Bernard Wright
American musician (1963–2022)
title: "Bernard Wright" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1963-births", "2022-deaths", "african-american-musicians", "american-boogie-musicians", "american-funk-keyboardists", "american-jazz-keyboardists", "american-jazz-singers", "arista-records-artists", "grp-records-artists", "manhattan-records-artists", "musicians-from-miami", "jamaica-boys-members", "musicians-from-queens,-new-york", "people-from-jamaica,-queens", "road-incident-deaths-in-texas"] description: "American musician (1963–2022)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Wright" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American musician (1963–2022) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| background | person |
| name | Bernard Wright |
| alias | Nard |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| genre | Gospel, post-disco, jazz, contemporary R&B, jazz fusion |
| instruments | Keyboards, vocals |
| occupation | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| years_active | 1980–2022 |
| label | |
| :: |
| background = person | name = Bernard Wright | image = | caption = | image_size = | alias = Nard | birth_date = | birth_place = Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S. | genre = Gospel, post-disco, jazz, contemporary R&B, jazz fusion | instruments = Keyboards, vocals | occupation = Musician, singer, songwriter | years_active = 1980–2022 | label = | website =
Bernard Wright (November 16, 1963 – May 19, 2022) was an American funk and jazz keyboardist and singer who began his career as a session musician and later released four solo albums.
Biography
Wright was born in Jamaica, Queens, New York. In the liner notes to his debut album 'Nard, he stated that his mother is Lessie Wright. His godmother was singer Roberta Flack.
He attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York. His classmates included writer Carl Hancock Rux and gospel recording artist Desiree Coleman Jackson. He was offered a slot touring with Lenny White when he was 12, and he played with Tom Browne at the age of 16.
GRP Records signed him in 1981 and released his debut album 'Nard, tracks from which were prominently sampled in hits by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Skee-Lo, and LL Cool J. The album was re-released in 2001. He followed with Funky Beat (1983) on Arista and Mr. Wright (1985) on Manhattan Records. The latter of these albums included his biggest R&B appearance, "Who Do You Love", for which a video was made that is featured in the title sequence of Video Music Box. The female vocalist was Marla Adler. In 1990 he released the gospel album Fresh Hymns, followed by Brand New Gospel Format in 1991, and Fresh Hymns II in 1992. He released an album with Sadao Watanabe, titled Go Straight Ahead' N Make a Left, in 1997. In 2000 he formed a trio with Alfredo Elias and Damon Banks and released the album Back to Our Roots.
Wright also appeared on recordings by musicians including Miami Mike Devine Pennington, Doug E. Fresh, Cameo, Bobby Brown, Pieces of a Dream, Charles Earland, Marcus Miller, and Miles Davis. After his recording days, Wright continued playing keyboards in Dallas, where he mentored younger artists.
Bernard Wright died on May 19, 2022 at the age of 58 after being hit by a car while crossing a street in Dallas. He was married to Anita Wright for nearly 40 years and is survived by his children Bernard Jr., Christopher, and Victoria Wright.
Discography
Albums
::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Peak chart positions | US | US R&B | US Jazz | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1981 | 'Nard | | | | | | 1983 | Funky Beat | | | | | | 1985 | Mr. Wright | | | | | | 1990 | Fresh Hymns | | | | | | 1991 | Brand New Gospel Format | | | | | | 1992 | Fresh Hymns II | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | | | | | | ::
Singles
::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Peak chart positions | US R&B | US Dance | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1981 | "Just Chillin' Out" | | | | | "Haboglabotribin'" | | | | | | 1982 | "Won't You Let Me Love You" | | | | | 1983 | "Funky Beat" | | | | | 1985 | "Who Do You Love" | | | | | "After You" | | | | | | "Yo 'Nard" | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | | | | | ::
References
References
- Decurtis, Anthony. (March 23, 1997). "Two Seasoned Voices, Together Raised for a Cause". [[The New York Times]].
- (1981). "'Nard". [[Arista Records]].
- Abraham, Mya. (May 20, 2022). "Bernard Wright, Funk and Jazz Singer and Godson of Roberta Flack, Dead at 58".
- "Fiorello laguardia alumni".
- Kellman, Andy. "Bernard Wright Biography". [[AllMusic]].
- McPhate, Christian. (May 24, 2022). "Bernard Wright, Sampled By Everyone, Mentored Young Musicians". [[Voice Media Group]].
- (27 December 2009). "Sunday Selection: LL Cool J and Bernard Wright – "Who Do You Love?"".
- (1985-12-21). "The Wright Stuff". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
- Lopez, Jeff. (2000-03-25). "Bernard Wright returns with jazz trio Too BAD Juna debut.". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
- Quinn, Peter. (9 November 2014). "10 Questions for Musician Michael League".
- (May 25, 2022). "In Memoriam: Funk, jazz legend Bernard Wright dies at 58". Defender Network.
- "Bernard Wright – Awards". AllMusic.
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