Debbie Wright
Debbie Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 18, 1951 |
| Died | October 12, 2017 (aged 66) Detroit, Michigan |
Debbie Wright (June 18, 1951 – October 12, 2017) was an American funk vocalist, best known for her role in shaping the vocal sound of Parliament-Funkadelic during the 1970s and as a founding member of Parlet, the first all-female P-Funk spin-off group. Her work contributed to the collective's signature harmonies and stage performances.
Biography
[edit]Debbie Wright was born on June 18, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan. She began her career in the late 60s as a session singer for The Parliaments.[1] Building on her early studio work, Wright—alongside Jeanette Washington—became one of the first official female members of Parliament-Funkadelic.[2]
Throughout the mid-1970s, Wright contributed backing vocals to several Parliament (band) and Funkadelic albums, including Mothership Connection (1975), The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976), and One Nation Under a Groove (1978).[3] She was also part of the P-Funk Earth Tour, appearing on the live album Live: P-Funk Earth Tour (1977).[4]
By 1978, George Clinton sought to showcase his female background singers in their own act.[5] That year, he formed Parlet, a P-Funk spinoff trio composed of Wright, Franklin, and Washington.[6] The group released their debut album, Pleasure Principle, on Casablanca Records that same year, featuring Wright on lead and background vocals.[7] Shortly after the album's release, Wright was replaced by Shirley Hayden and left the group due to health reasons. Though her time in Parlet was brief, Wright’s vocals and presence helped set the tone for the group’s distinct style.[8]
Debbie Wright passed away on October 12, 2017, in Detroit, Michigan. Her contributions to Parliament-Funkadelic and Parlet are considered essential to the evolution of the P-Funk sound and legacy.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Debbie Wright — GeorgeClinton.com". Georgeclinton.com. 2025.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Soul. Backbeat Books. p. 194.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2001). Funk. Backbeat Books. p. 275.
- ^ "Parlet – Jazz Rock Soul". JazzRockSoul. January 10, 2018.
- ^ "Parlet – Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ^ Clinton, George (2014). Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You?. Atria Books. p. 189.
- ^ Kinley, Tim (January 8, 2024). "Parlet: The P-Funk Ladies Step Up". CultureSonar.
- ^ Bedrosian, Daniel (2023). The Authorized P-Funk Song Reference. Hardcover.
- ^ "R.I.P. P-Funk and Parlet singer Debbie Wright". SoulTracks. October 15, 2017.