Betty Wright, an iconic soul singer known for “Clean Up Woman” and the disco track “Where Is The Love,” died Sunday at age 66.
Wright passed away from cancer at her home in Miami, Billboard magazine reported. Earlier this month, Chaka Khan took to Twitter to ask fans to pray for Wright.
“Calling all my #PrayWarriors,” Khan tweeted. “My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is now in need of all your prays.”
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Born Bessie Regina Norris in Miami in December 1953, Wright began singing gospel music. At age 15, she released her debut album, My First Time Around, 1968. The album included the top 40 song “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do.”
In 1971, she released the single “Clean Up Woman,” which was sampled by Mary J. Blige, Afrika Bambaataa and Sublime.
The following year Wright won a Grammy Award in the Best Rhythm & Blues Song category for “Where Is The Love.” Her other hits included “Let Me Be Your Lovermaker” and “Shoorah Shoorah.”
Wright also appeared on the Making the Band MTV reality series as a vocal coach, and was the subject of an episode of TV One’s music series Unsung last month.
