Billy Wright
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 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.
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.
© Bill Dahl /TiVo
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Don't You Want a Man Like Me? (Remastered)
Soul - Erschienen bei RevOla am 26.08.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Have Mercy Baby - The Best Of
Soul - Erschienen bei Nifty Music, Inc. am 01.03.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Do You Want A Man Like Me?
Blues - Erschienen bei Cherry Red Records am 01.01.1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Billy's Boogie Blues (His Complete Savoy Singles As & Bs 1949-1954)
Blues - Erschienen bei Jasmine Records am 28.08.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Conversation
Pop - Erschienen bei Fire Hour Music Group am 08.12.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blues for My Baby
Blues - Erschienen bei Redwood Records am 17.03.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Power Of a Woman
Country - Erschienen bei Billy Wright am 01.02.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prince Of The Blues
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei 4Beat am 10.01.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't You Want a Man Like Me?
Blues - Erschienen bei Poppydisc am 09.09.2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1949-1951
Blues - Erschienen bei Classics Blues & Rhythm Series am 10.06.2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
You Satisfy
Blues - Erschienen bei Redwood Records am 17.03.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jump Blues
Vokalmusik (weltlich und geistlich) - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 01.09.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Virtual Memphis
Blues - Erschienen bei Billy Wright am 11.01.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sunrise
Internationaler Pop - Erschienen bei Billy Wright am 19.04.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
If I Didn´t Love You
Blues - Erschienen bei THUNDERBIRD am 07.05.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blues For My Baby: Collected Recordings 1949-59
Blues - Erschienen bei Acrobat am 06.10.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Billy Wright - Music History
Blues - Erschienen bei Vintage Jukebox am 11.08.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hey Little Girl
Pop - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 16.08.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo