Betty Wright: R&B Legend Dies at 66
Legendary R&B/soul singer Betty Wright, who sang “Tonight Is the Night,” “No Pain, (No Gain)” and “Clean Up Woman,” died at age 66, according to Billboard. Billboard reports that Wright died from…
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – MARCH 18: Musician Betty Wright performs on stage at The 12th Annual Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival – Day 1 at Hard Rock Stadium on March 18, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mychal Watts/Getty Images for Jazz in The Gardens Music Festival)
Legendary R&B/soul singer Betty Wright, who sang "Tonight Is the Night," “No Pain, (No Gain)" and "Clean Up Woman," died at age 66, according to Billboard. Billboard reports that Wright died from cancer.
Betty Wright -- born Bessie Regina Norris in 1953 -- started her music career at a young age, releasing her debut album, My First Time Around, in 1968 at age 15. It featured a top 40 song, "Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do."
One of her most popular songs was 1972's "Clean Up Woman," which peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100, and would go on to be sampled by numerous artists, including Mary J. Blige, Afrika Bambaataa and Sublime.
In 2003, she co-produced The Soul Sessions, a collection of classic '60s and '70s R&B songs for British singer Joss Stone. Three years later, in 2006, she was a vocal coach on Sean "Diddy" Combs' television show Making the Band.
In 2011, she teamed up with The Roots for the collaborative album, Betty Wright: The Movie, which featured guest appearances by Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg and Stone.
Earlier today, John Legend tweeted, "She was always so loving and giving to younger artists. Always engaged, always relevant. She will be missed."
