
Source: Paul Natkin / Getty
R&B legend Betty Wright has passed away. The iconic soul singer was 66.
Born Bessie Regina Norris in Miami, Florida, some of Wright’s classic cuts include “Tonight Is The Night, “Clean Up Woman,” “No Pain (No Gain,)” and “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do.” Wright’s began her professional recording career while she was still in high school.
Recently, she was a subject of TV ONE’s Unsung series.
If you’re a certain Hip-Hop age, you might have caught Snoop Dogg’s reference to her in “Deep Cover” when he spit, “Tonight’s the night like Betty Wright and I’m chilling.”
Also, the beat for 1971’s “Clean Up Woman” has been sampled frequently in Hip-Hop, including Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love (Remix),” featuring the Notorious B.I.G. and Chance The Rapper’s “Favorite Song,” featuring Childish Gambino.
It’s been a tough weekend for fans of Black music due to the passings of music executive Andre Harrell and Rock & Roll legend Little Richard. Rest in power Betty Wright.
Soul Singing Legend Betty Wright Passes Away, Twitter Mourns The Icon was originally published on hiphopwired.com
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Soul legend Betty Wright has passed away at 66, her niece has confirmed. Wright was behind classic tracks like “Clean Up Woman,” “No Pain (No Gain,)” and “Tonight is the Night” and was known for her effortless whistle register notes. She will be missed. 🕊🌹 pic.twitter.com/xC3GrkJPPf
— Girls United (@EssenceGU) May 10, 2020
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My auntie was a legend.... she helped me get my first paychecks singing background..... and I didn’t make it to see you this past week and that’s going to haunt me .... R.I.P. Betty Wright pic.twitter.com/62fCg5crYh
— #BELLA (@iBellaNIEMA) May 10, 2020
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Soul legend Betty Wright has passed away at 66, her niece has confirmed. Wright was behind classic tracks like “Clean Up Woman,” “No Pain (No Gain,)” and “Tonight is the Night” and was known for her effortless whistle register notes. She will be missed. 🕊🌹 pic.twitter.com/xC3GrkJPPf
— Girls United (@EssenceGU) May 10, 2020
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Wow! Didn’t expect to wake up to news that the legendary soul singer Betty Wright passed away. 2020 has been such a year to remember. I was just watching her #Unsung special a few weeks ago! Rest In Power! 👑 pic.twitter.com/b5SOwlZoOM
— Eric West (@EricXWest) May 10, 2020
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A Miami icon, a Soul and R&B legend. An innovator, a pioneer, a creative force that stormed the music world over 50 years ago and left a lasting imprint has transitioned over to the ancestral plane. Rest well, Betty Wright. 🧡🧡🧡 pic.twitter.com/JNozK7OA5u
— ABOLISH THE POLICE (@MakeItBettaEnt) May 10, 2020
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no pain, no gain.
— 𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖓𝖎𝖊 𝖗𝖔𝖈𝖐𝖊𝖙𝖟 (@rocketzpower) May 10, 2020
rest easy, Betty Wright. pic.twitter.com/moCr710VbC
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No pain, no gain 🎶
— Blk Girl Culture (@blkgirlculture) May 10, 2020
We lost another Black music legend. Rest in power, Betty Wright 🕊 pic.twitter.com/t409DtWc7Q
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Betty wright Andre Harrell & lil Richard this weekend took all the soul pic.twitter.com/xBfTwM248U
— O Wut Up (@oWutUp) May 10, 2020
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Andre Harrell, Little Richard, and now Betty Wright are gone. It's awful and 2020 is garbage, but at least they're in a good place. pic.twitter.com/OPX0YBojl9
— Bernard Oliver (@boliver36) May 10, 2020
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Just heard the awful news that Betty Wright has died.
— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) May 10, 2020
This is shocking. So shocking.
May she RIP ❤️🙏 pic.twitter.com/aTSzo6y8En