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Biography
Refimprove|date=September 2010Infobox musical artist|image = ||image_size = 150 || name = O.V. Wright| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Overton Vertis Wright| birth_date = birth date|1939|10|9|birth_place = Leno , Tennessee , United States | death_date = death date and age|1980|11|18|1939|10|9|death_place = Mobile, Alabama , United States | genre = Rhythm and blues|R& B Soul music|soul , funk music|funk , deep soul , soul blues | instrument = singer|Vocals , guitar , drumkit|drums , piano / keyboard instrument|keyboards | Voice_Type = Tenor| occupation = Singer-songwriter , musician, Record producer|producer , instrumentalist , sideman | years_active = 1964–1980| label = Back Beat Recotds, Hi Records | associated_acts = Otis Redding , Isaac Hayes , Al Green , Bobby Womack , James Carr (musician)|James Carr , Rolling Stones | website = http://www.ovwright.org/ Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright (October 9, 1939 — November 16, 1980) http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1980.html Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed May 2010 was an United States|American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul 's most authoritative and individual artists.Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5878|pure_url=yes Allmusic biography His best known songs are " That's How Strong My Love Is " (1964), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (1965), "Nucleus of Soul" (1968), "A Nickel and a Nail" (1971), "I Can't Take It" (1971) and " Ace of Spades (song) " (1971).
Biography
Born in Leno , Tennessee , Wright, as a youngster, began singing in the church and later fronted a gospel music group, the Harmony Echoes. It was during this time that he was discovered (along with James Carr (musician)|James Carr ) by Roosevelt Jamison a songwriter and manager. Their first pop music|pop sound recording and reproduction|recording in 1964 was " That's How Strong My Love Is ", a ballad later cover version|covered by Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones . It was issued on Goldwax, the label Wright signed to after leaving his gospel career. It was later determined that Don Robey still had him under a recording contract , due to his gospel group having recorded for Peacock. After his contract was shifted to Don Robey ’s Back Beat label, further Rhythm and blues|R& B hit record|hits followed. Working with record producer Willie Mitchell (musician)|Willie Mitchell , success continued on songs including "The Ace of Spades" and "A Nickel and a Nail".
Wright's hits were much more popular in the deep South. His biggest hits were "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (R& B #6, 1965), "Eight Men, Four Women" (R& B #4, 1967) "Ace Of Spades" (R& B #11, 1970), "A Nickel and A Nail" (R& B #19, 1971). The remainder of his 17 hits charted higher than #20 on the R& B charts.
However, Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offences during the mid-1970s, and, despite signing for Hi Records and releasing a series of recordings, his commercial success failed to recover after his release. A continuing drug problem weakened his health and he died from a myocardial infarction|heart attack , in Mobile, Alabama at age 41.
Legacy
Wright is among the most remembered voices of soul music , perhaps mostly for being sampling (music)|sampled frequently in hip hop music . More recently, his song, " Motherless Child " was sampled on the Ghostface Killah album Ironman (album)|Ironman on a song also called "Motherless Child." It and another Wright recording, " Let's Straighten It Out " have been published on Shaolin Soul , a compilation of tracks that have been sampled by the Wu Tang Clan and its members. "Let's Straighten It Out" was sampled in a Wu-Tang Clan song called "America" from the charity compilation album America Is Dying Slowly . "Ace of Spades" was sampled by Slim Thug and the Boss Hogg Outlawz on a song named "Recognize A Playa".
Johnny Rawls joined Wright's backing band in the mid 1970s, and played together with Wright until the latter's death in 1980. The band then continued billed as the O.V. Wright Band for another 13 years, and toured and performed with other musicians over this time span. These included B.B. King , Little Milton , Bobby Bland , Little Johnny Taylor , and Blues Boy Willie .cite web |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p117226/biography|pure_url=yes|title=Johnny Rawls|author=Richard Shelly |publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=December 22, 2011
Discography
1965: ''If It's Only For Tonight ( Back Beat Records )
1967: 8 Men And 4 Women (Back Beat Records)
1968: Nucleus Of Soul (Back Beat Records)
1971: A Nickel And A Nail And Ace Of Spades (Back Beat Records)
1973: Memphis Unlimited (Back Beat Records)
1977: ''Into Something I Can't Shake Loose ( Hi Records )
1977: The Wright Stuff (Hi Records)
1978: The Bottom Line (Hi Records)
1979: 0.V. Wright Live (Hi Records)
1979: ''We're Still Together (Hi Records)
References
Reflist
External links
http://hirecords.com/artists/ovwright.htm O.V. Wright at Hi Records in Memphis
http://www.ovwright.org/ O.V. Wright Memorial Fund
Find a Grave|37539211
Persondata | NAME = Wright, O.V. | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American singer | DATE OF BIRTH = October 9, 1939 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Leno , Tennessee , United States | DATE OF DEATH = November 18, 1980 | PLACE OF DEATH = Mobile, Alabama , United States DEFAULTSORT:Wright, O.V. Category:1939 births Category:1980 deaths Category:American soul musicians Category:American soul singers Category:American gospel singers Category:African American singers Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:ABC Records artists Category:Hi Records artists Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction
fr:O. V. Wright ja:O.V.??? pl:Overton Vertis Wright
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