O. V. Wright
O.V. Wright | |
---|---|
Birth name | Overton Vertis Wright |
Born | deep soul, soul blues | October 9, 1939
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 a blues artist by African-American fans in the Deep South; he is also regarded as one of Southern 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).
Biography
Born in
Wright's hits were much more popular in the deep South. His biggest hits were "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (R&B #6, 1965), "Eight Men, Four Women" (R&B #4, 1967) "Ace of Spades" (R&B #11, 1970), "A Nickel and a Nail" (R&B #19, 1971).[4] The remainder of his 17 hits charted no higher than #20 on the R&B chart.
Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offenses during the mid-1970s, and, despite a new recording contract with Hi 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 1980, he died from a heart attack in Mobile, Alabama, at the age of 41.[1]
Legacy
Wright is among the most remembered voices of
Wright has been a big influence on many soul and blues singers, including Robert Cray,[5] Otis Clay,[6] Taj Mahal[7] as well as young soul singer Reggie Sears,[8] among many others.
Discography
Albums
- 1965: (If It Is) Only For Tonight (Back Beat Records)
- 1967: 8 Men and 4 Women (Back Beat Records)
- 1968: Nucleus of Soul (Back Beat Records)
- 1972: A Nickel and a Nail -and- Ace of Spades (Back Beat Records)
- 1973: Memphis Unlimited (Back Beat Records)
- 1977: Into Something (Can't Shake Loose) (Hi Records)
- 1978: The Bottom Line (Hi Records)
- 1979: We're Still Together (Hi Records)[4]
- 1980: O.V. Wright Live (Hi Records) recorded 1979
Chart singles
Year | Single | Chart Positions | |
---|---|---|---|
US Pop[10] | US R&B[11] | ||
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 |
References
- ^ a b "The Dead Rock Stars Club - The 1980s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "O.V. Wright | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "Giant Of Southern Soul Part One". Ovwright.org. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ "Robert Cray related artists". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ Pollak, Billy. "Otis Clay". MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ "Taj Mahal related artists". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
- ^ "Reggie Sears". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ Richard Shelly. "Johnny Rawls". AllMusic. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 495.