# Bernard Wright > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bernard_Wright > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bernard_Wright.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Wright > Source revision: 1333856981 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American musician (1963–2022) This article is about the American singer. For the Northern Irish footballer, see [Bernard Wright (footballer)](/source/Bernard_Wright_(footballer)). For the English footballer, see [Bernie Wright](/source/Bernie_Wright). Bernard Wright Also known as Nard Born (1963-11-16)November 16, 1963 Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. Died May 19, 2022(2022-05-19) (aged 58) Dallas, Texas, U.S. Genres Gospel, post-disco, jazz, contemporary R&B, jazz fusion Occupations Musician, singer, songwriter Instruments Keyboards, vocals Years active 1980–2022 Labels Manhattan/EMI Records Arista GRP/MCA Records Musical artist **Bernard Wright** (November 16, 1963 – May 19, 2022) was an American [funk](/source/Funk) and [jazz](/source/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](/source/Jamaica%2C_Queens), New York.[1] In the liner notes to his debut album *['Nard](/source/'Nard)*, he stated that his mother is Lessie Wright.[2] His [godmother](/source/Godparent) was singer [Roberta Flack](/source/Roberta_Flack).[3] He attended the [High School of Performing Arts](/source/High_School_of_Performing_Arts) in New York.[4] His classmates included writer [Carl Hancock Rux](/source/Carl_Hancock_Rux) and gospel recording artist [Desiree Coleman Jackson](/source/Desiree_Coleman). He was offered a slot touring with [Lenny White](/source/Lenny_White) when he was 12, and he played with [Tom Browne](/source/Tom_Browne_(trumpeter)) at the age of 16.[5][6] [GRP Records](/source/GRP_Records) signed him in 1981 and released his debut album *['Nard](/source/'Nard)*, tracks from which were prominently sampled in hits by [Dr. Dre](/source/Dr._Dre), [Snoop Dogg](/source/Snoop_Dogg), [Skee-Lo](/source/Skee-Lo), and [LL Cool J](/source/LL_Cool_J).[7] The album was re-released in 2001. He followed with *Funky Beat* (1983) on [Arista](/source/Arista_Records) and *[Mr. Wright](/source/Mr._Wright)* (1985) on [Manhattan Records](/source/Manhattan_Records). The latter of these albums included his biggest [R&B](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Songs) appearance, "[Who Do You Love](/source/Who_Do_You_Love_(Bernard_Wright_song))", for which a video was made that is featured in the title sequence of *[Video Music Box](/source/Video_Music_Box)*. The female vocalist was Marla Adler.[8] 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](/source/Sadao_Watanabe_(musician)), 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*.[9] Wright also appeared on recordings by musicians including Miami Mike Devine Pennington, [Doug E. Fresh](/source/Doug_E._Fresh), [Cameo](/source/Cameo_(band)), [Bobby Brown](/source/Bobby_Brown), [Pieces of a Dream](/source/Pieces_of_a_Dream_(band)), [Charles Earland](/source/Charles_Earland), [Marcus Miller](/source/Marcus_Miller), and [Miles Davis](/source/Miles_Davis). After his recording days, Wright continued playing keyboards in Dallas, where he mentored younger artists.[10] 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.[11] ## Discography ### Albums Year Title Peak chart positions US [12] US R&B [12] US Jazz [12] 1981 'Nard 116 53 7 1983 Funky Beat — 58 — 1985 Mr. Wright — 25 — 1990 Fresh Hymns — — — 1991 Brand New Gospel Format — — — 1992 Fresh Hymns II — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ### Singles Year Title Peak chart positions US R&B [12] US Dance [12] 1981 "Just Chillin' Out" 33 85 "Haboglabotribin'" 78 — 1982 "Won't You Let Me Love You" 88 — 1983 "Funky Beat" 39 — 1985 "Who Do You Love" 6 44 "After You" 23 — "Yo 'Nard" — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Decurtis, Anthony (March 23, 1997). ["Two Seasoned Voices, Together Raised for a Cause"](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/23/arts/two-seasoned-voices-together-raised-for-a-cause.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *'Nard* (Liner notes). [Arista Records](/source/Arista_Records). 1981. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Abraham, Mya (May 20, 2022). ["Bernard Wright, Funk and Jazz Singer and Godson of Roberta Flack, Dead at 58"](https://www.vibe.com/news/national/bernard-wright-dead-1234663868/). *[Vibe](/source/Vibe_(magazine))*. Retrieved May 21, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Fiorello laguardia alumni"](http://laguardiahs.org/alumni/). Retrieved November 20, 2015.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-OMG_5-0)** Kellman, Andy. ["Bernard Wright Biography"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-wright-mn0000057427#biography). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** McPhate, Christian (May 24, 2022). ["Bernard Wright, Sampled By Everyone, Mentored Young Musicians"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2668562978). *[Dallas Observer](/source/Dallas_Observer)*. [Voice Media Group](/source/Voice_Media_Group). [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [2668562978](https://www.proquest.com/docview/2668562978). Retrieved June 19, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Sunday Selection: LL Cool J and Bernard Wright – "Who Do You Love?""](http://allhiphop.com/2009/12/27/sunday-selection-ll-cool-j-and-bernard-wright-who-do-you-love/). *Hip-Hop News, Rumors, Rap Music & Videos |AllHipHop*. December 27, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["The Wright Stuff"](https://books.google.com/books?id=3yQEAAAAMBAJ). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Vol. 97, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 21, 1985. p. 2. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-2510](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Lopez, Jeff (March 25, 2000). ["Bernard Wright returns with jazz trio Too BAD Juna debut"](https://books.google.com/books?id=sg4EAAAAMBAJ). *Billboard*. Vol. 112, no. 13. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 26. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0006-2510](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0006-2510). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Quinn, Peter (November 9, 2014). ["10 Questions for Musician Michael League"](http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/10-questions-musician-michael-league). *Theartsdesk.com*. Retrieved November 20, 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["In Memoriam: Funk, jazz legend Bernard Wright dies at 58"](https://defendernetwork.com/news/national/in-memoriam-funk-jazz-legend-bernard-wright-dies-at-58/). Defender Network. May 25, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Awards_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Awards_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Awards_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Awards_12-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Awards_12-4) ["Bernard Wright – Awards"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141014081318/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-wright-mn0000057427/awards). AllMusic. Archived from [the original](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bernard-wright-mn0000057427/awards) on October 14, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2024. ## External links - [Bernard Wright](https://www.discogs.com/artist/64796) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Norway Poland Artists MusicBrainz People Deutsche Biographie --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bernard Wright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Wright) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Wright?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.