HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up DocumentsBiography provided by Lovette McGill via e-mail to Melinda F. Jeudi on 07/08/2020
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7 • Betty Wright (born December 21 1953, in Miami, Florida)
is a soul and R&B singer with deep gospel roots. She
influenced a generation of female singer -songwriters and
continues to influence the world of hip hop, who sample some
of her more famous material.
Music career
Born singing gospel with the family group, the Echoes of Joy,
Wright began experimenting with R&B music in 1965 when
she was only 11. In 1968, she released her first album, My First
Time Around, by the age of 14, and scored her first national hit,
"Girls Can't Do What Guys Can Do". But it was not until the
nd of 1971 . that Wright's most successful phase of her
career began to take place.
e song, "Clean Up Woman", became a Top 5 pop and #2
&B hit, and would later influence a remix of Mary J. Blige's
'Real Love" single with the sample of its guitar riffs; R&B girl
group trio SWV's "I'm So Into You" also featured a sample from "Clean Up Woman," as did
Afrika Bambaataa's song "Zulu War Chant", and Sublime's "Get Out!" remix. In 1974, Wright
scored big with the songs "Tonight is the Night" (about a real -life love affair that happened with
Wright when she was a teenager) and "Where is the Love" (which won her a Grammy for Best
R&B Song).
Wright recorded for Epic records (CBS records) between 1980 and 1983, which gave us two
albums co -produced with Andre Fisher (Rufus) and Marlon Jackson (The Jacksons). In 1988,
Wright made music history by being the first woman to have a goldrecord on her own label,
(self -written, arranged, produced, and published). With the release of Mother Wit, which featured
two of her biggest hits in years, "No Pain No Gain" and the "After The Pain." On both songs,
Wright displays her powerful upper register capabilities and seven -octave range.
By 2001 a compilation album The Very Best of Betty Wright was released, along with her first
studio album in several years, Fit for a King. After co -producing the first two Joss Stone albums,
(2003, 2004) multiple Grammy nominations, Vocal production on Diddy and Keyshia Cole' Last
Night (#1), a Vocal Coaching spot on Making the Band 3, which spawned the group Danity
Kane, Wright managed to squeeze in an amazing collaborations with her dear friend Ms. Angie
Stone which garnered them a Grammy nomination in Best duets category. Ms. B is also vocal
coach to Lil Wayne, platinum artist. Wright also co -produced the critically acclaimed Bible Belt,
the freshman presentation of Diane Birch.
This Mother of 5 (Aisha, Patrice, Patrick*, Chaka, and Asher, (*deceased due to gun violence
Dec 25, 2005.) still manages to mentor several young singer/songwriters in a home -based camp
called The MOST, which is an acronym for Mountain Of Songs Today, Wright has been
instrumental in the careers of hundreds of artists (vocal coaching, production, song writing,
backing vocalist and co -coordinator, music consultancy, etc) The likes of Beyonce, GIoria
Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Joss Stone, Mia X, Trick Daddy, Flo Rida, DJ Khaled, Michael Jackson,
Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Alice Cooper, Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) and on and on till the
break of dawn!
Jeudi, Melinda
From: lovette Mcgill
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 8:09 PM
To: Jeudi, Melinda
Subject: Re: Co -Designation - Betty Wright
CAUTION: This is an email from an external source. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the
sender and know the content is safe.
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THE LIFE OF A LEGEND
On December 21, 1953, Rosa L Wright and McArthur Norris birthed an anointed force into the
world. Miami, Florida was in for a soulful awakening when Bessie "Betty Wright" Norris began her
life'sjourney.
As a young songstress, Betty sang with her family's gospel group, the Echoes of Joy. Early on she
also took interest in R&B and the soulful combination planted seeds that would manifest tenfold. 11-
year-old Betty was already exercising ingenuity to figure out a means to provide her family security.
Headstrong and determined, but too young to work, she forged her age and sought work at a wig
shop, so that she could make her own clothes to wear to school. This is something we would later see
manifest in her show -stopping, eclectic fashion choices. Betty was always ahead of the curve.
Doing what came naturally, singing the song "Summertime" aloud in a record shop, is what landed
Betty her first deal. She was just getting started!
By the age of 14, Betty released her first album, "My first time Around," and with the national hit
"Girls Can't Do What Guys Do" proved what Betty already knew... that in many other ways, they could.
Too young to travel alone, her mother traveled along while she sang in the night club circuit. With a
crowd many years her senior, she was fearless and always ready to captivate.
In the 1970's, the "Clean Up Woman" really found a groove with soulful hits of personal anecdotes
that would continue to inspire future generations of music, even up to today. It was in the 1980's that
the world would see that Betty was a true boss. Under her own terms of, "No Pain No Gain," Betty
started her own record label and became the first woman in history to strike gold go platimun with
an independently owned record. More than a boss, she was a mother figure who left gems of life
lessons along her path for anyone who paid attention.
By the 2000's, Betty had added to her repertoire, a slew of services provided for hundreds of
fellow artist, as well as achievements that reflected her intentional contributions to music and her
hometown city. Sticking to her roots of nurturing others, she cultivated a home -based writing camp
called THE M.O.S.T. that gave young aspiring artists an opportunity to explore their abilities and
receive her guidance. Thursday's at Betty's home was a different kind of gathering. Thankful
Thursdays, was where family and friends fellowshipped, prayed and ministered. In between time, she
conceived Dramatika D-Signs, Inc., for which she created multiple collections of mainly abstract
paintings, which were featured at Chroma gallery. Betty was a force in ANY category she entered.
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Singer, Writer, Vocal Coach, Evangelist, Pastor, Mentor, Entrepreneur, Producer, Painter, Nurturer
to many and much more ...Betty's creativity was endless,
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 8, 2020, at 7:47 PM, lovette Mcgill
Will get it to you
Sent from my iPhone
wrote:
On Jul 8, 2020, at 5:42 PM, Jeudi, Melinda <MJeudi@miamigov.com> wrote:
Good Afternoon Ms. McGill,
Hope all is well.
I am reaching out to you in regards to the co -designation of Miss Betty Wright. We do
have availability on the suggested streets. I need to prepare the resolution and would
like to include her greatest accomplishments and achievements. Do you have a
biography of Miss Wright? Or know anyone who can provide one? Please advise at your
earliest convenience.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you!
Very Respectfully,
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illetiuda 5. Jeudi
Administrative Assistant I
Department of Resilience and Public Works
Administration
444 SW 2"d Avenue, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 416-1784
MJeudi@miamigov.com
www.miamigov.com/publicworks
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Jeudi, Melinda
From: Jeudi, Melinda
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 5:34 PM
To: Santana Jr., Juvenal
Cc: Revuelta, Sheiza; Dodd, Alan M.
Subject: RE: Street Naming Betty Wright
Will do. Is this for the next agenda in September, Sir?
Very Respectfully,
Melinda J. Jeudi
Administrative Assistant I
Department of Resilience and Public Works
Administration
444 SW 2nd Avenue, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 416-1784
MJeudi@miamigov.com
www.miamigov.com/publicworks
From: Santana Jr., Juvenal <jsantana@miamigov.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 4:35 PM
To: Jeudi, Melinda <MJeudi@miamigov.com>
Cc: Revuelta, Sheiza <SRevuelta@miamigov.com>; Dodd, Alan M. <AMDodd@miamigov.com>
Subject: RE: Street Naming Betty Wright
Can you start prepping resolution?
It will be need to be limited to five blocks. Also, will need a biography of sorts.
Please reach out to Ms. McGill for details.
Thanks.
JS
From: Jeudi, Melinda
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 4:31 PM
To: Santana Jr., Juvenal <Isantana@miamigov.com>
Cc: Revuelta, Sheiza <SRevuelta@miamigov.com>; Dodd, Alan M. <AMDodd@miamigov.com>
Subject: RE: Street Naming Betty Wright
Good Afternoon Sir,
Looks like it's available as requested. See image below.
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Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you!
Very Respectfully,
Melinda 5. `Jelldi
Administrative Assistant I
Department of Resilience and Public Works
Administration
444 SW 2"d Avenue, 8th Floor, Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 416-1784
MJeudi@miamigov.com
www.miamigov.com/publicworks
From: Santana Jr., Juvenal <isantana@miamigov.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 8, 2020 3:53 PM
2
To: Jeudi, Melinda <MJeudi@miamigov.com>
Cc: Revuelta, Sheiza <SRevuelta@miamigov.com>; Dodd, Alan M. <AMDodd@miamigov.com>
Subject: FW: Street Naming Betty Wright
MJ:
Please see below and advise what portion of roadway segment is available for co -designation.
Thanks.
Juvenal Santana, PE, CFM
Deputy Director
Department of Resilience and Public Works
City of Miami
isantana@miamigov.com
From: Ihekwaba, Nzeribe
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 2:16 PM
To: Dodd, Alan M. <AMDodd@miamigov.com>
Cc: Santana Jr., Juvenal <isantana@miamigov.com>; Alfaro, Charles <CAlfaro@miamigov.com>; Revuelta, Sheiza
<SRevuelta@miamigov.com>; Ortiz -Petit, Ignacio <IOrtiz-Petit@miamigov.com>; Regalado, Jose
<JRegalado@miamigov.com>; Noriega, Art <anoriega@miamigov.com>
Subject: Fwd: Street Naming Betty Wright
Akan - please see below Codesignation request for your follow up.
Thanks.
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Schwarz, Jeremy" <JSchwarz@miamigov.com>
Date: July 7, 2020 at 1:03:48 PM EDT
To: "Sweet, Barbara" <41380@miami-police.org>, "Ortiz -Petit, Ignacio" <IOrtiz-
Petit@miamigov.com>, "Ihekwaba, Nzeribe" <NIhekwaba@miamigov.com>
Cc: "Kuper, Rosy" <RKuper@miamigov.com>, "Carswell, Keith"
<KCarswell@miamigov.com>
Subject: Re: Street Naming Betty Wright
Iggy,
Per the email below, we would like to have a street named for the late and great Betty Wright, a
cultural icon and native Miamian. I've copied in you and Zerry.
What next steps do we need to take to make this happen? Please advise at your earliest
convenience!
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Respectfully,
J.
Jeremy Schwarz
Chief of Staff
Mayor of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
305.250.5302
From: Sweet, Barbara <41380@miami-police.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 12:57:42 PM
To: Schwarz, Jeremy <JSchwarz@miamigov.com>
Cc: Kuper, Rosy <RKuper@miamigov.com>; Carswell, Keith <KCarswell@miamigov.com>
Subject: Street Naming Betty Wright
Good afternoon All,
Hope all is well. Please advise. Be safe and have a nice day.
Barbara Sweet
City of Miami Police Department
Crime Prevention Specialist
Office of the Honorable Mayor Suarez
Ce11:786-318-7047
"Love is not what it says, It's what it does"
From: Sweet, Barbara
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 10:36 AM
To: Schwarz, Jeremy <JSchwarz@miamigov.com>; Kuper, Rosy <RKuper@miamigov.com>; Carswell,
Keith <KCarswell@miamigov.com>
Subject: Street Naming Betty Wright
Good morning All,
This email was sent to me, can you please help. Be safe and have a nice day.
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Original message
From: lovette Mcgill
Date: 6/18/20 10:32 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: "Sweet, Barbara" <41380@miami-police.org>
Cc: lovette Mcgill
Subject: Street Naming Betty Wright
CAUTION: This is an email from an external source. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Me Sweet -Kemp I am inquiring as to what it will take to have NW. 14th Ave. 62nd St. to 71st named in
honor of Miami native international recording artist Miss Betty Wright I have contacted Mr. Mcqueen of
Commissioner and Hardemon's office as well as Commissioner Edmonson of the county who instructed
me that that street name in would be under the purview of the city of Miami and whatever is needed
from the county she is more than willing to provide thank you for your assistance in this matter
Sent from my iPhone
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