O.V. Wright | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Overton Vertis Wright (1939-10-09)October 9, 1939 |
| Died | November 16, 1980(1980-11-16) (aged 41) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B,soul,funk,deep soul,soul blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, producer, instrumentalist,sideman |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, drums, piano/keyboards |
| Years active | 1964–1980 |
| Labels | Back Beat Records,Hi |
| Website | Official website |
Overton Vertis Wright (October 9, 1939 – November 16, 1980)[1] was an American singer who is generally regarded as ablues artist by African-American fans in the Deep South; he is also regarded as one ofSouthern soul's most authoritative and individual artists.[2] His best known songs include "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" (1971).
Born inLenow,Tennessee, Wright began singing in the church as a youngster. In 1956, while still in high school, he joined The Sunset Travelers as one of the lead singers of the gospel group.[3] He later fronted agospel music group, the Harmony Echoes.[4] It was during this time that he was discovered (along withJames Carr) byRoosevelt Jamison, a songwriter and manager.[4] Their first poprecording in 1964 was "That's How Strong My Love Is," a ballad latercovered byOtis Redding and theRolling Stones.[4] It was issued onGoldwax, the label Wright signed to after leaving his gospel career. It was later determined thatDon Robey still had him under arecording contract, due to his gospel group having recorded for Peacock. After his contract was shifted toDon Robey's Back Beat label, furtherR&Bhits followed.[4] Working with record producerWillie Mitchell, success continued on songs including "Ace of Spades" and "A Nickel and a Nail".[4]
Wright's hits were much more popular in the deep South. His biggest hits were "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (R&B No. 6, 1965), "Eight Men, Four Women" (R&B No. 4, 1967) "Ace of Spades" (R&B No. 11, 1970), "A Nickel and a Nail" (R&B No. 19, 1971).[4] The remainder of his 17 hits charted no higher than No. 20 on the R&B chart.
Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offenses during the mid-1970s, and, despite a new recording contract withHi Records that led to a series of new album releases, commercial success did not follow his release from incarceration.[4] Wright continued to battle drug addiction in the last years of his life, and in November 16, 1980, he died from a heart attack inMobile, Alabama, at the age of 41, while performing at Joe’s Supper Club in Grand Bay, Alabama.[1][5]
In 2008 the "OV Wright Memorial Fund" purchased and installed a headstone for his previously unmarked grave.[6]
Wright is among the most remembered voices ofsoul music, perhaps mostly for beingsampled frequently inhip hop music. In 1996, his song "Motherless Child" was sampled on theGhostface Killah albumIronman and on theSunset Park movie soundtrack on a song also called "Motherless Child". That and another Wright recording, "Let's Straighten It Out", have been published onShaolin Soul, a compilation of tracks that have been sampled by theWu-Tang Clan and its members. "Let's Straighten It Out" was sampled in a Wu-Tang Clan song called "America" from the charitycompilation albumAmerica Is Dying Slowly. "Ace of Spades" was sampled bySlim Thug and the Boss Hogg Outlawz on a song named "Recognize A Playa".
Wright has been a big influence on many soul and blues singers, includingRobert Cray,[7]Otis Clay,[8]Taj Mahal[9] as well as young soul singerReggie Sears,[10] among many others.
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 includedB. B. King,Little Milton,Bobby Bland,Little Johnny Taylor, andBlues Boy Willie.[11]
He is a 2024 inductee to theBlues Foundation'sBlues Hall of Fame.[12]
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop[13] | US R&B[14] | ||
| 1965 | "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" | 86 | 6 |
| 1967 | "Eight Men, Four Women" | 80 | 4 |
| "Heartaches, Heartaches" | – | 25 | |
| "What About You" | – | 46 | |
| 1968 | "Oh Baby Mine" | – | 36 |
| 1969 | "I'll Take Care of You" | – | 43 |
| 1970 | "Love the Way You Love" | – | 48 |
| "Ace of Spades" | 54 | 11 | |
| 1971 | "When You Took Your Love from Me" | – | 21 |
| "A Nickel and a Nail" | – | 19 | |
| 1973 | "I'd Rather Be (Blind, Crippled and Crazy)" | – | 33 |
| 1974 | "I've Been Searching" | – | 62 |
| 1975 | "What More Can I Do (To Prove My Love for You)" | – | 82 |
| 1976 | "Rhymes" | – | 87 |
| 1977 | "Into Something (Can't Shake Loose)" | – | 43 |
| 1978 | "Precious, Precious" | – | 50 |
| "I Don't Do Windows" | – | 91 | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
