O.V. Wright
Encyclopedia
Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright (October 9, 1939 — November 16, 1980) was an American
singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul
's most authoritative and individual artists. His best known songs are "That's How Strong My Love Is
" (1964), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (1965), "Nucleus of Soul" (1968), "A Nickel and a Nail" (1971), "I Can't Take It" (1971) and "Ace of Spades (song)
" (1971).
, Tennessee
, Wright, as a youngster, began singing in the church and later fronted a gospel music
group, the Harmony Echoes. It was during this time that he was discovered (along with James Carr
) by Roosevelt Jamison
a songwriter
and manager. Their first pop
recording
in 1964 was "That's How Strong My Love Is
", a ballad later covered
by Otis Redding
and the Rolling Stones. It was issued on Goldwax, the label Wright signed to after leaving his gospel career. It was later determined that Don Robey
still had him under a recording contract
, due to his gospel group having recorded for Peacock. After his contract was shifted to Don Robey
’s Back Beat label, further R&B
hits
followed. Working with record producer
Willie Mitchell, success continued on songs including "The Ace of Spades" and "A Nickel and a Nail".
However, Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offences during the mid-1970s, and, despite signing for Hi Records
and releasing a series of recordings, his commercial success failed to recover after his release. A continuing drug problem weakened his health and he died from a heart attack
, in Mobile, Alabama
at age 41.
, perhaps mostly for being sampled
frequently in hip hop music
. More recently, his song, "Motherless Child" was sampled on the Ghostface Killah
album Ironman
on a song also called "Motherless Child." It and another Wright recording, "Let's Straighten It Out
" have been published on Shaolin Soul
, a compilation of tracks that have been sampled by the Wu Tang Clan and its members. "Let's Straighten It Out" was sampled in a Wu-Tang Clan song called "America" from the charity compilation album
America Is Dying Slowly
. "Ace of Spades" was sampled by Slim Thug
and the Boss Hogg Outlawz on a song named "Recognize A Playa".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul
Southern soul
Southern soul is a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originated from a combination of styles, including blues , country, early rock and roll, and a strong gospel influence that emanated from the sounds of Southern African-American churches. The focus of the...
's most authoritative and individual artists. His best known songs are "That's How Strong My Love Is
That's How Strong My Love Is
"That's How Strong My Love Is" was a hit debut song by deep soul singer O. V. Wright in 1964. The single was a hit on the American R&B Chart.The B-side is "There Goes My Used to Be".-Song profile:...
" (1964), "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (1965), "Nucleus of Soul" (1968), "A Nickel and a Nail" (1971), "I Can't Take It" (1971) and "Ace of Spades (song)
Ace of Spades (song)
"Ace of Spades" is a song by the English band Motörhead, released in 1980 as a single and the title track to the album Ace of Spades. The song spent 12 weeks in the United Kingdom Singles Chart, peaking at #15.-Overview:...
" (1971).
Biography
Born in LenoLeno
Leno is the surname of Jay Leno, comedian and talk show host.Leno may also refer to:* Leno, Italy* Leno * Leno, a stock character in theatre of ancient Rome who is a slave dealer or pimpPeople with the surname Leno...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Wright, as a youngster, began singing in the church and later fronted a gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
group, the Harmony Echoes. It was during this time that he was discovered (along with James Carr
James Carr (musician)
James Carr , was an American Rhythm & Blues and soul singer.Born to a Baptist preacher's family in Coahoma, Mississippi, Carr began singing in church and was performing in gospel groups and making tables on an assembly line in Memphis, Tennessee, when he began recording in the mid-'60s for Goldwax...
) by Roosevelt Jamison
Roosevelt Jamison
Roosevelt Jamison was a music manager, publicist and songwriter in Memphis, Tennessee, during the 1960s....
a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and manager. Their first pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
in 1964 was "That's How Strong My Love Is
That's How Strong My Love Is
"That's How Strong My Love Is" was a hit debut song by deep soul singer O. V. Wright in 1964. The single was a hit on the American R&B Chart.The B-side is "There Goes My Used to Be".-Song profile:...
", a ballad later covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
and the Rolling Stones. It was issued on Goldwax, the label Wright signed to after leaving his gospel career. It was later determined that Don Robey
Don Robey
Don Robey was an American record label executive, songwriter and record producer, who used criminal means as part of his business model...
still had him under a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, due to his gospel group having recorded for Peacock. After his contract was shifted to Don Robey
Don Robey
Don Robey was an American record label executive, songwriter and record producer, who used criminal means as part of his business model...
’s Back Beat label, further R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
followed. Working with record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Willie Mitchell, success continued on songs including "The Ace of Spades" and "A Nickel and a Nail".
However, Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offences during the mid-1970s, and, despite signing for Hi Records
Hi Records
Hi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....
and releasing a series of recordings, his commercial success failed to recover after his release. A continuing drug problem weakened his health and he died from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
at age 41.
Legacy
Wright is among the most remembered voices of soul musicSoul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, perhaps mostly for being sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
frequently in hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. More recently, his song, "Motherless Child" was sampled on the Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
album Ironman
Ironman (album)
Ironman is the solo debut album by American hip hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released October 29, 1996, on Epic Records...
on a song also called "Motherless Child." It and another Wright recording, "Let's Straighten It Out
Let's Straighten It Out
"Let's Straighten It Out" is the name of a hit soul song by R&B/blues singer Latimore. From his debut album More, More, More, the single spent two weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart in November, 1974. It also peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.The single was...
" have been published on Shaolin Soul
Shaolin Soul
Shaolin Soul is a two-volume compilation of music sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan, and their various solo albums. The samples are principally for the tracks produced by RZA, and as such, largely cover the earlier years of their career....
, a compilation of tracks that have been sampled by the Wu Tang Clan and its members. "Let's Straighten It Out" was sampled in a Wu-Tang Clan song called "America" from the charity compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
America Is Dying Slowly
America Is Dying Slowly
America Is Dying Slowly is a compilation album, the eighth in the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series of recorded by the Red Hot Organization...
. "Ace of Spades" was sampled by Slim Thug
Slim Thug
Stayve Jerome Thomas , better known as Slim Thug, Boss Hogg or Thug Boss, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the popular single from rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'"....
and the Boss Hogg Outlawz on a song named "Recognize A Playa".
Discography
- 1965 If It's Only For Tonight (Back Beat RecordsBack Beat RecordsBack Beat Records was the soul sub-label of Duke Records started in 1957. It was later acquired by ABC Records in the 70's. The label's biggest hits included "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head & The Traits, "Tell Me Why" by Norman Fox and The Rob Roys, and "Everlasting Love" by Carl Carlton...
) - 1967 8 Men And 4 Women (Back Beat Records)
- 1968 Nucleus Of Soul (Back Beat Records)
- 1971 A Nickel And A Nail And Ace Of Spades (Back Beat Records)
- 1973 Memphis Unlimited (Back Beat Records)
- 1977 Into Something I Can't Shake Loose (Hi RecordsHi RecordsHi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....
) - 1977 The Wright Stuff (Hi Records)
- 1978 The Bottom Line (Hi Records)
- 1979 0.V. Wright Live (Hi Records)
- 1979 We're Still Together (Hi Records)
External links
- O.V. Wright at Hi RecordsHi RecordsHi Records was a Memphis soul and rockabilly label started in 1957 by singer Ray Harris, record store owner Joe Cuoghi, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch , and three silent partners, including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce....
in Memphis - O.V. Wright MySpace tribute page
- ovwright.org O.V. Wright Memorial Fund