Best known as the leader of `70s soul group The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and the composer of the resourcefully recycled R&B smash “Express Yourself,” Charles Wright has evolved into a tireless watchdog of African American history. Mr. Wright is author of the richly engrossing “Up From Where We’ve Come”: his first in a 3-part series of autobiographies – this one detailing his childhood in a family of. This 2016 release is available as a physical book, a digital download and an audio book.
Charles Wright was born and raised near Clarksdale, Mississippi. After his family moved to Los Angeles, Charles discovered music at Manual Arts High School, shortly after taking up singing, songwriting and playing guitar. He worked a few manual labor jobs including the pressing plant at Top Records before singing in doo-wop groups The Twilighters, The Galahads and The Shields [which also included Jesse Belvin with Johnny “Guitar” Watson accompanying, who scored a hit with “You Cheated” (#11 R&B / #12 Pop)]. Charles was briefly A&R Director at Del-Fi Records where he co-produced the1961 hit “Those Oldies but Goodies (Remind Me of You)” by Little Caesar and the Romans.
By 1964, he formed Charles Wright & the Wright Sounds (Barry White played the drums for them briefly) that evolved into Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band which included drummer James Gadson (lead singer of their hit “Loveland”) and guitarist Al McKay (later a key member of Earth Wind & Fire). Initially backing comedian Bill Cosby, this 8-piece ensemble of rhythm and horns became the first R&B band signed to Warner Bros. Records.
Charles’ and the band’s best known number is the international crossover smash “Express Yourself” (#3 R&B / #12 Pop), written, arranged and sung by Charles. Since the Summer of `70, the Grammy-nominated song has enjoyed a long and lucrative life for Wright; sampled by many rap artists (including groundbreaking “Straight Outta Compton” gangster rappers N.W.A); utilized in dozens of commercials for everything from Burger King fast food in America to Bitburger beer in Germany; used in many movies (including “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”); and, in sports, has been used by the PGA, the Summer Olympics and the NBA. Wright also re-arranged “Express Yourself” for a public service campaign as “Protect Yourself,” a message to youth to use condoms that he performed at the first “AIDS Walk Circle of Life Concert.”
1969’s “Do Your Thing” (a masterful edit of a jam recorded live at the Haunted House club in Hollywood in 1967), was memorably utilized in the 1997 film “Boogie Nights” (set in the 1977 world of big screen XXX-rated movie making).
Charles Wright recorded five LPs with the band and one solo LP for Warner Bros. (Poetry & Rhythm – 1972) followed by three for ABC-Dunhill. In the `90s, Wright started his own label, A Million Dollars’ Worth of Memories Records, through which he has released ten CDs. The 2014 CD Let’s Make Love Tonight featured the single/video “I’ll Give You Time.” His latest CD, Something to Make You Feel Good, was released in spring of 2016 featuring the single/video “She Don’t Believe In Love” as well as the pre-release video “Looking For an Ugly Woman.” The company also released the concert DVD “Live at The Ford Theater.”
The video department of Charles’ company produced a documentary, “Bring Back the Harmony,” which follows Wright in his quest to return music education to the school system. It also produced 30 half-hour episodes of an interview show entitled “Express Yourself” showcasing the lives and careers of celebrities from rock and roll pioneer Little Richard to Hollywood actor James McEachin.
Still going strong, Charles possesses a wealth of knowledge, experience and anecdotes – humorous to profound – that make him a compelling personality for interviews, panels and multi-media platforms. And with his book “Up From Where We’ve Come” generating strong responses from those that have read it, it’s proven his perspectives hold great value with the community at large.
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