伝説的なソウル/R&Bシンガーのベティ・ライトが、現地時間2020年5月10日にがんにより66歳で亡くなった。米マイアミの自宅で息を引き取ったと米ビルボードが伝えている。

　今月初頭に、チャカ・カーンは「私の愛するシスター、ベティ・ライトは、現在皆さんの全ての祈りを必要としています」と、彼女の体調が思わしくないことを自身のTwitterに綴っていた。

　1953年にベッシー・レジーナ・ノリスとして生まれたベティ・ライトは、米マイアミにて家族と結成したゴスペル・グループ、エコーズ・オブ・ジョイで、音楽のキャリアをスタートした。1968年、15歳でデビュー・アルバム『My First Time Around』をリリースし、今作から「Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do」が、米ビルボード・ソング・チャート“Hot 100”でTOP40入りを果たした。

　1972年には、同チャートで最高6位を記録した「Clean Up Woman」を発表。彼女の代表曲の一つであるこの曲は、メアリー・J. ブライジ、アフリカ・バンバータ、サブライムら多くのアーティストにサンプリングされている。1970年代中盤には、「Tonight Is the Night」や「Where Is the Love」などのヒット・ナンバーを生み、後者は1975年の【グラミー賞】で＜最優秀R&B楽曲賞＞を獲得した。また、1980年代には自身のレコード・レーベル＜Ms. B Records＞を設立し、人気曲「No Pain (No Gain)」が収録された『Mother Wit』をリリースしている。

　1960年代から1970年代のR&Bソングを取り上げた、ジョス・ストーンの2003年のアルバム『The Soul Sessions』では共同プロデュースを務め、2011年にはザ・ルーツとのジョイント・アルバム『Betty Wright: The Movie』を発表するなど、若手とコラボレーションも精力的に行っていた。

　彼女の訃報を受けて、ジョン・レジェンド、スヌープ・ドッグ、レデシー、DJキャレドらが、SNSで追悼コメントを発表している。

I loved being around Ms Betty Wright. She was always so loving and giving to younger artists. Always engaged, always relevant. She will be missed https://t.co/JGefXj5jgx

— John Legend (@johnlegend) May 10, 2020

 

 

 

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Thank u for bringing me to thankful Thursday’s at your house in Florida years ago for the fellowship mentoring and prayers and blessings u shared with me I know god is pleased with your work. Tonight is the night u get to heavens. Gates . Long live. Betty Wright

snoopdogg(@snoopdogg)がシェアした投稿 -2020年 5月月10日午前11時25分PDT

 

 

 

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BETTY WRIGHT YOU ARE ANGEL! YOU ONE OF MY REALEST FRIENDS I HAVE ! YOU ARE LIKE A MOM TO ME! YOU HAD MY BACK FROM THE VERY BEGINNING! WE MADE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER ! BETTY WRIGHT IS A ICON ! And THE MOTHER OF MIAMI ! BETTY WRIGHT IS LEGENDARY! GOD LOVES YOU ! LONG LIVE BETTY WRIGHT ! I LOVE YOU FOREVER! (The holy key, the holy key, the holy key) And I'mma celebrate it for a long time The drama couldn't break me, now it's all mine Surrounded by my angels and we all shine Holy, holy, holy, holy key

DJ KHALED(@djkhaled)がシェアした投稿 -2020年 5月月10日午前8時57分PDT

Stezo ..Fred The Godson ...Tony Allen ...TY ... Andre Harrell ... Little Richard.. and now Ms Betty Wright... all black music artists in my flowtation ... met them know them play them. the last 10 days is beyond comprehension

— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) May 10, 2020

R.I.P. Betty Wright

— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) May 10, 2020

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

Rest in power to a legend, Betty Wright. Our beloved aunty, mentor, and vocal coach She stood by me every step of the way. Taught us so much. She will be missed. pic.twitter.com/QTcZYh7N0M

— Skip Marley (@SkipMarley) May 10, 2020

 

 

 

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“And there will be no more.” Betty has left the building.

DJ QUIK(@djquik)がシェアした投稿 -2020年 5月月10日午前9時11分PDT

The incredible Betty Wright passed today. This weekend has been overwhelming. We have lost many this year. She was an incredible woman. You will be missed queen. pic.twitter.com/QoTwvrbdtj

— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) May 10, 2020

 

 

 

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This has been an emotional weekend. Rest peacefully, Betty Wright.

D-Nice(@dnice)がシェアした投稿 -2020年 5月月10日午前9時22分PDT

“No Pain” R.I.P. #BettyWright pic.twitter.com/9hj5cMHiOD

— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) May 10, 2020

 

 

 

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The powerful Betty Wright. It’s not enough to dub her the First Lady of Henry Stone’s Miami empire. In working on her last album I slowly realized you can’t even be an artist in Miami without runnin into her. And if you run into her? Make room cause she is gonna wind up on your album (if youre really not careful you will wind up on HER record lol) Her powerhouse singing abilities haven’t been praised enough (that Mariah whistle high octave sound? Betty was flaunting that skill LONG ago). Her down to earth sista girl persona was FAR from the posh Motown charm school of the day. Wright hit jackpot in singing “grown folk” topics that her contemporaries weren’t able to sing and capitalize on. I mean at 17 her much sampled “Clean Up Woman” & her legendary singles “Baby Sitter” “Girls Can’t Do What The Guys Do” “Secretary” “Slip & Do it” pushed the envelope FAR & still found an audience—-that was not an easy feat for black women in the 70s writing & singing songs with the freedom that men could flaunt and not have to be looked down upon or judged—-Millie Jackson paid a price for that realness. Marlena Shaw paid a price. Linda Clifford paid a price. Betty Davis wasn’t even granted the freedom to step to the counter to pay that price!! So it was a slippery slope talking about your first time or being the other woman or callin the shots in the relationship. Not to mention being her own label—-I learned so much about her career while working with her—I had no clue in the early 80s she owned and operated Ms B records (she went gold w 87s Classic “No Pain No Gain” 1st black woman to hit that feat as label ceo. and occasionally RAPPED!—-she never let anything hold her back or limit her. That was her spirit. She KNEW who she was and carried herself as a royal. Her most hilarious story was Stevie Wonder calling an impromptu 1am background singing session w Walter & Eddie of the Ojays, Michael Jackson & Betty for his remake of“All I Do” —she was a staple at our jam sessions & brought the house down everytime. She will be missed. Rest In Melody Queen Wright.

Questlove Froman,(@questlove)がシェアした投稿 -2020年 5月月10日午後3時31分PDT