Prayers: The Queen Clean Up Woman, Betty Wright, Has Passed Age 66

This has been sad weekend in music, first we got the news of Andre Harrell, then Little Richard, now it is being reported that soul singer, best known for her smash hit ‘Clean Up Woman’, Betty Wright, has passed away at the young age of 66.

The heartbreaking news was confirmed by Betty Wright’s niece with no cause of death given, however the family is asking for privacy at this time.

Florida native Bessie Regina Norris, best known as Betty Wright, started her music career as a gospel artist.  Then in 1971 she released her smash hit ‘Clean Up Woman’, a song that would take her musical journey to a Grammy Award in 1976 for Best R&B Song for ‘Where Is The Love’ the launch pad to 4 more Grammy Nominations with the last one being in 2011.  

Betty Wright’s Hip Hop roots are deep because her musical influences have made her music one of the top sampled songs Hip Hop.  Did you know that Mary J Blige’s break out hit ‘Real Love’ was a Betty Wright sample? (No doubt this is a hard weekend for Mary J. Blige loosing Andre Harrell and Betty Wright).  Betty Wright has touched other artists such as Beyonce, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, just to name a few.

Not to mention Betty Wright was a very dear friend of another musical great Chaka Khan.

Betty Wright is preceded in death by her son Patrick and survived by her 4 children Aisha, Patrice, Chaka, and Asher.

We will be keeping the family, friends, fans and colleagues of Betty Wright uplifted in our prayers.