From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Wed May 21, 2003  1:09 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Billy Wright
 
BILLY WRIGHT

Born 21 May 1932, Atlanta, Georgia
Died 27 October 1991, Atlanta, Georgia

A prime influence on Little Richard during his formative years, "Prince of
the Blues" Billy Wright's hearty shouting delivery was an Atlanta staple
during the postwar years.

Wright was a regular at Atlanta's 81 Theatre as a youth, soaking up the
vaudevillians before graduating to singing and dancing status there himself.
Saxist Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams caught Wright's act when they shared 
a bill with Charles Brown and Wynonie Harris at Atlanta's Auditorium,
recommending the teenaged singer to Savoy Records boss Herman Lubinsky.

Wright's 1949 Savoy debut, "Blues for My Baby," shot up to number three on
Billboard's R&B charts, and its flip, "You Satisfy," did almost as well. Two
more of Wright's Savoy 78s, "Stacked Deck" and "Hey Little Girl," were also
Top Ten R&B entries in 1951. The flamboyant Wright, who wore makeup and 
mascara and sported a huge pompadour, set his pal Little Richard up with 
powerful WGST DJ Zenas Sears, who scored the newcomer his first contract
with RCA in 1951. It's no knock on Richard to note that his early sides sound
very much like Wright. Billy covered "Every Hour" from Richard's first session
as "Every Evening". Both versions went nowhere.

Wright recorded steadily for Savoy through 1954, the great majority of his
sessions held in his hometown with hot local players (saxist Fred Jackson
and guitarist Wesley Jackson were often recruited). After he left Savoy,
Wright's recording fortunes plummeted - a 1955 date for Don Robey's Peacock
discery in Houston and sessions for Fire (unissued) and Carrollton in 1959
ended his discography. Wright later MCed shows in Atlanta, remaining active
until a stroke in the mid-'70s slowed him down. 

(Adapted from All Music Guide.)

Recommended listening:
The Chronological Billy Wright, 1949-1951 (Classics 5046). 22 Savoy tracks.