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O. V. Wright


 

Blues and gospel singer Oberton Vertis Wright was born in Lenow, Tennessee on October 9, 1939 and is one of the most important southern soul singers. He began singing in Church as a child. In 1956, while still at school, he joined the gospel singing group The Sunset Travelers. Then he became lead singer of The Harmony Echoes. He was discovered by Roosevelt Jamieson, a song writer and manager. Their first pop recording in 1964 was “That’s How Strong My Love Is” for the Goldwax label but it turned out that Wright was still under contract to Duke/Peacock, so his further recordings were issued on their Back Beat label.

Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offences in the mid 1970s but a new recording contract with Hi Records after he was released, failed to produce any successes. He continued to battle his drug addiction until he died in Mobile, Alabama on November 16, 1980,age 41. His is described as one of the most remembered voices of soul music.

Image: Giles Petard/Redferns/Getty

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