OPEN POST: Manor Music Monday With The Fabulous Betty Wright!

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Welcome, music hors, to another edition of Manor Music Monday, and the first in November after the you-know-what tsunami or shellacking or spanking or whatever you want to call it. All DJ Li'l Scratch knows is that a lot more people are out clubbing, dancing and slipping him prime 'nip. Is DJ Li'l Scratch high? Let's put it this way; that scratching post in the DJ booth has been decimated, m'k? 

Meanwhile, did you know? This past Tuesday, it was our nation's Black Queens who once again helped save the day. Have you thanked your neighborhood's Black Queens today? Speaking of queens, the songstress below was long known as Miami's Queen of Soul, and tonight, at the Manor's "Black Pearl" lounge and dinette, DJ Li'l Scratch will be spinning her irresistible tunes all night long. 


Yes, it's Betty Wright, and her electrifying "Live" LP may have been recorded over thirty years ago, but make no mistake, it sounds as urgent and fresh as anything recorded today. It almost seems like her entire career - which began when she sang in her family's gospel group at age two and continued on with hit records and a Grammy Award - was just a preamble for this one knock-'em-dead performance. 

You can hear how heavily she's influenced the likes of Joss Stone and Beyonce (she was Beyonce's mentor and vocal coach in her early years, dont'cha know), but Betty arguably outshines them all. Why? Just give a listen to the justly famed and epic live track, "Clean Up Woman Medley," which rockets from blues to soul to jazz to R&B. The execution is stunning - and more important, the soul is real.


If you're new to Betty, rest assured, she always delivers, what with her astonishing five-octave range and powerfully emotive performances. It's why she got signed for her first R&B album at age 14 (or 12, depending on the source) with Deep City Records. She also had business acumen to spare, later starting her own successful record label, Ms. B Records, to combat the gender pay inequality she encountered. How successful was her label? Quite successful, thank you very much; she became the first Black woman to earn a certified gold album on her own indie label. Also, you best not mess with her. In 1992, she won a landmark royalty lawsuit against the producers of Color Me Badd's hit "I Wanna Sex You Up," for sampling her live track "Tonight is the Night" (which you can hear below) without her permission, thereafter nabbing a 35% share of the group's past and ongoing royalties and a songwriting credit. Now when artists sample Betty, they rightly pay. 

But really, it's the music that matters most with Betty. Though I love all of her LPs, her "Live" LP remains my favorite. Hit play and you'll be hooked, I promise.


What are you listening to this week? DJ Li'l Scratch wants to know.
Till next time...purr, bitches, purr! 🐾

Photo Credits: Getty Images

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