Musician, songwriter and singer Bernard Wright has died at the age of 58 in a traffic accident. Wright is known for his 1985 hit “Who Do You Love” which was co-written with jazz drummer Lenny White. Wright was a precocious keyboard player who was performing with White and trumpeter Tom Browne when he was a teenager. He was only 17-years old when he signed a deal with GRP Records and 18 when his debut album Nard was released in 1981. The album moved into a top ten position on the jazz chart and was the beginning of his work as a solo artist.
His third album Mr. Wright delved into R&B with Marcus Miller and Lenny White as the album’s producers. The video for “Who Do You Love” was the most successful song from Mr. Wright and the video was played heavily on Video Music Box. The pulse of the tune continued with it being sampled by hip-hop artists Dr. Dre and LL Cool J. Wright’s recording career ended in 1993 after the release of three gospel albums. His work outside of the solo realm included making records with Miles Davis, Doug E. Fresh, Bobby Brown, Cameo and Charles Earland. The New York native had relocated to Dallas, Texas and most recently spent his time mentoring younger musicians and playing in local bands. Wright’s lifelong immersion in music includes having the singer Roberta Flack as a godmother.
