
Bessie Regina Norris (December 21, 1953 – May 10, 2020), better known by her stage name Betty Wright, was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and background vocalist, who rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight is the Night". She was also prominent in regard to the use of whistle register.
Born in Miami, Florida as Bessie Regina Norris on December 21, 1953, Wright was the youngest of seven children of Rosa Akins Braddy-Wright and her second husband, McArthur Norris. Wright began her professional career at the age of two when her siblings formed the gospel group, the Echoes of Joy. Wright contributed to vocals on the group's first album, released in 1956. Wright and her siblings performed together until the mid-1960s.
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Links to Peel[]
Peel was a fan of Betty Wright's material, along with soul artists such as Linda Jones, Ann Peebles and Millie Jackson, especially during the early 70's. He nominated her single, Secretary, at number 24 in his own 1974 Top Fifty One Singles, which was published in Sounds on 4th January 1975.
Although most of Betty's material played by Peel was from the early 70's, he did play later material from the singer, especially in the mid-80's when she released her Pain single.
Shows Played[]
- 1972
Clean Up Woman - Betty Wright (1971)
- 10 March 1972: Clean-Up Woman (single)
- 04 April 1972: Clean Up Woman (7") Atlantic K 10143
- 09 June 1972: Is It You Girl (single) Atlantic
- Radio Luxembourg Tracklistings 3: Clean-Up Woman (7" single) Alston
- 1973
- 29 March 1973: It’s Hard To Stop (single – Clean Up Woman b-side) Atlantic
- 17 July 1973: Gimme Back My Man (LP: Hard To Stop) Alston
- 04 October 1973: Let Me Be Your Lovemaker (7") Atlantic K 10370
- 11 October 1973: Let Me Be Your Lovemaker (7") Atlantic K 10370
- 18 July 1974: Secretary (7" - Secretary / Value Your Love) Atlantic
- 1975
- 24 February 1975: Everybody Was Rockin' (Album - Danger - High Voltage) RCA
- 1977
- 07 October 1977: Clean Up Woman (7") Atlantic K 10143
- 1981
- 11 August 1981: Clean Up Woman
- 1982
- 28 December 1982: unknown
- 1984
- 10 April 1984: Clean Up Woman
- 03 February 1986: Pain (7") Cooltempo
- 1987
- 11 August 1987: Clean Up Woman
- 1993
- 06 March 1993: Clean Up Woman
- 2004
- 06 January 2004: Girls Can't Do What The Guys Do (7") Alston
- January 2004 (FSK): He's Bad Bad Bad
- 13 May 2004: One Thing Leads To Another' 7" (Alston)
- 21 May 2004 (BBC World Service): One Thing Leads To Another (7") Alston
- 11 August 2004: Baby Sitter (7") Alston
- 20 August 2004 (BBC World Service): Baby Sitter (7") Alston
- 08 September 2004: Clean Up Woman (7") Alston