History of Betty Wright in Timeline

Betty Wright, born Bessie Regina Norris, was a renowned American soul and R&B artist. Her career, spanning from the late 1960s, saw her rise to prominence in the 1970s with hits like "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight Is the Night". Wright's unique vocal abilities, particularly her use of the whistle register, made her a standout figure in the music industry.

December 21, 1953: Birth of Bessie Regina Norris

Bessie Regina Norris, later known as Betty Wright, was born on December 21, 1953.

1956: The Echoes of Joy Release Debut Album

In 1956, the Echoes of Joy, a gospel group formed by Betty Wright's siblings, released their first album with a young Betty contributing vocals.

1965: The Echoes of Joy Disband

After nearly a decade of performing together, Betty Wright and her siblings' gospel group, the Echoes of Joy, disbanded in 1965.

1966: Betty Wright Signs with Deep City Records

At the young age of 12, Betty Wright signed her first record deal with Deep City Records in 1966, marking the beginning of her professional solo career.

1967: Wright Discovers George and Gwen McCrae

In 1967, Betty Wright played a pivotal role in the careers of George and Gwen McCrae by helping them secure a record deal with Alston Records.

1970: Release of "Pure Love"

While still attending high school, Betty Wright, at the age of 16, released the single "Pure Love" in 1970.

December 30, 1971: "Clean Up Woman" Certified Gold

On December 30, 1971, shortly after Betty Wright's 18th birthday, her hit single "Clean Up Woman" was certified gold, having sold over 1 million copies.

1972: "Baby Sitter" Charts

Betty Wright's self-penned single "Baby Sitter" achieved chart success in 1972, reaching the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at number six on the R&B charts.

1973: Release of "Let Me Be Your Lovemaker"

In 1973, Betty Wright released "Let Me Be Your Lovemaker," a song that showcased her impressive whistle register vocals and became another success for the young artist.

1974: Release of "Danger! High Voltage!"

Betty Wright released one of her most popular albums, "Danger! High Voltage!" in late 1974, featuring both original songs and covers.

1976: Grammy Award for Best R&B Song

At the 18th Annual Grammy Awards in 1976, Betty Wright won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for her composition "Where Is the Love". She received the award among six nominations.

1976: Marriage to Jerome McCray

Betty Wright married Jerome McCray in 1976, and together they had a daughter.

1977: Betty Wright Discovers Peter Brown

Betty Wright's keen ear for talent led her to discover musician Peter Brown in 1977, and she contributed background vocals to his hits "You Should Do It" and "Dance with Me."

1978: Live Version of "Tonight Is the Night" Released

In 1978, four years after the original's release, Betty Wright released a live version of her song "Tonight Is the Night," featuring a memorable monologue and parts of her earlier hit, "Pure Love."

1978: Collaboration with Alice Cooper

In a surprising musical crossover, Betty Wright collaborated with shock rocker Alice Cooper in 1978, performing a duet on the song "No Tricks."

1981: Divorce from Jerome McCray

Betty Wright and Jerome McCray divorced in 1981.

1981: Signing with Epic Records and "She's Got Papers on Me"

Betty Wright signed with a major label, Epic Records, in 1981, releasing her self-titled album. That same year, she lent her vocals to Richard "Dimples" Fields' hit "She's Got Papers on Me."

1982: Marriage to Patrick Parker

In 1982, Betty Wright married Patrick Parker.

1983: Divorce from Patrick Parker

Betty Wright and Patrick Parker divorced in 1983. They had two children together.

1983: Release of "Wright Back at You"

Betty Wright released the album "Wright Back at You" in 1983, showcasing collaborations with other notable artists such as Marlon Jackson.

1985: Marriage to Noel "King Sporty" Williams

Betty Wright married Jamaican musician Noel Williams, known as King Sporty, in 1985.

1985: Founding of Miss B Records

In a bold move for her career, Betty Wright founded her own record label, Miss B Records, in 1985, taking further control of her musical journey.

1988: "Mother Wit" Achieves Gold Certification

Making history in 1988, Betty Wright's album "Mother Wit" became certified gold, a remarkable achievement as she was the first black female artist to reach this milestone with her own label.

1990: Duet with Grayson Hugh

Betty Wright teamed up with Grayson Hugh in 1990 for a successful duet, remaking Champaign's 1981 hit "How 'Bout Us."

1991: Vocal Arrangements for Gloria Estefan

Showcasing her vocal expertise, Betty Wright provided vocal arrangements for Gloria Estefan's hit song "Coming Out of the Dark" in 1991.

1992: Lawsuit Against Producers of "I Wanna Sex You Up"

In 1992, Betty Wright filed a lawsuit against the producers of Color Me Badd's hit song "I Wanna Sex You Up" for using a sample of her live version of the song without permission. She won the case and was awarded 35% of the royalties.

1994: Release of "B-Attitudes"

Betty Wright released the album "B-Attitudes" in 1994, featuring a remixed duet of Marvin Gaye's classic "Distant Lover."

2001: Release of "The Very Best of Betty Wright" and "Fit for a King"

The year 2001 marked the release of Betty Wright's compilation album, "The Very Best of Betty Wright," as well as her latest studio album in several years, titled "Fit for a King."

2005: Grammy Nomination for Joss Stone's Album

Betty Wright's work as a producer on Joss Stone's album "Mind Body & Soul" earned her a Grammy Award nomination in 2005, alongside co-producers Steve Greenberg and Michael Mangini.

2005: Death of Son, Patrick Parker Jr.

Tragically, Betty Wright's son, Patrick Parker Jr., was killed in a shooting incident on Christmas Day in 2005.

2006: Vocal Coach on "Making the Band"

In 2006, Betty Wright shared her vocal expertise and experience on the television show "Making the Band," serving as a vocal coach for the new girl group, Danity Kane, under Sean Combs' guidance.

2008: Collaboration with Lil Wayne

Betty Wright was featured on Lil Wayne's track "Playing with Fire" in 2008, although legal issues later led to its removal from the online album.

2008: Collaboration with Tom Jones and Production Work

In 2008, Betty Wright, along with Greenberg and Mangini, produced two tracks for Tom Jones's album "24 Hours". The trio also produced Diane Birch's debut album in 2009.

2008: Sheek Louch Samples Betty Wright

In 2008, rapper Sheek Louch of The Lox sampled Betty Wright's "Tonight Is The Night" and "Pure Love" for his song "Good Love".

2009: Production of Diane Birch's Debut Album

Betty Wright, Greenberg, and Mangini, collaborated to produce Diane Birch's debut album in 2009.

December 2010: Grammy Nomination for "Go"

In December 2010, Betty Wright received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance category for her song "Go".

November 15, 2011: Betty Wright: The Movie Release

On November 15, 2011, Betty Wright released the album "Betty Wright: The Movie", a collaborative project with The Roots, produced by Wright and Ahmir Questlove Thompson. The album featured collaborations with Joss Stone, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and Lenny Williams.

2015: Death of Noel "King Sporty" Williams

Noel "King Sporty" Williams, Betty Wright's husband, passed away in 2015.

2017: National R&B Music Society Unsung Heroine Award

In 2017, Betty Wright was honored with the National R&B Music Society's Unsung Heroine Award at their Black Tie Gala & Awards Ceremony in Philadelphia, PA. The award was presented to her by Paul Anthony and Bowlegged Lou of Full Force.