Bernard Wright
Bernard Charles Wright (born November 16, 1963 in Jamaica , New York ) is an American funk and jazz musician and keyboardist who celebrated his greatest successes in the 1980s.
biography
Bernard Wright is the son of the famous soul singer Roberta Flack . Wright got into the Jamaica Queens' R&B / funk scene of the late 1970s as a teenager. He attended the New York High School of Performing Arts and was able to make various contacts that were important for his future career. Hip-hop pioneers like Slick Rick and Dana Dane were there at the same time as him . At 13, he toured supporting Lenny White and at 16 with Tom Browne .
In 1981 he signed his first recording contract with GRP Records and brought out his debut album Nard . Some of the songs on the album were popularized by hip-hop artists such as Dr. Dre , Snoop Dogg , Skee-Lo and LL Cool J used for their own song material in the 1990s. His debut album was the only one to find a place on the Billboard 200 .
Funky Beat for Arista followed in 1983 and Mr. Wright for Manhattan Records in 1985 . Both achieved placements on Billboard's Top R / B / Hip-Hop Albums.
Two more solo albums and two more collab albums were released in the 1990s.
In addition to his solo career, Bernard Wright was involved in more than 200 productions as a session musician.
Discography
Studio albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | R&B | |||
1981 | Nard |
US116 (14 weeks) US |
R&B23 (24 weeks) R&B |
|
1983 | Funky beat | - |
R&B25 (27 weeks) R&B |
Arista Records
|
1985 | Mr. Wright | - |
R&B58 (5 weeks) R&B |
Manhattan Records
|
1990 | Fresh Hymns | - | R&B-R&B |
Frontline Records
|
1991 | Brand New Gospel Format | - | - |
Frontline Records
|
Collab albums
- 1997: Sadao Watanabe feat. Bernard Wright: Go Straight Ahead 'N Make A Left ( Verve Records )
- 1999: Too Bad & Bernard Wright: Back to Our Roots Vol. 1 (Banga / Juna)
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | R&B | Dance | |||
1981 | Haboglabotribin ' Nard |
- |
R&B78 (4 weeks) R&B |
- | |
Just chillin 'out Nard |
- |
R&B33 (12 weeks) R&B |
Dance85 (2 weeks) Dance |
||
Won't You Let Me Love You Nard |
- |
R&B88 (2 weeks) R&B |
- | ||
1983 | Funky Beat Funky Beat |
- |
R&B39 (13 weeks) R&B |
- | |
1985 | Who Do You Love Mr. Wright |
- |
R&B6 (19 weeks) R&B |
- | |
1986 | After you, Mr. Wright |
- |
R&B23 (13 weeks) R&B |
- |
More singles
- 1983: Video Generation
- 1985: Yo 'Nard
Guest contributions (selection)
- 1979: Same by Taana Gardner (piano, clavinet)
- 1979: Browne Sugar by Tom Browne (piano)
- 1980: Coming to You Live by Charles Earland (synthesizer)
- 1980: Love Approach by Tom Browne (synthesizer, piano)
- 1980: Sure Shot by Crown Heights Affair (keyboards)
- 1981: Magic by Tom Browne (piano)
- 1982: Blow by Rick James presents Bobby M (producer, saxophone, flute, piano, synthesizer, background vocals)
- 1982: Stone Mason by Harvey Mason (piano)
- 1983: Rockin 'Radio by Tom Browne (keyboards, synthesizers, percussion, backing vocals)
- 1983: Attitude by Lenny White (synthesizer, piano, drum programming)
- 1986: Word Up! by Cameo (keyboards)
- 1986: Oh, My God! by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew (drum programming, guitar, synthesizer)
- 1986: Joyride von Pieces of a Dream (songwriting, percussion, keyboards)
- 1986: King of Stage by Bobby Brown (keyboards on Baby, I Wanna Tell You Something )
- 1986: Tutu by Miles Davis (synthesizer)
- 1986: Rhythm & BLU by John Blake , Didier Lockwood and Michał Urbaniak (keyboards)
- 1987: La La by La La ( We'll Keep Striving , duet)
- 1987: Surrender by Working Week (arrangement by Ain't That Peculiar )
- 1987: Spread the Love by Juicy (keyboards)
- 1987: Same by The Jamaica Boys (keyboards, vocals)
- 1987: A Change of Heart by David Sanborn (synthesizer)
- 1988: Machismo by Cameo (keyboards)
- 1988: CK by Chaka Khan (keyboards on Where Are You Tonite )
- 1988: Big Money by Ca $ hflow (keyboards)
- 1988: Groovin ' by Missing Links (synthesizers, keyboards)
- 1989: Tomi by Tomi Jenkins (keyboards)
- 1989: Summertime (12``) by Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew (vocals)
- 1989: Urban Express by Michał Urbaniak (producer, keyboard, vocals, synthesizer, drum programming)
- 1989: Songs for Poland by Michał Urbaniak (drums on Can't Complain and Simple Solution )
- 1989: Silent Assassin by Sly & Robbie (keyboards)
- 1989: Same by Constina (keyboards)
- 1989: The Blue Note Concert by Stanley Jordan (keyboards for Blues and Lady in my Life )
- 1989: Time Peace by Al MacDowell (keyboards on Ode Bra and Come See Tomorrow )
- 1990: John Jacobs And The Power Team Soundtrack (keyboards, drum programming)
- 1990: J Boys by The Jamaica Boys (songwriting, keyboards, vocals)
- 1990: Cornucopia by Stanley Jordan (keyboards)
- 1990: Code Blue by Michał Urbaniak (keyboards, drum programming, vocals for I Want to Know Your Name )
- 1991: Number 7 by Commissioned (keyboards)
- 1991: Caught in a Land of Time by Freedom of Soul (vocals and piano on Skin Deep )
- 1993: Never Lose Your Heart by Noel Pointer (organ, synthesizer)
- 1994: Roberta von Roberta Flack (vocals with In a Sentimental Mood , piano, synthesizer, keyboards)
- 1994: Tales from the Bright Side by Alex Bugnon (vocals with Thighs High , co-producer, synthesizer, keyboards, drum programming)
- 1994: Same von Urbanator (songwriter, keyboards with First Flight )
- 1995: Tales by Marcus Miller (clavinet, synthesizer, organ, marimba , piano)
- 1996: Renderors of Spirit by Lenny White (synthesizer, keyboards, piano)
- 1997: IV: Blazing Hot by Nice & Smooth (vocals with Same Old Brand New Style )
- 1998: Live in New York by Stanley Jordan (keyboards on Still Got the Blues and Lady in My Life )
- 1988: Live by Marcus Miller featuring Kenny Garrett (keyboards)
- 2001: M² by Marcus Miller (organ)
- 2001: Here by Dean Brown (keyboards)
- 2001: Same by Josh Alan Band (organ)
- 2001: A Distant Star by Shelley Carrol (piano)
- 2001: In Concert by Marcus Miller (keyboards)
- 2003: Hard Groove by The RH Factor (backing vocals, keyboards, piano, organ, harp)
- 2004: Groove Warrior by Dean Brown (synthesizer)
- 2005: Silver Rain by Marcus Miller (keyboards)
- 2007: Real to Reel by Snarky Puppy and Country Fried Soulband (keyboards for Snarky Puppy)
- 2007: Free by Marcus Miller (synthesizer on blast , organ on funk joint )
- 2008: Bring Us the Bright by Snarky Puppy (keyboards)
- 2010: Tranz-Fused by Michael Harris (keyboard solo with Seizure Salad )
- 2012: Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings The Beatles by Roberta Flack (keyboards)
- 2013: Miles of Blue by Michał Urbaniak (piano)
- 2014: Philthy by Philip Lassiter (synthesizer, piano)
Web links
- Bernard Wright at Discogs (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Anthony Decurtis: Two Seasoned Voices, Together Raised for a Cause . In: The New York Times . March 23, 1997, ISSN 0362-4331 ( nytimes.com [accessed June 4, 2019]).
- ↑ a b Bernard Wright at Allmusic (English). Retrieved March 6, 2019
- ↑ http://allhiphop.com/2009/12/27/sunday-selection-ll-cool-j-and-bernard-wright-who-do-you-love/
- ↑ a b Chart sources: US Billboard Charts . Retrieved March 6, 2019
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Wright, Bernard |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Wright, Bernard Charles |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American funk musician and jazz musician and keyboard player |
DATE OF BIRTH | November 16, 1963 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Jamaica (Queens) , New York |