28/02/2025
Remembering Syreeta Wright (who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta) on the day of her birth, singer–songwriter, best known for her music during the early–1970s through the early–1980s. Wright's career heights were songs involved with her ex–husband Stevie Wonder and musical artist Billy Preston.
She emerged out of the 1970s Motown scene and was the first wife of singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder. She collaborated with him on several Motown hits, including 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered,' 'If You Really Love Me' and 'It's A Shame.' Syreeta Wright was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 3, 1946. She began singing at age 4. Her father was killed in the Korean War and she was raised by her mother and grandmother, and attended private school after her family moved to Detroit, Michigan when she was 11 years old. There was a move to South Carolina when she was age 15 and then she returned to Detroit. Wright had dreams of being a ballet dancer but the costs of training discouraged her from pursuing this dream. She soon developed an intrest in writing and singing. Music led her to the offices of Motown Records. In the 1960s, Wright worked as a secretary in one of Motown's arranging departments. She later became a performer after being discovered by Motown writer/producer Brian Holland. Berry Gordy simplified Wright's name to Rita and she began recording background vocals during the 1960s releasing a single of her own in 1967 'I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel For You,' an Ashford and Simpson underground classic originally written for Diana Ross. The following year, and following the suggestion by Stevie Wonder, she became a songwriter. Wright went on to make a bigger splash at Motown as a songwriter. One early success between the two was the song 'It's A Shame' for the Spinners. By 1970, the collaboration with Wonder saw the release of the song 'Signed, Sealed Delivered, I'm Your's,' a song she co-wrote with Wonder, Lee Garrett and Lula Hardaway. That same year, she collaborated with Wonder on his album 'Where I'm Coming From,' co-writing the songs 'Do Yourself A Favor,' 'Something Out of the Blue,' 'If you Really Love Me' (a song on which she sang) and 'Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer.' Wonder and Wright dated and eventually married on September 14, 1970 and although they were divorced just 18 months later, they continued to work together for several years. She then married drummer Curtis Roberstson whom she also later divorced. In 1972, she released her debut album, simply entitled 'Syreeta'. In 1974, Wright and Wonder collaborated again on the album 'Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta.' This set brought her chart success with the singles 'Your Kiss Is Sweet' and 'Spinning & Spinning'. On background vocal chores, the line-up included singers Deniece Williams and the late Minnie Riperton. Wright and Wonder's last collaboration came with the song 'Harmour Love,' which became another crossover hit and was later included on her 1977 album 'One to One.' She recorded one album with G. C. Cameron, entitled 'Rich Love, Poor Love," in 1977, before collaborating with Billy Preston, an association that saw the pair producing the film 'Fast Break.' The couples major success came with the U. S. and U. K. top 10 hit, 'With You I'm Born Again,' in 1979. In 1980, Wright recorded the song 'And So It Begins,' which has become a rare grove over the years. She and Preston completed a further album project in 1981 and a singe release entitled 'Go For It.' That same year she released the album 'Set My Love In Motion.' Shortly thereafter, family affairs took over and Wright stopped recording for a while. She returned to the studio in the late 1980s, recording several tracks for Ian Levine's Motor City label, including a solo rendition of 'With You I'm Born Again' and new duets with Bill Preston. Throughout her career Wright wrote, or recorded with Sheree Brown, George Howard, Gary Bartz, Patrice Rushen, Wayne Henderson, Jeffrey Osborne, The Stair Steps, George Duke, Quincy Jones and Donald Byrd among others, at various times. R.I.P.
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