific songwriter and underrated guitarist who did a lot behind the scenes. I believe she was the first black woman to run her own record label, and was instrumental in the careers of singers like Joss Stone and Angie Stone (vocal producing and coaching).

She did a really cool album with The Roots a few years ago. Fusing her old school soul sound with more modern and clean production.

[Quote] I believe she was the first black woman to run her own record label

I doubt that.

The Impressions were discovered by a black female DJ who ran her own record label. That was in the 1950s.

R9 Good shout, but she co-ran that label with her husband I believe.

Anyway I must have been mistaken according to R10, the stat I think I got it confused with was that Betty "made history as the first black female artist to score a gold album on her own label" (per Wikipedia). So my bad for the confusion.

I know she recently got to do one of those 'Unsung' episodes. I haven't watched it yet but glad to have a record of her talking about her career, journey and achievements and getting her 'flowers' from other artists on the documentary before she died.

Either way, what a stunning range and great catalogue. She did an incredible job on the hook of this Rik Ross / Kanye West / Big Sean song. I only wish they didn't ruin it with their tacky lyrics and shitty flow, because the gospel-leaning work she does here is sublime. RIP Betty.

RIP. She was a legend. However she made this anti-feminist record. Queen Bey turned into a militant, hip-hop anthem of romantic equality.

Boss

That song isn't antifeminist. Women can't fuck around like men.

[Quote] don't lose your self-respect Trying to get revenge Cause no matter how you do it You'll lose it in the end

[quote] Passed what? A kidney stone?

Seriously. Two threads in a row where someone was described as having "passed".

They DIED.

They ARE DEAD.

R8 I loved that album and this song was the DAMN DEAL!

I actually met her niece a few years back.

Betty was a great singer. RIP.

Betty Wright "LIVE" is a fucking classic!!!!!!!!! Pure 1970's grooves! This SUCKS!

Betty White was so old.

She was only 66

[quote]Seriously. Two threads in a row where someone was described as having "passed".

Fuck off. You don't get to dictate what terminology people use. It's perfectly fine if someone wants to say "passed" or "passed away." Or "bought the farm" or "kicked the bucket" or "gave up the ghost". You're not in charge.

I don't know her. Now, if you had said it was the last who sang Misty Blue, weeeeeell......

Nevertheless, may she be welcomed into the Kingdom with loving, open arms.

Did she have the virus?

I don’t think so

"Passed away" means they died from natural causes, which is fine. Now when people say things like Tupac passed away, Biggie passed away, Phil Hartman passed away, wrong. They were killed. People don't like to use the harsh words.

That song "Girls can't do " she recorded when she was 14 or 15.

Funny how the UK appreciates the old school US soul singers more than the Americans do.

R21 It's dumb as fuck, you wanna use it, fine.

But it's not in any way, shape or form the correct terminology.

R28, you sound like the kind of person an entire room of people roll their eyes against when you speak. 🙄

R29 You sound like the type of person who would type that out as "So and so past today."

All these responses and no mention of this 80's classic with Betty's infamous rant at the end, when she catches her old man singing about another woman.

Betty Wright was throwin' shade 20 years before the term was coined.

RIP

Well I hope she passed on the left in compliance with the traffic rules.

Can’t we just say someone died?

[quote]It's perfectly fine if someone wants to say "passed" or "passed away."

Ew no. It’s not. It’d cringey Middle-American elevator-music speak. It’s Jim and Tammy fae-esque.

Why do people have to be so fucking cunty and judgmental about language in a death announcement?

Betty Wright would have roasted your control-issue asses on stage.

What did she pass?

"Tonight is the night you make me a woman". The aunties who weren't aunties but we called them aunties party music.

"passed" is common in the black community and the south.

[quote] much better control of her whistle register than Mariah, Chante Moore, etc. (all the way into her 60s).

Meh. She was no Minnie Riperton!

Please feel free by all means to use whichever tacky euphemisms for death you would like!

^ And I’ll be a controlling, condescending cunt till I pass!

Harry "KC" Casey's post/tribute: "RIP BETTY WRIGHT South Florida’s own MsB passed away this morning. We worked together in my early days at TK I Won a Grammy award with a song I wrote for her called Where Is The Love . I have so many fond memories . I can hear your laughter I can see your smile I can hear you speak to me. May you rest now in eternal peace..#teamkcsb"

[Quote] I Won a Grammy award with a song I wrote for her called Where Is The Love

But let's make it about you, KC.

"Where Is The Love" was cowritten by KC, Betty and Rick Finch. But nice tribute KC.

[quote] But let's make it about you, KC.

LOL, you beat me to it, R43. He is unbelievable!

R42 It must piss KC off to no end that his name isn't mentioned in any of the news reports of her death.

Of course he won't mention pedo Richard Finch

R47 Richard WHO? Never heard of him.

[quote] Funny how the UK appreciates the old school US soul singers more than the Americans do.

That is so true. I swear there are better vocalists coming out of the UK than the US.

Yes, it's amazing how poor musical tastes are here in the US.

Someone has uploaded her recent episode of 'Unsung.' I totally forgot about her son being murdered. :( What a tough thing that must have been to overcome.

God, she looks like fun! What a beautiful woman.

I have a friend from the UK and my mom is crazy about him because he knew all of her favorite R&B artists from the sixties and seventies. They once talked on the phone for almost an hour trading stories.

best album cover ever??

I'd never even heard of her, but I'm listening to her Youtube vids now and DAYUM that sista could sing! She had cool energy too.

r53, David Nathan?

This song is incredible. You have to try hard to be mad listening to this.

Yes, Betty's version is classic.

R51 Thanks, I hadn't seen that and I can't get it on demand.

She was great. I just recently bought a couple of her old 45s.

God-- KC looks AWFUL!