O.V. Wright

by Bill DahlA truly incendiary deep soul performer. O. V. Wrights melismatic vocals and Willie Mitchells vaunted Hi Rhythm Section combined to make classic Memphis soul during the early 70s. Overton Vertis Wright learned his trade on the gospel circuit with the Sunset Travelers before going secular in 1964 with the passionate ballad Thats How Strong My Love Is for Goldwax in Memphis. Otis Redding liked the song so much that he covered it, killing any chance of Wrights version hitting. Since Wright was already under contract to Houston-based Peacock as a gospel act, owner Don Robey demanded his return, and from then on, Wright appeared on Robeys Backbeat subsidiary. Wrights sanctified sound oozes sweet soul on the spine-chilling Youre Gonna Make Me Cry, a 1965 smash, but it took Memphis producer Willie Mitchell to wring the best consistently from Wright. Utilizing Mitchells surging house rhythm section, Wrights early-70s Backbeat singles Ace of Spades, A Nickel and a Nail, and I Cant Take It rank among the very best Southern soul of their era. No disco bandwagon for O. V. Wright — he kept right on pouring out his emotions through the 70s, convincing his faithful that Id Rather Be (Blind, Crippled & Crazy) and that he was Into Something (Cant Shake Loose). Unfortunately, he apparently was — drugs have often been cited as causing Wrights downfall; the soul great died at only 41 years of age in 1980.