Mr.Charles Wright
Charles Wright, musician, lyricist, producer, singer and founder of the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, has dedicated his life to sharing good times, grooves and messages. He released his "“Finally Got It Wright 2007 remix CD", in June of 2007. The CD surveys some of his most profound R&B recordings of the last decade, featuring a variety of live musicians.
The making of this CD, – "Played by human beings, not machines" – is an attempt to bring some semblance of balance back to the… music played before the introduction of electronic drums. Music of the 80”s, which impeded the flow of a long musical tradition from the grand orchestral jazz compositions of Duke Ellington and Count Bassie during the 40”s, the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Doo Wop, Soul and Funk era. Hip Hop brought the focus back through their sampling from that rich tradition, however as Charles says, there’s nothing like the real thing!”
In his pursuit of continuing creative excellence, Wright illustrates his extensive range within the realm of popular American music on “"I Finally Got It Wright”" which, people of every shade in the rainbow should appreciate. Wright gets right down to business with the sensational "Line Dance Song",” which he intends to use as a catalyst to launch the CD.
“"I'’m not Columbia, RCA or Capital",” he says. So, I do not intend to pretend that I can compete on their level. I am a small company, therefore, if it takes me three, four or even five years to complete the job or more, I intend to concentrate on “"Finally Got It Wright”" because I honestly and truly believe in it. Wright say’s he is sure that "if radio should ever decide to embrace his new CD, “it will reveal a container of a half dozen hit singles. ”Express Yourself,” “Line Dance Song,” “You, “Unseen Dirt,” “Is It Real?” and many others.
While primarily known for his funk, Charles Wright releases the love man inside himself on this CD as well with sumptuous ballads like "“You", the blue light in the basement corner grinder “"Is It Real?”" and Jessie Belvin’s, “"Goodnight My Love".” He gives his Afro-Latin Rhythm chops a workout on the historic and appropriately titled "So Hot" (featuring James Jamerson Sr. on bass, Eddie “Brown on percussion, and Clydeen Jackson on piano). Wright’s patented food for thought numbers, “"Follow Your Spirit",” and "“Unseen Dirt Still Hurts"” are, balanced out by ballads like “"This Is Your Night".” The remaining highlights are the Stevie Wonder inspired "“Protect Yourself"” and "“God Bless the Children" a tune primarily written for the children of Darfu.
I call what I do ‘honest music because it is music that I actually live. This music in the spirit of its creator, Mr. Louis Jordon – is Rhythm & Blues… whether you wanna call it Soul, Funk, Rock & Roll, Pop, Doo-Wop, Country & Western or whatever. I do it all here. Its all ‘expression’, and is done to the best of my ability.
Charles Wright was born near Clarksdale, Mississippi. The family moved to Los Angeles when he was 12. Which eventually led to his interest in music. He started on a piano that was left in the second house his family resided in, and later elevated to vocals, guitar, bass and drums.
As a teenager, Wright led and composed for several Doo-wop groups, beginning with the Twilighters (Eternally), The Shields (who peaked at #12 with You Cheated) the Galahads (who recorded Lonely Guy which peaked at #62 in Billboard magazine.
After a stint as A&R director for Delphi Records, he produced yet another hit. "Those Oldie But Goodies (reminds me of you)" on Little Caesar and The Romans. Charles became one of Hollywood’s most sought after studio musicians, while simultaneously becoming a nightclub sensation with his own band, Charles Wright & He Wright-sounds. After recording renowned Los Angeles DJ Magnificent Montague’s theme song, "Spreading Honey". He founded the history-making Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. – The first successful rhythm & blues act for the Warner Bros. Seven Arts Record label, signed in 1967 at the behest of the label’s biggest black star at the time, Mr. Bill Cosby. The “Watts” band backed Cosby on his first two musical albums, "Silver Throat & The Salvation Army Band": Bill Cosby Sings.
Over six albums for Warner, and three for ABC-Dunhill, Charles Wright – with and without the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band gained popularity from a string of popular ‘60s and ‘70s hits, including "Express Yourself", "Do Your Thing", "Loveland", "Your Love (means everything to me)", and the underground classic, "Ninety Day Cycle People".
His Forthright bordering on preaching, singing voice, razor sharp rhythm grooves, good natured vibe, knack for putting together incomparable bands of musicians and occasional profound lyrics {dig his classic Comment (if All Men Are Truly Brothers)}, has given him a place of honor within the history book of S.O.U.L.
Charles Wright’s music has been covered by recording artists as wide ranging as the legendary Ray Charles, Jazz great Les McCann, pop star Della Reese, late great Ohio Funkateer Roger Troutman & Zapp, neo soul love man Musiq (Soul Child), former monkiees member Mickey Dolenz… and he Swiss Longine Symphony Orchestra! And with the uprising of hip hop in the 80’'s many rap acts have lifted chunks of funk from Charles Wright wax, including N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Brand Nubian Funk, By Nature, Silk Da’ Shocker and tast-maker/mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
The most enduring and lucrative of all of Charles Wright’s compositions is his summer of 1970 liberation anthem, "Express Yourself". Over the years, it’s infectious rhythm and message have been co-opted to sell Nike shoes, Red Lobster dinners, Rhodes furniture, Gatorade sports drinks, Burger King “Whoppers”, Hanes underwear, and currently by Botox , Tide detergent and. "Express Yourself" sold Bit Burger Beer and Algida Ice Cream across the European continent. Basketballs, Los Angeles Lakers showcased "Express Yourself" at their start up games, and the NBA featured the soul classic in its 2004, “I Love this Game” television campaign. Kinkos uses "Express Yourself" in its international Marketing strategy. Kohl’s Clothing Stores’ chose "Express Yourself" for its “Spring Fashion” theme for an entire season. The Jenny Jones Show” copped it as a theme for an entire season as well. "Express Yourself" also provided the theme for both the Democratic National Convention, and the 2004 Olympic Game’s Celebration.
Charles Wright also lays claim to some impressive motion picture soundtrack credits: from the pioneering ‘70s “blaxploitation” classic "“Cotton Comes to Harlem”" to Queen Latifa’s directorial debut, "The Cookout".” Whenever a film calls for an instantly recognizable slice of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s period music, Mr. Wright is the guy to call. Charles Wright classics have been utilized in pictures such as "Panther”" and “"The People vs. Larry Flint". “His song "Do Your Thing", set the stage for a chilling plot turn, in the movie, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, “Boogie Nights.” Most of the time, Wright’s music is used because it just makes audiences feel good…. In everything from action movies to comedies, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s "“Mr. & Mrs. Smith"” to family films like the remake of "“The Shaggy Dog"” and the Steve Martin series "“Cheaper By the Dozen".
Most recently, Charles Wright has issued the CDs "“Going To The Party",” “Music For "The Times We Live In"” and his debut Blues album "High Maintenance Woman”" on his own A Million $ Worth of Memories Record label.
The making of this CD, – "Played by human beings, not machines" – is an attempt to bring some semblance of balance back to the… music played before the introduction of electronic drums. Music of the 80”s, which impeded the flow of a long musical tradition from the grand orchestral jazz compositions of Duke Ellington and Count Bassie during the 40”s, the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Doo Wop, Soul and Funk era. Hip Hop brought the focus back through their sampling from that rich tradition, however as Charles says, there’s nothing like the real thing!”
In his pursuit of continuing creative excellence, Wright illustrates his extensive range within the realm of popular American music on “"I Finally Got It Wright”" which, people of every shade in the rainbow should appreciate. Wright gets right down to business with the sensational "Line Dance Song",” which he intends to use as a catalyst to launch the CD.
“"I'’m not Columbia, RCA or Capital",” he says. So, I do not intend to pretend that I can compete on their level. I am a small company, therefore, if it takes me three, four or even five years to complete the job or more, I intend to concentrate on “"Finally Got It Wright”" because I honestly and truly believe in it. Wright say’s he is sure that "if radio should ever decide to embrace his new CD, “it will reveal a container of a half dozen hit singles. ”Express Yourself,” “Line Dance Song,” “You, “Unseen Dirt,” “Is It Real?” and many others.
While primarily known for his funk, Charles Wright releases the love man inside himself on this CD as well with sumptuous ballads like "“You", the blue light in the basement corner grinder “"Is It Real?”" and Jessie Belvin’s, “"Goodnight My Love".” He gives his Afro-Latin Rhythm chops a workout on the historic and appropriately titled "So Hot" (featuring James Jamerson Sr. on bass, Eddie “Brown on percussion, and Clydeen Jackson on piano). Wright’s patented food for thought numbers, “"Follow Your Spirit",” and "“Unseen Dirt Still Hurts"” are, balanced out by ballads like “"This Is Your Night".” The remaining highlights are the Stevie Wonder inspired "“Protect Yourself"” and "“God Bless the Children" a tune primarily written for the children of Darfu.
I call what I do ‘honest music because it is music that I actually live. This music in the spirit of its creator, Mr. Louis Jordon – is Rhythm & Blues… whether you wanna call it Soul, Funk, Rock & Roll, Pop, Doo-Wop, Country & Western or whatever. I do it all here. Its all ‘expression’, and is done to the best of my ability.
Charles Wright was born near Clarksdale, Mississippi. The family moved to Los Angeles when he was 12. Which eventually led to his interest in music. He started on a piano that was left in the second house his family resided in, and later elevated to vocals, guitar, bass and drums.
As a teenager, Wright led and composed for several Doo-wop groups, beginning with the Twilighters (Eternally), The Shields (who peaked at #12 with You Cheated) the Galahads (who recorded Lonely Guy which peaked at #62 in Billboard magazine.
After a stint as A&R director for Delphi Records, he produced yet another hit. "Those Oldie But Goodies (reminds me of you)" on Little Caesar and The Romans. Charles became one of Hollywood’s most sought after studio musicians, while simultaneously becoming a nightclub sensation with his own band, Charles Wright & He Wright-sounds. After recording renowned Los Angeles DJ Magnificent Montague’s theme song, "Spreading Honey". He founded the history-making Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band. – The first successful rhythm & blues act for the Warner Bros. Seven Arts Record label, signed in 1967 at the behest of the label’s biggest black star at the time, Mr. Bill Cosby. The “Watts” band backed Cosby on his first two musical albums, "Silver Throat & The Salvation Army Band": Bill Cosby Sings.
Over six albums for Warner, and three for ABC-Dunhill, Charles Wright – with and without the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band gained popularity from a string of popular ‘60s and ‘70s hits, including "Express Yourself", "Do Your Thing", "Loveland", "Your Love (means everything to me)", and the underground classic, "Ninety Day Cycle People".
His Forthright bordering on preaching, singing voice, razor sharp rhythm grooves, good natured vibe, knack for putting together incomparable bands of musicians and occasional profound lyrics {dig his classic Comment (if All Men Are Truly Brothers)}, has given him a place of honor within the history book of S.O.U.L.
Charles Wright’s music has been covered by recording artists as wide ranging as the legendary Ray Charles, Jazz great Les McCann, pop star Della Reese, late great Ohio Funkateer Roger Troutman & Zapp, neo soul love man Musiq (Soul Child), former monkiees member Mickey Dolenz… and he Swiss Longine Symphony Orchestra! And with the uprising of hip hop in the 80’'s many rap acts have lifted chunks of funk from Charles Wright wax, including N.W.A., A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Brand Nubian Funk, By Nature, Silk Da’ Shocker and tast-maker/mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
The most enduring and lucrative of all of Charles Wright’s compositions is his summer of 1970 liberation anthem, "Express Yourself". Over the years, it’s infectious rhythm and message have been co-opted to sell Nike shoes, Red Lobster dinners, Rhodes furniture, Gatorade sports drinks, Burger King “Whoppers”, Hanes underwear, and currently by Botox , Tide detergent and. "Express Yourself" sold Bit Burger Beer and Algida Ice Cream across the European continent. Basketballs, Los Angeles Lakers showcased "Express Yourself" at their start up games, and the NBA featured the soul classic in its 2004, “I Love this Game” television campaign. Kinkos uses "Express Yourself" in its international Marketing strategy. Kohl’s Clothing Stores’ chose "Express Yourself" for its “Spring Fashion” theme for an entire season. The Jenny Jones Show” copped it as a theme for an entire season as well. "Express Yourself" also provided the theme for both the Democratic National Convention, and the 2004 Olympic Game’s Celebration.
Charles Wright also lays claim to some impressive motion picture soundtrack credits: from the pioneering ‘70s “blaxploitation” classic "“Cotton Comes to Harlem”" to Queen Latifa’s directorial debut, "The Cookout".” Whenever a film calls for an instantly recognizable slice of the late ‘60s/early ‘70s period music, Mr. Wright is the guy to call. Charles Wright classics have been utilized in pictures such as "Panther”" and “"The People vs. Larry Flint". “His song "Do Your Thing", set the stage for a chilling plot turn, in the movie, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s film, “Boogie Nights.” Most of the time, Wright’s music is used because it just makes audiences feel good…. In everything from action movies to comedies, like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s "“Mr. & Mrs. Smith"” to family films like the remake of "“The Shaggy Dog"” and the Steve Martin series "“Cheaper By the Dozen".
Most recently, Charles Wright has issued the CDs "“Going To The Party",” “Music For "The Times We Live In"” and his debut Blues album "High Maintenance Woman”" on his own A Million $ Worth of Memories Record label.
