Musician. He gained fame as a singer-songwriter, producer, instrumentalist, and sideman. O.V. Wright was an American singer who is generally regarded as a blues artist by fans in the Deep South. He is also regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists. Born in Lenow, Shelby County, Tennessee, he was a son of Manuel Wright and Helen Jones and had five siblings. Wright began singing gospel in church at age 10 and later fronted several gospel groups. He was discovered by Roosevelt Jamison, a songwriter and manager. He was in his late thirties by the time he signed with Hi Records. "That's How Strong My Love Is" in 1964 was one of his first pop recordings. Producer Willie Mitchell had been cutting a number of impressive tunes for him including all three of his Gold singles: reaching #6 on the R&B charts, "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" in 1965; reaching #4 on the R&B charts, "Eight Men, Four Women" in 1967; and reaching #11 on the R&B charts, "Ace of Spades" in 1971. All the rest of his recordings did not reach #20 on the charts. His career was fading by 1974. Wright was imprisoned for narcotic offenses during the mid-1970s and, despite a new recording contract with Hi Records that led to a series of new album releases, commercial success did not follow his release from incarceration. Plagued by ongoing drug problems, he died following a massive heart attack at the age of 41.
Musician. He gained fame as a singer-songwriter, producer, instrumentalist, and sideman. O.V. Wright was an American singer who is generally regarded as a blues artist by fans in the Deep South. He is also regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists. Born in Lenow, Shelby County, Tennessee, he was a son of Manuel Wright and Helen Jones and had five siblings. Wright began singing gospel in church at age 10 and later fronted several gospel groups. He was discovered by Roosevelt Jamison, a songwriter and manager. He was in his late thirties by the time he signed with Hi Records. "That's How Strong My Love Is" in 1964 was one of his first pop recordings. Producer Willie Mitchell had been cutting a number of impressive tunes for him including all three of his Gold singles: reaching #6 on the R&B charts, "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" in 1965; reaching #4 on the R&B charts, "Eight Men, Four Women" in 1967; and reaching #11 on the R&B charts, "Ace of Spades" in 1971. All the rest of his recordings did not reach #20 on the charts. His career was fading by 1974. Wright was imprisoned for narcotic offenses during the mid-1970s and, despite a new recording contract with Hi Records that led to a series of new album releases, commercial success did not follow his release from incarceration. Plagued by ongoing drug problems, he died following a massive heart attack at the age of 41.
Bio by: W. Arnold Holmes
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