Legendary Soul Singer Betty Wright Dies at 66

Soul singer Betty Wright sadly passed away over the weekend at the age of 66. The tragic news was revealed by her niece on Sunday morning, May 10, 2020.

The music industry lost a legend over the weekend when Wright died recently. The soul singer was known for her music hits which included “No Pain, (No Gain)” and “Tonight Is the Night.”

Her niece announced the news via Twitter writing: “I just lost my aunt this morning.... and now my mood has changed.... sleep in peace aunty Betty Wright.” She added her wishes for her aunt in the post stating: “Fly high angel.”

WRIGHT’S DEATH

About an hour later, Wright’s niece took to the same medium where she shared her aunt’s photo. She called the musician a “legend” and noted how she was the one who’d help her get her first paycheck as a background singer.

Her niece also expressed regret for failing to pay Wright one last visit the weekend before. The niece noted how that was “going to haunt me .... R.I.P. Betty Wright.”

CHAKA KHAN REVEALS WRIGHT IS UNWELL

Over a week ago, iconic musician Chaka Khan, 67, reached out to her followers to ask for prayers for Wright. Speaking to “The New York Times,” Steve Greenberg, the president of S-Curve Records, shared how Wright had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer in the fall.

BETTY’S START IN MUSIC

Her family revealed that she’d died from cancer at her home in Miami. The "Clean Up Woman” singer began her career by singing gospel music in the family group, the Echoes of Joy.

HER FIRST ALBUM

In 1968, at the age of 14, she released her first album with the track "Girls Can't Do What Guys Can Do." Her previous label went under dissolution causing her to create her own in 1985 and called it Ms. B Records.

MAKING HISTORY

Three years later she made history when she became the first woman to have a gold record on her own label. Wright’s songs were remixed and reworked into modern songs by various artists.

ADAPTATIONS OF HER SONGS

These included Mary J. Blige's "Real Love," Sublime's "Get Out!," and Afrika Bambaataa's "Zulu War Chant." Little Richard is another music legend who passed away recently.

LITTLE RICHARD’S DEATH

He sadly died on Saturday at the age of 87. The “Tutti Frutti” musician’s son, Danny Jones Penniman, confirmed his death by bone cancer to Rolling Stone.