[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MS. BETTY WRIGHT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 9, 2009

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize and 
honor Ms. Betty Wright, South Florida's very own recording artist who 
continues to contribute greatly to the musical landscape of not only 
Miami-Dade County, but of the Nation through her artistry and musical 
talent. She has influenced a generation of female singer-songwriters, 
as well as the world of hip hop.
  A native Miamian, Ms. Wright was born on December 21, 1953. She began 
her music career with her family in a gospel group called the Echoes of 
Joy. In 1965, she began switching to R&B music when she was only 11 
years old. She released her first album, My First Time Around, in 1968. 
Her first hit single was ``Girls Can't Do What Guys Can Do.'' Toward 
the end of 1971, Ms. Wright's single ``Clean Up Woman'' became a Top 5 
Pop and R&B hit, which later influenced artist, Mary J. Blige's ``Real 
Love'' with the sample of its guitar riffs. The single also influenced 
R & B group, SWV's single ``I'm So In To You''; Afrika Bambaataa's 
song, ``Zulu War Chant''; and Sublime's ``Get Out!'' remix. 
Additionally, R&B artist, Beyonce has sampled ``Girls Can't Do What The 
Guys Do'' for her hit ``Upgrade U.''
  Ms. Wright's other noted singles are ``Tonight is the Night'' (1974) 
and ``Where Is the Love'' (1975). ``Where Is the Love'' won a Grammy 
for Best R&B Song in 1975. After experiencing a brief slump in the 
early 1980s, she rebounded and found her own record label, Ms. B 
Records. In 1988, she made music history by becomming the first woman 
to have a gold record on her own label with the release of Mother Wit, 
which featured two of her most famous hits, ``No Pain No Gain'' and the 
``After the Pain.'' On both songs, Ms. Wright displays her upper 
register capabilities and seven-octave range. In 2001, she released a 
compilation album, The Very Best of Betty Wright. Her first studio 
album, Fit for a King, was also released the same year.
  Currently, Ms. Wright continues to record music and mentors several 
young singers. She has done vocal production for the likes of Gloria 
Estefan, Jennifer Lopez and Joss Stone.
  Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring 
Ms. Betty Wright, a true beacon of hope and musical talent from the 
17th Congressional District of Florida. She is an outstanding American 
worthy of our collective honor and appreciation. It is with deep 
respect and admiration that I commend Ms. Wright for sharing her 
beautiful talents with the rest of us. Through all of her adversity she 
continued to grace us with her gift of song.

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