Bernard Wright

{{Short description|American musician (1963–2022)}} {{about|the American singer|the Northern Irish footballer|Bernard Wright (footballer)|the English footballer|Bernie Wright}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | background = person | name = Bernard Wright | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = Nard | birth_date = {{birth date|1963|11|16}} | birth_place = [[Jamaica, Queens]], New York, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|05|19|1963|11|16}} | death_place = [[Dallas]], Texas, U.S. | genre = [[Gospel music#Urban contemporary|Gospel]], [[post-disco]], [[jazz]], [[contemporary R&B]], [[jazz fusion]] | instruments = Keyboards, vocals | occupation = Musician, singer, songwriter | years_active = 1980–2022 | label = {{hlist|[[Manhattan Records|Manhattan]]/[[EMI|EMI Records]]| [[Arista Records|Arista]] | [[GRP Records|GRP]]/[[MCA Records]]}} | website = }}

'''Bernard Wright''' (November 16, 1963 – May 19, 2022) was an American [[funk]] and [[jazz]] keyboardist and singer who began his career as a session musician and later released four solo albums.

==Biography== Wright was born in [[Jamaica, Queens]], New York.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/23/arts/two-seasoned-voices-together-raised-for-a-cause.html|title=Two Seasoned Voices, Together Raised for a Cause|last=Decurtis|first=Anthony|date=March 23, 1997|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In the liner notes to his debut album ''[['Nard]]'', he stated that his mother is Lessie Wright.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|type=Liner notes|title='Nard|publisher=[[Arista Records]]|year=1981}}</ref> His [[Godparent|godmother]] was singer [[Roberta Flack]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/national/bernard-wright-dead-1234663868/|magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]|first=Mya|last=Abraham|title=Bernard Wright, Funk and Jazz Singer and Godson of Roberta Flack, Dead at 58|date=May 20, 2022|accessdate=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

He attended the [[High School of Performing Arts]] in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://laguardiahs.org/alumni/|archive-url =https://archive.today/20140408163845/http://laguardiahs.org/alumni/|url-status =dead|archive-date =April 8, 2014|title =Fiorello laguardia alumni|access-date =November 20, 2015}}</ref> His classmates included writer [[Carl Hancock Rux]] and gospel recording artist [[Desiree Coleman|Desiree Coleman Jackson]]. He was offered a slot touring with [[Lenny White]] when he was 12, and he played with [[Tom Browne (trumpeter)|Tom Browne]] at the age of 16.<ref name=OMG>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-wright-mn0000057427#biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|first=Andy|last=Kellman|title=Bernard Wright Biography}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McPhate |first=Christian |title=Bernard Wright, Sampled By Everyone, Mentored Young Musicians |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2668562978 |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=[[Dallas Observer]] |publisher=[[Voice Media Group]] |date=May 24, 2022 |id={{ProQuest|2668562978}} }}</ref>

[[GRP Records]] signed him in 1981 and released his debut album ''[['Nard]]'', tracks from which were prominently sampled in hits by [[Dr. Dre]], [[Snoop Dogg]], [[Skee-Lo]], and [[LL Cool J]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Sunday Selection: LL Cool J and Bernard Wright – "Who Do You Love?"|url = http://allhiphop.com/2009/12/27/sunday-selection-ll-cool-j-and-bernard-wright-who-do-you-love/|website = Hip-Hop News, Rumors, Rap Music & Videos {{!}}AllHipHop| date=27 December 2009 |access-date = 2015-11-21}}</ref> The album was re-released in 2001. He followed with ''Funky Beat'' (1983) on [[Arista Records|Arista]] and ''[[Mr. Wright]]'' (1985) on [[Manhattan Records]]. The latter of these albums included his biggest [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B]] appearance, "[[Who Do You Love (Bernard Wright song)|Who Do You Love]]", for which a video was made that is featured in the title sequence of ''[[Video Music Box]]''. The female vocalist was Marla Adler.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Wright Stuff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3yQEAAAAMBAJ|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|date=1985-12-21|language=en|page=2|volume=97|issue=51|issn=0006-2510|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> In 1990 he released the gospel album ''Fresh Hymns'', followed by ''Brand New Gospel Format'' in 1991, and ''Fresh Hymns II'' in 1992. He released an album with [[Sadao Watanabe (musician)|Sadao Watanabe]], titled ''Go Straight Ahead' N Make a Left'', in 1997. In 2000 he formed a trio with Alfredo Elias and Damon Banks and released the album ''Back to Our Roots''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Bernard Wright returns with jazz trio Too BAD Juna debut.|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sg4EAAAAMBAJ|publisher = Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|date = 2000-03-25|language = en|first = Jeff|last = Lopez|page=26|volume=112|issue=13|issn=0006-2510|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

Wright also appeared on recordings by musicians including Miami Mike Devine Pennington, [[Doug E. Fresh]], [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]], [[Bobby Brown]], [[Pieces of a Dream (band)|Pieces of a Dream]], [[Charles Earland]], [[Marcus Miller]], and [[Miles Davis]]. After his recording days, Wright continued playing keyboards in Dallas, where he mentored younger artists.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 10 Questions for Musician Michael League|url = http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/10-questions-musician-michael-league|website=Theartsdesk.com|access-date = 2015-11-20|last = Quinn|first = Peter| date=9 November 2014 }}</ref>

Bernard Wright died on May 19, 2022 at the age of 58 after being hit by a car while crossing a street in Dallas. He was married to Anita Wright for nearly 40 years and is survived by his children Bernard Jr., Christopher, and Victoria Wright.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Memoriam: Funk, jazz legend Bernard Wright dies at 58 |url=https://defendernetwork.com/news/national/in-memoriam-funk-jazz-legend-bernard-wright-dies-at-58/ |publisher=Defender Network |date=May 25, 2022|access-date=October 27, 2022 }}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== {|class=wikitable |- |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |- ! style="width:40px;"| [[Billboard 200|US]] <ref name="Awards">{{cite web |title=Bernard Wright – Awards |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-wright-mn0000057427/awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014081318/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-wright-mn0000057427/awards |archive-date=October 14, 2014}}</ref> ! style="width:40px;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US R&B]] <ref name="Awards"/> ! style="width:40px;"| US Jazz <ref name="Awards"/> |- | rowspan="1"| 1981 | ''[['Nard]]'' | {{center|1=116}} | {{center|1=53}} | {{center|1=7}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1983 | ''Funky Beat'' | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=58}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1985 | ''[[Mr. Wright]]'' | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=25}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1990 | ''Fresh Hymns'' | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1991 | ''Brand New Gospel Format'' | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1992 | ''Fresh Hymns II'' | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}

===Singles=== {|class=wikitable |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |- ! style="width:40px;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]] <ref name="Awards"/> ! style="width:40px;"| [[Dance Club Songs|US Dance]] <ref name="Awards"/> |- | rowspan="2"| 1981 | "Just Chillin' Out" | {{center|1=33}} | {{center|1=85}} |- | "Haboglabotribin'" | {{center|1=78}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1982 | "Won't You Let Me Love You" | {{center|1=88}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="1"| 1983 | "Funky Beat" | {{center|1=39}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | rowspan="3"| 1985 | "[[Who Do You Love (Bernard Wright song)|Who Do You Love]]" | {{center|1=6}} | {{center|1=44}} |- | "After You" | {{center|1=23}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | "Yo 'Nard" | {{center|1=—}} | {{center|1=—}} |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Discogs artist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Bernard}} [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:2022 deaths]] [[Category:African-American musicians]] [[Category:American boogie musicians]] [[Category:American funk keyboardists]] [[Category:American jazz keyboardists]] [[Category:American jazz singers]] [[Category:Arista Records artists]] [[Category:GRP Records artists]] [[Category:Manhattan Records artists]] [[Category:Musicians from Miami]] [[Category:Jamaica Boys members]] [[Category:Musicians from Queens, New York]] [[Category:People from Jamaica, Queens]] [[Category:Road incident deaths in Texas]]