Bernard Wright

Bernard Wright (born November 16, 1963) is an American funk and jazz keyboardist and singer who began his career as a session musician and later released several solo albums in the 1980s.

Wright was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York. His mother is singer Roberta Flack.^[2][3][4] He attended the Fiorello Laguardia High School of Music & the Performing Arts in New York. Classmates included writer Carl Hancock Rux, gospel recording artist Desiree Coleman Jackson, and rappers Slick Rick and Dana Dane. He was offered a slot touring with Lenny White when he was 13, and he played with Tom Browne at age 16.^[1]

GRP Records signed him in 1981 and released his debut album, Nard (1981), tracks from which were prominently sampled in hits by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Skee-Lo, and LL Cool J among countless others. He followed with Funky Beat (1983) on Arista and Mr. Wright (1985) on Manhattan Records. The latter of these albums included his biggest R&B hit, "Who Do You Love" for which a video was made and is featured in the famous title sequence of Video Music Box. Wright has also appeared on recordings by musicians such as Cameo, Bobby Brown, Pieces of a Dream, Charles Earland, Marcus Miller, and Miles Davis.

Since his recording days, Wright has continued playing keyboards in Dallas and New York.

Discography

Albums

• Nard (GRP Records, 1981) U.S. #116, U.S. Jazz #7, U.S. R&B #23^[5]
• Funky Beat (Arista Records, 1983) U.S. R&B #58^[5]
• Mr. Wright (Manhattan Records, 1985) U.S. R&B #25^[5]
• I Can Tell (Manhattan)
• Fresh Hymns (Benson Records, 1990)

Singles

• "Just Chillin' Out" (1981) U.S. Club Play #85^[6]
• "Won't You Let Me Love You" (1982) U.S. R&B #88
• "Funky Beat" (1983) U.S. R&B #39
• "Who Do You Love" (1985) U.S. Dance #44, U.S. R&B #6
• "After You" (1985)

References