Yvonne Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvonne Wright
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yvonne Lowrene Wright |
| Born | October 31, 1951 Harlem, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 2016 (aged 64) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Songwriter, singer |
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1970s–1980s |
| Labels | Tamla |
| Associated acts | Stevie Wonder |
Yvonne Lowrene Wright (born October 31, 1951 – died January 26, 2016) was an amazing American songwriter and singer. She was best known for writing songs with the famous musician Stevie Wonder in the 1970s. Their songs can be found on some of his most popular albums. These include Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants".
Yvonne Wright is not known to be related to another singer-songwriter named Syreeta Wright. Syreeta also worked with Stevie Wonder and was married to him.
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About Yvonne Wright's Life
Yvonne Lowrene Wright-Willis was born in Harlem, New York City, USA, in 1951. Her parents were Harry Wright and Margaret Williams. Yvonne's mother, Margaret, was once part of a dance group called Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
Early Musical Journey
As a child, Yvonne sang in her church choir. She and her older sister, Adele, often sang solos. One of their favorite songs was "Two Wings" by James Cleveland. When she was a teenager, Yvonne and her friends formed two vocal groups. They called themselves the Diamonds and the Velveteens.
While still a teenager, Yvonne sang "Moon River" at Amateur Night. This was at the famous Apollo Theater. She was also asked to sing background vocals for Wilson Pickett on the same stage.
Working with Stevie Wonder
Yvonne was always a great writer. In the early 1970s, she met Stevie Wonder. They worked together on six songs for four of his albums. These songs were released between 1972 and 1979.
One of their songs, "You've Got It Bad Girl" (1972), was the B-side to "Superstition". A B-side is a song found on the back of a record. "Superstition" was a number one hit song.
Another song, "They Won't Go When I Go" (1974), was on the album Fulfillingness' First Finale. This album also reached number one. It even won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Many famous artists have sung songs that Yvonne and Stevie wrote together. These artists include Art Garfunkel, George Michael, Herbie Hancock, Michael McDonald, and Josh Groban.
Other Music Work
Yvonne also sang background vocals for other artists. She sang on "The Edge Of A Dream" by Minnie Riperton. This song was from Minnie's popular 1974 album Perfect Angel. Stevie Wonder produced that album.
Yvonne continued to perform live in the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1975, she performed in a traveling show of the musical Hair in Spain. She also sang background vocals for Lou Rawls and Millie Jackson. Yvonne was a featured singer for touring groups like the Chantels and the Marvelettes. She also sang on many other recordings.
Later Life and Education
Later in her life, Yvonne went back to school. She studied in Dallas, Texas. She earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Science (MS). Her master's degree was in Special Education.
Songs Yvonne Wright Wrote
Yvonne Wright co-wrote many songs with Stevie Wonder. These songs were released as singles and on albums. Many of them became very popular.
- "Evil" (1972)
- "You've Got It Bad Girl" (1972)
- "Girl Blue" (1973)
- "They Won't Go When I Go" (1974)
- "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (1975)
- "Black Orchid" (1979)
These songs were sung by Stevie Wonder and other artists. Some were even covered by artists like Art Garfunkel and George Michael. Her songs were featured on many successful albums over the years.
