Lead Singer Edna Wright, of Honey Cone of million-selling #1 pop and R&B hit “Want Ad’s” Passes Away
LOS ANGELES, CA, September 12, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ — It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Edna Wright, best-known for the four years she spent as the lead singer of the female vocal trio “Honey Cone”.
In her pre-Honey Cone days, Wright sang backup for various artists, including Ray Charles and the Righteous Brothers. And she also recorded as a solo artist in the ’60s; using the pseudonym Sandy Wynns, Wright recorded a solo single, titled “A Touch of Venus,” for the Champion label.
It was in 1969 that Wright’s best-known gig got underway; that year, she formed Honey Cone when her sister Darlene Love of the Blossoms needed to pass on a TV appearnace and asked if she could fill in. Edna then hired Shelly Clark and Carolyn Willis to form the Honey Cone. Well known for their million-selling #1 pop and R&B hit ‘Want Ad’s’, which debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #79 on April 10, 1971. Within nine weeks on the chart, “Want Ads” was at the #1 position for the week starting June 12 and remained there for 3 weeks.
In 1973, Honey Cone broke up, but their demise meant that Wright was free to pursue a solo career and in 1976, her first solo LP, Oops! Here I Go Again, was released by RCA.
She provided background vocals for a variety of major rock, R&B, and gospel artists, including Kim Carnes, U2, and Andrae Crouch in the ’80s and Maria McKee (of Lone Justice fame) and fellow soul veteran Aaron Neville in the ’90s.
“Working together with Edna was magical.” Original ‘Honey Comb’ member Carolyn Willis reflects. “My heart is broken and my love and thoughts go out to her family and daughter Melodye.”
“As a longtime friend and fortunate colleague of Edna, I am blessed to have shared such an inspiring part of my career with her.” states Shelly Clark, original Honey Cone Member. “She was a force who was loved by so many, including me. It was such devastating news. My heart is with her family and daughter Melodye during this painful time.”
Wright suffered from COPD and she was having a very difficult time breathing. During their attempt to revive her, she suffered a heart attack at Encinco Medical Center.
She leaves behind her husband and songwriter, Greg Perry, her son Joel Perry, daughter Melodye Perry and a grandaughter. Wright was 76 years old.
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