Billy Wright (musician)
| Billy Wright | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Prince of the Blues |
| Born | May 21, 1932 |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 1991 (aged 59) |
| Genres | Soul blues, jump blues, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Fiddle, piano, vocals |
| Years active | Late 1940s–1980s |
| Labels | Savoy Records, RCA Records |
| Associated acts | Little Richard |
Billy Wright (May 21, 1932 – October 28, 1991)[1] was an American jump blues singer.
Biography
Billy Wright was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout his career, he was known as the "Prince of the Blues."[1] He was a key figure in Atlanta blues after World War II and had a major influence on rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, whom he helped get his first recording contract.[2]
He recorded his last recordings in 1959. He continued to do shows around Atlanta until he suffered a stroke, and then died of a pulmonary embolism,[1] just before his 1991 Halloween Show at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.
Discography
Singles
- "Blues For My Baby" / "You Satisfy" (Savoy #710) (11/1949)
- "I Keep Drinkin'" / "Billy’s Boogie Blues" (Savoy #715) (1950)
- "Back Biting Woman" / "Thinking Blues" (Savoy #733) (1950)
- "After Dark Blues" / "Heavy Hearted Blues" (Savoy #741) (1951)
- "Fore Day Blues" / "Empty Hand" (Savoy #761) (1951)
- "Mean Old Wine" / "Keep Your Hands On Your Heart" (Savoy #776) (11/1951)
- "Stacked Deck" / "Mercy Mercy" (Savoy #781) (1951)
- "Hey Little Girl" / "Gotta Find My Baby" (Savoy #810) (1951)
- "New Way Of Lovin'" / "When The Wagon Comes" (Savoy #819) (1952)
- "Turn Your Lamps Down Low" / "Drinkin' And Thinkin'" (Savoy #827) (1952)
- "Married Woman’s Boogie" / "Every Evening" (Savoy #837) (1952)
- "If I Didn’t Love You So" / "Goin' Down Slow" (Savoy #870) (12/1952)
- "After Awhile" / "Four Cold Cold Walls" (Savoy #1100) (5/1953)
- "Live The Life" / "I Remember" (Savoy #1127) (4/1954)
- "Bad Luck, Heartaches, And Trouble" / "The Question" (Peacock #1657) (7/1955)
- "Have Mercy Baby" / "I Love You Sweetheart" (Carrollton #801) (1959)
- "Man’s Brand Boogie" / "Beg A Dog" (Atlanta #6000) (1959)
Other recordings
- "Walking The Blues" (Savoy) (unreleased) (9/23/1949)
- "Ride On Little Girl" (Savoy) (unreleased) (1/7/1950)
- "Misfortune Blues" (Savoy) (unreleased) (4/24/1950)
- "Restless Blues" (Savoy) (unreleased) (1951) (appears on Savoy LP-1146)
- "This Love of Mine" (Savoy) (unreleased) (1951) (appears on Savoy LP-1146)
- "If I Had My Life To Live Over" (Savoy) (unreleased) (1952) (appears on Savoy LP-1146)
- "Sad Hour Blues" (Savoy) (unreleased) (1952) (appears on Savoy LP-1146)
- "Do Something For Me" (1952) (live at Harlem Theater, Atlanta, Georgia) (appears on Stacked Deck album)
- "Keep Your Hand On Your Heart And Your Mind On Me" (Savoy) (1953) (appears on Savoy LP-2255)
- "Will You Need Me" (Savoy) (unreleased) (1954) (appears on Savoy LP-1146)
- "Baby Don't You Want A Man Like Me" (Peacock) (unreleased) (1955)
- "Let's Be Friends" (Peacock) (unreleased) (1955)
- Titles Unknown (Fury/Fire) (1959) (unreleased)
Albums
- Stacked Deck (Route 66) (1980)
- Goin Down Slow (Savoy #LP-1146) (1984)
- Various Artists: Southern Blues: Roots Of Rock And Roll Volume 11 (Savoy #LP-2255) (1985)
- Billy Wright/Little Richard: Baby Don’t You Want A Man Like Me (Ace #193) (1987)
- Billy Wright (Savoy Jazz) (1994)
- Classics 1949-1951 (Melodie Jazz Classics) (2003)
- Billy Wright (Savoy Jazz) (1994)
- Have Mercy Baby (Blue City #BCCD-810) (includes his Peacock, Carrollton, and Atlanta recordings)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed July 2010
- ↑ White, Charles. (2003). The Life and Times of Little Richard: The Authorised Biography. p. 25. Omnibus Press
External links
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