Betty Wright, an iconic soul singer known for the single “Clean Up Woman” and the disco track “Where Is The Love,” died Sunday. She was 66.
Wright passed away from cancer at her home in Miami, Billboard magazine reported. Earlier this month, Chaka Khan posted a statement on Twitter, asking 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 as a child. At age 15, she released her debut album, My First Time Around in 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 written and produced by Clarence Reid and Willie Clark. The song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 2 on the U.S. Soul Singles chart. The single became a classic and has been 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.
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