Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 11-27-15 Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015
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Betty Wright And Shirley Murdock Coming To Town For Big Show
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
As part of a star-studded cast that will feature Clarence Carter, Shirley Murdock, and Bishop Bullwinkle, the “Clean Up Woman” herself, Betty Wright will be ap- pearing as part of 1828 Entertain- ment’s Southern Soul Music Festival.
The show will be on Satur- day, November 28th at Water Works Park, and gates will open at 1 p. m. with the show begin- ning at 2 p. m. and culminating at 8 p.m.
Ms. Wright began her career at the age of two when her siblings formed the gospel group, the Echoes of Joy. She contributed to vocals on the group’s first album that was re- leased in 1956. She performed with her 6 siblings until the mid-1960s.
In 1965 when the group broke up, Wright, 11 at the time, decided to switch musical styles fro0m gospel to rhythm and blues, and started singing in local talent shows until she was spotted by a Miami record label owner, who signed her to her first label in 1966 when she was 12.
At the age of 14, she discovered other local talents like George and Gwen McCrae, and helped them sign with Alston Records.
While still in high school in 1970, Wright released “Pure Love” at the age of 16.
She has not stopped working since she first started, and in the past 8 years, she’s had several Grammy nominations.
“I’ve managed to stay quite busy during my 50-plus year career.
“I never really wanted to be a singer. I wanted to teach physical ed- ucation or be an attorney. Singing just chose me. Everyone in my family sings,” so it was just meant to be.”
She said people tend to re-write
history, and when her book comes out, everyone will know the truth.
“Anyone who knows the Miami sound, knows how it got started. I’m happy to have maintained and still headlining all over the world.
“What a lot of people don’t know is I rarely performed in Miami during my career.”
Her biggest challenge has been the pay scale in the industry when it comes to women.
“Guys get paid more than women, and that’s just history. I think we work as hard as everyone else. I thank God for today’s female singers who are getting their money.
“I was the first African American woman to go gold as a solo artist, and I remember walking pregnant in the snow looking for a record deal. You just have to keep working. I’m going to do what God wants me to do.”
Wright said today’s artists still lean on the artists from the past, and not all of them give the original artists credit.
“It can be profitable for the origi- nal artists, but sometimes they try to be slick.”
She has been hosting songwriting classes for almost 10 years based upon watching so many die with their dreams deferred.
“I’ve been doing vocal coaching since 1977. I’ve put different bands to- gether, and I just took the best of the best.
“I’ve been fortunate to be able to mix the different types of music, and I actually have a 4-year-old attending my classes. I’m passionate about the music and the business.”
She said she knows this is going to be a great show, and she’s worked many times with Shirley and Clarence, and she’s talked with Bishop Bullwinkle.
Mrs. Murdock said she’s been performing for 30 years, and thanks
Roger Troutman and his brother, Larry, for launching her career.
“I met Roger in 1982, and actu- ally sang background for him. I miss him and Larry. They were great mentors and they grew me up in the music business. It was a great loss with both of them gone.
“As far as when I started singing is concerned, I think I was born singing. Instead of crying when the doctor spanked me, I started singing. As a young child, I tried singing like Aretha Franklin.”
Mrs. Murdock said growing up in Toledo, Ohio was a dream, and it was there she knew she’d make a ca- reer as an artist.
“I grew up enjoying the Motown sound, and I was able to see a lot of the artists, being so close to Detroit.
“I was never trained as a singer. I took a little piece of the history of Mo- town and applied it to myself.”
Mrs. Murdock said she’s done a lot of film work, and she’s done a lot of work with Tyler Perry. She started her acting career in the early 1990s.
“I try to encourage a lot of the as- piring young artists to stay with it and
keep their passion alive. I try to pass on wisdom and we need to be mindful before we start complaining about today’s artists.
“We need to guide them, and di- rect them to the pioneers of the in- dustry who can teach them what it takes to be successful over the long haul.”
Looking back, Mrs. Murdock said one thing that was very special to her was appearing on Soul Train.
“Many of us would have been pushed aside and remained unknown if it weren’t for the artists of the past and the successful African American shows gave us that outlet so everyone could see and hear us.
“Young people are doing their re- search now and finding out more about the music they’re performing. Every generation has to express themselves. It’s important we share our experiences.”
Mrs. Murdock said today’s artists need to think about what lies ahead and what they need to do to make their decisions the right ones.
“I believe every gift comes from God, and I’m looking forward to join- ing Betty, Clarence, and Bishop Bullwinkle in Tampa.”
BETTY WRIGHT
SHIRLEY MURDOCK