Today is what would have been Betty Wright's 69th birthday.
Wright, whose real name was Bessie Regina Norris, became one of the most notable R&B singers in the US. She started her career in 1956 and remained active in the industry until her death.
As fans remember her on her birthday, here are some interesting facts about the late singer.
Betty Wright's Age, Birthday
Born in Miami, Florida, on Dec. 21, 1953, Wright would have turned 69 this year. Although she passed away two years ago, fans still take time to greet her on her special day and pay tribute to her lasting legacy.
Wright was Rosa Akins Braddy-Wright's daughter with her second husband, McArthur Norris. She was the youngest of seven children.
Betty Wright's Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Betty Wright's net worth hit the $5 million mark at the time of her death. A huge sum of her fortune came from her work as a singer.
She marked her debut through her solo studio album, "My First Time Around," in 1968. From there, she dropped more record-breaking songs and chart-topping hit albums, including "I Love The Way You Love," "Hard To Stop," "Danger High Voltage," "This Time For Real," "Betty Wright," "Wright Back At You," "Mother Wit," "Passion and ComPassion," and "Living...Love...Lies."
Although she was successful as a soloist, she also collaborated with several A-listers in the years leading to her death. She notably worked with DJ Khaled, Jennifer Lopez, Lil Wayne, Gloria Estefan, and David Byrne, to name a few.
Her songs also reached other musicians, who sampled her tracks in their albums. Mary J. Blige, Slim Thug, Chance the Rapper, Beyonce, and Tupac were among those who did their versions of her songs.
Betty Wright's Cause of Death
The R&B industry was left shocked in 2020 when news about Wright's death emerged.
At the age of 66, the singer succumbed following her long battle against cancer. Before her death, Chaka Khan sought everyone's prayers as her sister's health status got worse.
S-Curve Records founder/president Steve Greenberg said, "She was a triple threat as an artist, writer and producer and she always got something extra special out of the singers she was producing. Her mere presence brought a studio to life and she had the gift of making everyone feel confident in their ability to create something magical."
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