| Birth name | Yvonne Lowrene Wright |
|---|---|
| Background | person |
| Birth date | October 31, 1951 |
| Death date | January 26, 2016 (aged 64) |
| Death place | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Birth place | Harlem, New York City, U.S. |
| Genre | R&B · soul |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Occupations | Songwriter · singer |
| Years active | 1970s–1980s |
Yvonne Lowrene Wright (October 31, 1951 – January 26, 2016)[1][2] was an American songwriter and vocalist best known for co-writing with Stevie Wonder in the 1970s.[3][4] Their songs appear on the albums Music of My Mind,[5][6] Talking Book,[7] Fulfillingness' First Finale,[8] and Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants".[9]
She is not related to singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright, who also worked with, and was married to, Wonder.
Biography
Yvonne Lowrene Wright-Willis was born in Harlem, New York City, United States, to Harry Wright and Margaret Williams in 1951.[10] Wright's mother Margaret was briefly a member of the dance troupe, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
As a child Wright sang in her church choir, where she and her older sister Adele were given solos on songs such as James Cleveland's "Two Wings". As a teen Wright and her friends formed vocal groups the Diamonds and the Velveteens.[10] While still a teenager, she performed "Moon River" at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater and was enlisted to sing background for Wilson Pickett on that same stage.
Always a prolific writer, she met Stevie Wonder in the early 1970s and collaborated on six songs over four albums from 1972 to 1979. Their 1972 song "You've Got It Bad Girl" was the B-side to the number 1 single "Superstition".[11] "They Won't Go When I Go" (1974) appeared on the number 1 album Fulfillingness' First Finale, which was named Grammy Album of the Year.[12] In 1974 Jet magazine described Wright as Wonder's "girl friend".[13] Their songs have been covered by many artists including Art Garfunkel, George Michael, Herbie Hancock, Michael McDonald, and Josh Groban.[14][15]
Wright also sang background vocals on Minnie Riperton's "The Edge of a Dream", from Riperton's 1974 breakthrough album Perfect Angel, produced by Wonder.[16]
Wright continued to sing live in the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1975, she performed in a touring production of Hair in Spain. She sang background vocals for Lou Rawls and Millie Jackson.[10] She was a featured vocalist in touring line-ups for the Chantels and the Marvelettes, as well as on numerous recordings.
Later in life she returned to study in Dallas, Texas, and earned a BSc and her MS in Special Education.[10]
Selective discography as songwriter
All songs written by Stevie Wonder and Yvonne Wright.
Singles
| Year | Song title | Artist | Singles chart | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | "You've Got It Bad Girl" (B-side) | Stevie Wonder | US #1,[17] UK #11[18] | B-side to "Superstition" |
| 1973 | "Girl Blue" | The Main Ingredient | US #119[19] | Single from Afrodisiac |
| 1975 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Art Garfunkel | UK #51[20] | UK single from Breakaway |
| 1979 | "Black Orchid" | Stevie Wonder | UK #63[21] | Single from The Secret Life of Plants |
| 1982 | "Black Orchid" (B-side) | Stevie Wonder | US #54,[11] UK #45[22] | B-side to "Ribbon in the Sky" |
| 1991 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live) (B-side) | George Michael | US #1,[23] UK #1[24] | B-side to "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (live duet with Elton John) |
| 1994 | "I Believe" | E'voke | UK #77[25] | Debut single |
| 1999 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (live) (B-side) | Mike + The Mechanics | UK #35[26] | B-side to "Now That You've Gone" |
Album tracks
| Year | Song title | Artist | Albums Chart | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | "Girl Blue" | Stevie Wonder | US #21[27] | From Music of My Mind |
| 1972 | "You've Got It Bad Girl" "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Stevie Wonder | US #3,[27] UK #16[28] | From Talking Book |
| 1973 | "You've Got It Bad Girl" | Quincy Jones | US #1 Jazz[29] | Title track from You've Got It Bad Girl |
| 1974 | "They Won't Go When I Go" | Stevie Wonder | US #1[27] | From Fulfillingness' First Finale, Grammy Album of the Year |
| 1975 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Art Garfunkel | US #7,[30] UK #7,[31] | From Breakaway |
| 1979 | "Black Orchid" | Stevie Wonder | US #4,[32] UK #8,[33] | From The Secret Life of Plants |
| 1984 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Art Garfunkel | UK #12[34] | From The Art Garfunkel Album |
| 1990 | "They Won't Go When I Go" | George Michael | US #2,[35] UK #1[36] | From Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 |
| 1993 | "Girl Blue" | Nnenna Freelon | US #10 Jazz[37] | From Heritage |
| 1995 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Mike + The Mechanics | UK #9[38] | From Beggar on a Beach of Gold |
| 1996 | "You've Got It Bad Girl" | Herbie Hancock | US #5 Jazz[39] | From The New Standard |
| 2003 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Michael McDonald | US #14[40] | From Motown |
| 2012 | "You've Got It Bad Girl" "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Macy Gray | US #65[41] | From Talking Book |
| 2013 | "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" | Josh Groban | US #1[42] UK #9[43] | From All That Echoes |
References
- ^ "Songs written by Yvonne Wright". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Yvonne Wright-Willis Obituary - Allen, Texas". Tributes.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ Vettese, Hannah (2019-03-27). "Motown And Female Empowerment: How Detroit's Finest Opened Doors". Medium.com. Retrieved 2021-09-25.
- ^ "ACE Repertory". Ascap.com. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- ^ Williams, Chris (4 September 2019). "Stevie Wonder Producer Malcolm Cecil Breaks Down the Making of 'Music of My Mind' — the Album that Launched the 'Classic Period' [Interview]". Okayplayer.com
- ^ "Music of My Mind - Stevie Wonder | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic
- ^ "Talking Book - Stevie Wonder | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic
- ^ "Fulfillingness' First Finale - Stevie Wonder | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic
- ^ "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants - Stevie Wonder | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic
- ^ "Obituary for Yvonne Lowrene Wright-Willis". Heavenlygatefuneralservices.com. 2016.
- ^ "Chart History | Stevie Wonder | Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com
- ^ "Grammy Awards Nominee 1975 - Grammy Award Winners 1975". Awardsandshows.com
- ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. 28 February 1974. p. 33.
- ^ "Songs written by Yvonne Wright". Secondhandsongs.com
- ^ "Yvonne Wright". Discogs.com
- ^ Riperton, Minnie. Perfect Angel (album notes). Epic. 1974
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 276. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
- ^ "Superstition | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com
- ^ "Discography and Biography of Main Ingredient with Videos, Song Lyrics, and Free MP3 Download Links". Billboardcharts.net
- ^ "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will be Forever) (Song by Art Garfunkel)". Musicvf.com
- ^ "black orchid | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Ribbon in the sky | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com
- ^ "Chart History | George Michael | Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com
- ^ "GEORGE MICHAEL & ELTON JOHN | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com
- ^ "E'VOKE | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com
- ^ "Now that you've gone | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com
- ^ "Chart History | Stevie Wonder | Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Stevie Wonder > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2014-04-28.
- ^ Billboard. 25 August 1973. Page 19. Jazz LPs.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Breakaway > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company - Art Garfunkel - Breakaway". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
- ^ "Chart History | Stevie Wonder | Billboard 200". Billboard.com
- ^ "journey through the secret life of plants | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company - Art Garfunkel - The Art Garfunkel Album". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
- ^ "Chart History | George Michael | Top Album Sales". Billboard.com
- ^ "George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice back at Number 1 after 27 years". OfficialCharts.com
- ^ "Chart History | Nnenna Freelon". Billboard.com
- ^ "beggar on a beach | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Chart History | Herbie Hancock". Billboard.com
- ^ "Chart History | Michael McDonald". Billboard.com
- ^ "Chart History | Macy Gray". Billboard.com
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (13 February 2013). "Josh Groban Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.com
- ^ "All that echoes | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company