Soul singer, songwriter and background vocalist, born 21 December 1953 in Miami, Florida; died 10 May 2020 ibid. Sister of Milton Wright, Phillip Wright, Jeanette Wright, and Charles A. Wright.

Her death comes days after Chaka Kahn, her friend and fellow singer, took to her social media page to solicit prayers for Wright, whom she claimed was in a critical condition then.

“My beloved sister, Betty Wright, is now in need of all your prayers. In Jesus Name, we Pray for Sister Betty,” she had posted on her Instagram page then.

But on Sunday, she did a follow-up post, announcing the demise of the gifted singer.

“Brothers & Sisters, we mourn the loss of a beautiful soul this morning in my sister and friend #BettyWright God Bless her in heaven. I will miss her so, as I know you all will as well,” she wrote.

Born on December 21, 1953, Wright kickstarted her music career with the Echoes of Joy, a family group, which focuses on gospel songs.

Her best known song is the million-selling “Clean Up Woman”, which was written by TK producers/writers Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke, in 1971, when she was 17. Another hit, “Tonight Is The Night” was originally released in 1974, but became a bigger hit in 1993 when it was released again after the success of ”Knockin’ Boots” by Candyman, which sampled the song. Betty Wright founded Ms.B Records in the mid-1980’s, producing a gold album on her own label.

Her death further stretches the lists of celebrities who have breathed their last since the dawn of this year from several illness including those who contracted COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.