Friday, March 29, 2024

Betty Wright and Friends Team Up for a Concert to Benefit a Worthy Cause

[videowaywire video_id=”5LTCQH0CP2K11BLS”]

betty wright shirley murdoch angela winbush

*Causes?  I love a good cause.  Music?  I love good music.  Put them together and I see a winning combination.   That’s just what we have with “Betty Wright and Friends,” a fundraiser concert being held on January 26, 2018 at 8:00 pm at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

These three dynamic ladies, all with roots grounded in gospel music, will come together to give no pain and all gain to benefit Greater Educational Milestones (GEMs), an organization which seeks to find, advocate for and support highly motivated and qualified students of color from South Los Angeles, Watts, Inglewood, and Compton.

Through outreach in these communities, GEMs identifies and brings awareness of the educational opportunities available to these students and serves as a resource to their partner schools, while providing educational and/or financial support to their independent schools.

betty wright

Betty Wright, who first began singing with her siblings at the age of two, was signed to her first recording contract at age 12.   She was a 17 year old teenager when she had her first major hit, “Cleanup Woman.”  The single sold over one million copies and earned her a gold record.  Over the years, more hits followed.  Although most people think of, “Tonight is the Night” when they think of Betty Wright, a one, two or even three hit wonder she is not.  Other hits included, “No Pain, No Gain,” “Lovin is Really My Game,” as well as the tongue lashing monologue she gave the late Richard “Dimples” Fields in her part of the song, “She’s Got Papers on Me.”

Betty Wright was the first African American female to receive a gold album on her own record label, Ms. B Records.  The album was “Mother Wit,” which included, “No Pain, No Gain.”  She has also been a vocal coach on the TV show, Making the Band and has worked with vocals and performed production work for Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.  Ms. Wright’s work has been sampled by many hip hop, rock and R & B musicians, including SWV, Mary J. Blige and Chance the Rapper.

angela winbush

Angela Winbush, who as one half of the singing duo Rene and Angela, spent a good many years racking up hits, such as “I’ll be Good,’ “You Don’t Have to Cry,’ “Your Smile” and “I love you more” and also had a solo monster hit with, “Angel,” has been in demand, both as a songwriter and producer.   She has written and produced on Janet Jackson’s debut album as well as for Stephanie Mills, including her first #1 R&B single, “I’ve Learned to Respect the Power of Love” as well as, “Something in the Way You Make Me Feel.”  Angela Winbush has also written and arranged on the Isleys, “Smooth Sailing” album and also for Sheena Easton.  Her music has been sampled by The Notorious BIG, Foxy Brown and Avant.

What started out as singing to earn money while studying architecture at Howard University has turned out to be a very lucrative career.  Being a member of Stevie Wonder’s background group Wonderlove certainly was a nice stepping stone.

shirley murdock

Shirley Murdock, of “As We Lay,” “Go on Without You” and “Husband” fame, is multitalented to say the least.  Not only has she collaborated with members of Zapp, The Ohio Players and Teena Marie, she has also performed in the stage plays, “A Mother’s Prayer” and “Be Careful What You Pray For,” which also included the late Cuba Gooding Sr. and David Peaston.  Add appearing in the movie, “Sweating in the Spirit” to her resume and I think we can agree that Shirley Murdock has an impressive resume.

These three beautiful and talented ladies have had their hands (and voices) in songs that have more than stood the test of time.  Come to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center on Friday, January 26, 2018 and see them sing to benefit our young women of tomorrow.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=1037605

 

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

YOU MAY LIKE

SEARCH

- Advertisement -

TRENDING