Lizz Wright

Last updated
Lizz Wright
Lizz Wright.jpg
Background information
Birth nameElizabeth LaCharla Wright
Born (1980-01-22) January 22, 1980 (age 44)
Hahira, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Labels Concord, Verve
Website lizzwright.net
Lizz Wright at Stockholm Jazz Festival, 2009 Lizz Wright (2) 2009.jpg
Lizz Wright at Stockholm Jazz Festival, 2009

Elizabeth LaCharla Wright (born January 22, 1980) [1] professionally known as Lizz Wright, is an American jazz and gospel singer.

Contents

Early life and education

Wright was born in the small town of Hahira, Georgia, one of three children and the daughter of a minister and the musical director [2] of their church. She started singing gospel music and playing piano in church as a child, and also became interested in jazz and blues. She attended Houston County High School, where she was heavily involved in choral singing, receiving the National Choral Award. She went on to Georgia State University in Atlanta to study singing. [2]

Since then she has studied at The New School in New York, [3] and in Vancouver, BC.

Career

Wright joined the Atlanta-based vocal quartet In the Spirit in 2000, and in 2002 she signed a recording contract with Verve Records, where her musical compositions and vocal style led her to be compared to Norah Jones. [2]

Her first album, Salt , was released in the spring of 2003 [4] and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2004. Her next release maintained the jazz and pop blend, while incorporating folk music. [2] Dreaming Wide Awake was released in June 2005 [5] and reached No. 1 on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2005 and 2006.

In 2008, Wright released The Orchard to positive reviews. [6] [7] [8] [9] She released her fourth album, Fellowship , in 2010. Most songs on Fellowship are gospel standards. [10]

Discography

Wright at Stockholm Jazz Festival, 2009 Lizz Wright at Stockholm Jazz Fest 2009.jpg
Wright at Stockholm Jazz Festival, 2009

As guest

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References

  1. Rose, Mike (January 22, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 22, 2023 includes celebrities Diane Lane, Guy Fieri". Cleveland.com . Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Rizik, Christopher (2003–2010). "Lizz Wright Biography". SoulTracks.com. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  3. "Lizz Wright", JazzTimes .
  4. "Salt", Billboard, May 24, 2003.
  5. "Lizz Wright, Back with 'Dreaming Wide Awake'", NPR Music, June 14, 2005.
  6. Anthony Tognazzini, Review of The Orchard, AllMusic.
  7. Christian John Wikane, "Lizz Wright - The Orchard (2008)", Soul Tracks.
  8. Jim Fusilli, "Lizz Wright, Refined Risk-Taker", The Wall Street Journal , March 12, 2008.
  9. Phil Johnson, "Album: Lizz Wright, The Orchard (Verve Forecast)", The Independent, March 23, 2008.
  10. Lizz Wright biography Archived 2016-07-29 at the Wayback Machine at Verve.