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Yvonne Wright

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Yvonne Wright
Background information
Birth nameYvonne Lowrene Wright
Born(1951-10-31)October 31, 1951
Harlem, New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 26, 2016(2016-01-26) (aged 64)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Genres
OccupationsSongwriter, singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1970s–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

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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

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All songs written by Stevie Wonder and Yvonne Wright.

Singles

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Year Song title Artist Singles chart Notes
1972 "Evil" (B-side) Stevie Wonder US #90[11] B-side to "Keep On Running"
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
1974 "Evil" (UK B-side) Stevie Wonder UK #12[20] UK B-side to "Boogie on Reggae Woman"[21]
1975 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" Art Garfunkel UK #51[22] UK single from Breakaway
1979 "Black Orchid" Stevie Wonder UK #63[23] Single from The Secret Life of Plants
1982 "Black Orchid" (B-side) Stevie Wonder US #54,[11]
UK #45[24] 		B-side to "Ribbon in the Sky"
1991 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
(live '91) (B-side) 		George Michael US #1,[25]
UK #1[26] 		B-side to "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
(live duet with Elton John)
1994 "I Believe" E'voke UK #77[27] Debut single
1999 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
(live) (B-side) 		Mike The Mechanics UK #35[28] B-side to "Now That You've Gone"

Album tracks

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Year Song Title Artist Albums Chart Notes
1972 "Girl Blue"
"Evil" 		Stevie Wonder US #21[29] 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,[29]
UK #16[30] 		From Talking Book
1973 "You've Got It Bad Girl" Quincy Jones US #1 Jazz[31] Title track from You've Got It Bad Girl
1974 "They Won't Go When I Go" Stevie Wonder US #1[29] From Fulfillingness' First Finale,
Grammy Album of the Year
1974 "Evil" Stanley Turrentine US #69[32] From Pieces of Dreams
1975 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" Art Garfunkel US #7,[33]
UK #7,[34] 		From Breakaway
1979 "Black Orchid" Stevie Wonder US #4,[35]
UK #8,[36] 		From The Secret Life of Plants
1984 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" Art Garfunkel UK #12[37] From The Art Garfunkel Album
1990 "They Won't Go When I Go" George Michael US #2,[38]
UK #1[39] 		From Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
1993 "Girl Blue" Nnenna Freelon US #10 Jazz[40] From Heritage
1995 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" Mike The Mechanics UK #9[41] From Beggar on a Beach of Gold
1996 "You've Got It Bad Girl" Herbie Hancock US #5 Jazz[42] From The New Standard
2003 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" Michael McDonald US #14[43] From Motown
2012 "You've Got It Bad Girl"
"I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" 		Macy Gray US #65[44] From Talking Book
2013 "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" Josh Groban US #1[45]
UK #9[46] 		From All That Echoes

References

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  1. ^ "Songs written by Yvonne Wright". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  2. ^ "Yvonne Wright-Willis Obituary - Allen, Texas". Tributes.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Vettese, Hannah (March 27, 2019). "Motown And Female Empowerment: How Detroit's Finest Opened Doors". Medium.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "ACE Repertory". Ascap.com. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Williams, Chris (September 4, 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.
  6. ^ "Music of My Mind - Stevie Wonder | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  7. ^ "Talking Book - Stevie Wonder | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  8. ^ "Fulfillingness' First Finale - Stevie Wonder | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  9. ^ "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants - Stevie Wonder | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  10. ^ a b c d "Obituary for Yvonne Lowrene Wright-Willis". Heavenlygatefuneralservices.com. 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "Chart History | Stevie Wonder | Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com.
  12. ^ "Grammy Awards Nominee 1975 - Grammy Award Winners 1975". Awardsandshows.com.
  13. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. February 28, 1974. p. 33.
  14. ^ "Songs written by Yvonne Wright". Secondhandsongs.com.
  15. ^ "Yvonne Wright". Discogs.com.
  16. ^ Riperton, Minnie. Perfect Angel (Album Notes). Epic. 1974
  17. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 276. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
  18. ^ "Superstition | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com.
  19. ^ "Discography and Biography of Main Ingredient with Videos, Song Lyrics, and Free MP3 Download Links". Billboardcharts.net.
  20. ^ "Boogie on reggae woman | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com.
  21. ^ "Stevie Wonder – Boogie on Reggae Woman (1974, Vinyl)". Discogs.com.
  22. ^ "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will be Forever) (Song by Art Garfunkel)". Musicvf.com.
  23. ^ "black orchid | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  24. ^ "Ribbon in the sky | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com.
  25. ^ "Chart History | George Michael | Billboard Hot 100". Billboard.com.
  26. ^ "GEORGE MICHAEL & ELTON JOHN | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com.
  27. ^ "E'VOKE | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com.
  28. ^ "Now that you've gone | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com.
  29. ^ a b c "Chart History | Stevie Wonder | Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  30. ^ "Stevie Wonder > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  31. ^ Billboard. 25 August 1973. Page 19. Jazz LPs.
  32. ^ "Chart History | Stanley Turrentine". Billboard.com.
  33. ^ "allmusic ((( Breakaway > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  34. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Art Garfunkel - Breakaway". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  35. ^ "Chart History | Stevie Wonder | Billboard 200". Billboard.com.
  36. ^ "journey through the secret life of plants | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  37. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Art Garfunkel - The Art Garfunkel Album". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  38. ^ "Chart History | George Michael | Top Album Sales". Billboard.com.
  39. ^ "George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice back at Number 1 after 27 years". OfficialCharts.com.
  40. ^ "Chart History | Nnenna Freelon". Billboard.com.
  41. ^ "beggar on a beach | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  42. ^ "Chart History | Herbie Hancock". Billboard.com.
  43. ^ "Chart History | Michael McDonald". Billboard.com.
  44. ^ "Chart History | Macy Gray". Billboard.com.
  45. ^ Caulfield, Keith (February 13, 2013). "Josh Groban Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.com.
  46. ^ "All that echoes | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
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