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Willie Wright has died at 80
Willie Wright has died at age 80.
The US soul singer and songwriter’s official website announced that he died “earlier this month” in Providence, Rhode Island, Pitchforkreports. (Numero Group, which reissued Wright’s beloved 1977 album Telling The Truth in 2011, says he died on June 29th in a social media tribute, while Wikipedia lists June 4th.)
“In addition to his family and many friends, he leaves legions of loyal fans worldwide, who will keep his unique musical legacy alive,” his family’s statement reads.
Wright’s music career began in the 1960s in the Harlem doo-wop group The Persuaders with George Bragg and Harry Jensen, who later formed the Willie Wright Trio. After moving to Boston in the ’70s, Wright released music solo: two albums—his debut was 1971’s Lack Of Education—and a single, Africa / Right On For The Darkness, in 1974, which was so sought after that Numero Group included a 4.72-inch version of it with the Telling The Truth CD reissue package. In 2012, Wright released his first new studio album in 34 years, called This Is Not A Dream on Green Coil Records, as he coped with Parkinson’s disease.
Listen to Wright’s popular cover of “Right On For The Darkness” by Curtis Mayfield.
