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Lizz Wright

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Lizz Wright
Background information
Birth nameElizabeth LaCharla Wright
Born (1980-01-22) January 22, 1980 (age 44)
Hahira, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
LabelsConcord, Verve
Websitelizzwright.net
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.

Early life and education[edit]

Wright was born in the small town of Hahira, Georgia which is northwest of Valdosta, 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 became interested in jazz and blues. She attended Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia where she was in choral singing and received the National Choral Award. She went to Georgia State University in Atlanta to study singing.[2] Then she studied at The New School in New York[3] and in Vancouver, BC.

Career[edit]

Wright joined the In the Spirit in 2000, a vocal quartet based in Atlanta; in 2002 she signed a recording contract with Verve Records. Her musical compositions and vocal style have led to her being 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 was a jazz and pop blend incorporating folk music.[2] Dreaming Wide Awake was released in June 2005[5] and was 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 of the songs on Fellowship are gospel standards.[10]

Discography[edit]

Wright at Stockholm Jazz Festival, 2009

As guest[edit]

References[edit]

  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. ^ a b c d 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.

Sources and external links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lizz Wright.
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