Bernard Wright

Bernard Wright (born November 16, 1963) is 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. He attended the Fiorello Laguardia High School of Music & the Performing Arts in New York. Classmates included writer Carl Hancock Rux, gospel recording artist Desiree Coleman Jackson, and rappers Slick Rick and Dana Dane. He was offered a slot touring with Lenny White when he was 13, 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. In 1990 he released the gospel album Fresh Hymns. In 200 he formed a duo with Alfredo Elias and Damon Banks and released the album Back To Our Roots.

Bernard Wright (footballer)

Bernard Anthony Wright (born 8 June 1940) is a Northern Irish former footballer. In English football he was nicknamed "Paddy". He played on the right-wing for Sligo Rovers, Port Vale, and Stafford Rangers.

Playing career

Wright played for Sligo Rovers before crossing the Irish Sea to try his luck in England with Norman Low's Port Vale in August 1962. He replaced John Rowland as the Vale's number 7, but in November new manager Freddie Steele dropped Wright for Rowland. He made 14 Third Division and one League Cup appearances for the "Valiants", and scored goals in a 1–0 win over Colchester United at Layer Road (10 September) and a 2–1 win over Watford at Vicarage Road (18 May). Wright was loaned out to Stafford Rangers in April 1963, before leaving Vale Park on a free transfer the next month.

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