It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce the passing of the lovely Motown vocalist Syreeta Wright. The Pittsburgh native succumbed on July 5th at the age of 58 after a long struggle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and fans.


For Stevie fans who don't have these albums, I encourage you to pick this CD Up.
GET IT HERE

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 18TH
CD edition limited to 5000 individually numbered copies.

She has the voice of an angel, the prose of our greatest poets, the gratitude of countless devoted fans. Syreeta did six albums for Motown and is best known to the general public for her hit duet with Billy Preston, “With You I’m Born Again.” But it’s her first two albums, produced by Stevie Wonder, who was then her husband, that are her artistic legacy.

Syreeta was first a Motown secretary, hoping for a break in the late Sixties, when producers Ashford & Simpson worked with her on “I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel for You.” Her early work seemed to some like rehearsals for her elevation as lead singer of the Supremes, to replace Diana Ross, or to try out material for Miss Ross that was either rejected or ended up on her solo albums.

Then Syreeta began a personal and professional collaboration with Stevie Wonder. They worked together on Stevie’s Where I’m Coming From; she made a memorable cameo on the hit “If You Really Love Me.” While furthering his independence with the landmark album, Music Of My Mind, Stevie also co-wrote with Syreeta and produced her solo debut album, originally available on the short-lived MoWest label. Their personal life spills into the tracks, especially on the playful “I Love Every Little Thing About You,” which was also re-cut by Stevie for his album; and “To Know You Is To Love You,” appearing here in a longer, unfaded version than what was on the original vinyl. (Stevie later revived it for B.B. King.) The ethereal “Black Maybe” was later covered by Freddie Hubbard, in which the jazz legend attempts to re-create the beauty of Syreeta’s unmistakable voice. Rounding out the album are two covers, of The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home,” and Smokey Robinson’s “What Love Has Joined Together.”


The record was well-received critically but not commercially. Despite the setback, Syreeta and Stevie returned to the studio. Stevie’s second phase of his career had taken off, with the albums Talking Book, which featured several co-compositions with Syreeta, Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale. Their creative juices were flowing. The tracks were more energetic but no less autobiographical: Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta is a song-suite of their relationship, from love to marriage to breakup to friendship in 40 breathtaking minutes. “Spinnin’ And Spinnin’” and “I’m Going Left” were hits in the U.K. Guitarist Jeff Beck covered “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” and, like Freddie Hubbard, did his best on his instrument to emulate Syreeta’s voice.

Syreeta was reissued on CD nine years ago, in Japan only. Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta was available on a CD in the U.S. ten years ago. Neither was available for very long after that. Now, both albums can be had on one 78-minute disc, with beautiful packaging that includes never-before-seen photographs from the LP cover sessions and a revealing essay featuring quotes from Syreeta.
[This message was edited Tue Jul 6 16:44:59 2004 by psykosoul]

Damn!! after I paid all that money for the Import 1rstCD and the rare domestic 2nd CD!! But I gotta get it again, for the liner notes!!

paligap said:

Syreeta
Syreeta/Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta

Syreeta is sweet-voiced and smiling. Hers is the voice I hear on the turntable when I am 17 and in love with a young woman who whispers in my ear, holds my hand, has my heart pounding. Hers is the voice I hear as, for the first time, I learn to make love.


Decades pass. Suddenly I'm an adult working in the music business. I meet Syreeta. She is still sweet-voiced and smiling, her head wrapped in a rich-red turban. There is a brief moment to say hello, to tell her of my admiration.



Listening to these tracks today, I hear her voice anew. My love for her artistry grows deeper. I am thankful that her songs are permanently connected to the life of my heart.



- HW


Syreeta Wright did six albums at Motown. “With You I’m Born Again,” her 1980 duet with Billy Preston, was her biggest hit. Yet it’s her first two LPs, written and produced in collaboration with Stevie Wonder, that define her. They are romantic and imaginative – softly funky odes to love and life.



Syreeta and Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta rescued her from the shadow of Diana Ross. Once a Motown secretary, then a candidate to replace Ross in the Supremes in the late Sixties, Syreeta was often on the receiving end of the star’s leftovers.



“I was Diana Ross’s musical garbage can for a few years,” she told John Abbey of Blues & Soul magazine after the release of her debut LP. “The songwriters who couldn’t get through to Diana ended up bringing their songs to me. The company must have [recorded] enough material for ten albums.”



One single was issued, “I Can’t Give Back The Love I Feel For You,” coupled with “Something On My Mind,” both co-written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Brian Holland was part of the writing, producing and artist development process: “He felt Syreeta was hard for people to pronounce,” says the Pittsburgh native, “and thought ‘Rita Wright’ would make a good stage name.” The single came and went and, true to form, both songs ended up on Ross solo albums. Syreeta went back to her original name.



“My parents just liked the sound of it,” she says. “A friend of mine met someone from India [who] said ‘Syreeta’ meant ‘sweet singer’ in his native dialect.”



Stevie Wonder, fast developing into a musical genius, entered the picture. They collaborated on “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” Wonder’s first self-produced release that became a huge hit in the summer of 1970. Their partnership led to marriage, in September 1970, during the sessions for his adventurous coming-of-age album, Where I’m Coming From. Syreeta co-wrote with Wonder each of the LP’s nine songs, including “If You Really Love Me,” a Top 10 hit in 1971 that featured her pure yet soulful co-lead vocal. Stevie was 21, Syreeta 25.



They recorded Syreeta’s solo debut album in Los Angeles, co-writing three of the album’s nine tracks: “Keep Him Like He Is,” “Baby Don’t You Let Me Lose This” and “To Know You Is To Love You,” later produced by Stevie for B.B. King. Syreeta wrote “Happiness” while Stevie delivered “How Many Days” and the meditative “Black Maybe,” later covered as a haunting instrumental by Freddie Hubbard. “I Love Every Little Thing About You,” the album’s playful opening cut, ended up re-cut by Stevie for Music Of My Mind. Imaginative covers of The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home” and Smokey Robinson’s “What Love Has Joined Together” round out the LP.



“That album is my all-time favorite,” Syreeta told SoulMusic.com in 2001. “It had a lot of different flavors and the musicianship was incredible. Since Stevie was sometimes late for the sessions, I got a chance to do a lot of my own vocals.



“When we were doing the record, we were having some problems in our relationship. We got married at a very young age, and no one gave us a manual. For me, the album was about my hope that maybe we could salvage our marriage. A lot of the vocals are coming from that space.”



Struggling to keep their personal union intact, Stevie and Syreeta together wrote songs for his next two, groundbreaking albums: “Girl Blue” and “Evil” for Music Of My Mind and, for Talking Book, the sublime ballads “Blame It On The Sun,” “You’ve Got It Bad Girl,” “Looking For Another Pure Love” and “I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever).” Both albums featured several of the same musicians, singers and engineers who performed on Syreeta’s first LP.



"Working with Stevie is an experience in itself,” Syreeta told Blues & Soul magazine in January 1973, after her solo album and Stevie’s two albums were released. “I trust him in a way that I would never trust anybody else. He works the whole thing out so that all I have to do is come to the studio and sing the song. Then, if I wanted to, I could go away and know that it would turn out the way I would wanted it to. We are lucky that the company leaves Stevie to create the way he thinks best.”



“We write much of the material together,” she continues. “I am more of a lyricist, with Stevie setting it to music. But he is writing his own lyrics, too, now. I only have to hum an iea of a melody to him and he immediately cleans it up and sets it the way I imagine it should sound. He's that creative.”



Yet their marriage was falling apart. They were living on different coasts, not lovers but still close friends. And while Stevie’s albums kick started the illustrious second stage of his career, Syreeta’s record was acclaimed but not commercially successful.



Work still continued. Syreeta began writing her second album, to be produced and co-written by Stevie. His association was more prominently featured in the tracks and on the cover art.



“That whole album was a healing and a balance for both of us,” Syreeta says. “We were going through a divorce at the same time we were making that record so every song has something to do with what we were going through, like ‘Heavy Day’ and ‘Spinnin' And Spinnin.’ That song was about a lady Stevie was dating at the time and I felt he would get emotionally injured by the situation…and he did.”



Stevie Wonder Presents is an emotional song suite with its mischievous moments – listen for Stevie shouting “Your breath stinks!” at the end of “Your Kiss Is Sweet.” Syreeta’s voice has heartbreak in its sweetness, especially in “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers.” Her tour de force, its best known cover is by rocker Jeff Beck, who made his guitar gently cry like Syreeta.



The musicians on the album are from Wonderlove, Stevie’s regular touring band that included Ollie Brown, Reggie McBride and Mike Sembello. They bring the funk on “I’m Goin’ Left,” “Come And Get This Stuff” and “Spinnin’ And Spinnin’.” G.C. Cameron duets with Syreeta on “I Wanna Be By Your Side.” They would later do an album together. Cameron’s voice was a favorite of Stevie’s; he had sung lead on The Spinners’ smash “it’s A Shame,” a Stevie Wonder production custom-built for G.C.



Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta was, like the first album, critically acclaimed and commercially a flop. “Spinnin’ And Spinnin’” and “Your Kiss Is Sweet” hit the U.K charts, but it would be another three years before Motown released a Syreeta album. That record, One To One, signaled a break from Stevie’s productions, yet its one hit, “Harmour Love,” was a Wonder-produced holdover from the previous LP.



Syreeta and Stevie Wonder were once personal and professional partners. They remain friends. These two remarkably intimate albums link them forever.


David Nathan
a/k/a “British Ambassador Of Soul”
www.soulmusic.com

***

psykosoul, did anybody eva told u that you're the shit?

Just as an update. Syreeta has died at the age of 58.

It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce the passing of the lovely Motown vocalist Syreeta Wright. The Pittsburgh native succumbed on July 5th at the age of 58 after a long struggle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and fans.

Man, I don't have the words...my prayers go out to her family and friends...
[This message was edited Tue Jul 6 19:12:48 2004 by paligap]

I love 'With You I Am Born Again'...If I ever get married again I want that to be played at my wedding. RIP.

[i]I remember when I was younger her beautiful, melodic voice on many of Stevie Wonder's recordings. She complimented Stevie's voice and creativity. I think they were briefly married. I heard she had later married and had two sons. I will always remember Syretta. No more pain and suffering. My prayers and condolescences go out to Syretta's family. God Bless You and RIP, Shining Star![/i]

damn! r.i.p.

R.I.P. What a wonderful (and truly underappreciated) singer. Discover her now, if you haven't already.

(Reading the headline, I thought it read RIP "Sinitta" )

CAUSE WE'VE ENDED AS LOVERS
Sneaking kisses in the hall
Parting love notes are on the wall
Been each other's all and all each day
Lovers walking in the rain
So close we felt each other's pain
But now you say that love has died away

'Cause we've ended now as lovers
Doesn't mean that we each other can't be friends
'Cause we've ended now as lovers
Does our love for one another have to end

I remember teaching you
On piano 'Tea for Two'
And how playing it wrong I kissed your hand
But when our love has gone and passed
Why does the good exceed the bad
Well that's one thing I'll never understand

'Cause I remember us at class
You were always the one to pass
And gave me answers right to see me through
But that was more than years ago
And who will love me I don't know
It's sad for sure but true it won't be you



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Got the news that Syreeta passed away on July 5th after a two year battle with cancer.

Syreeta Wright was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She began singing at age 4. “I used to sing The Lord’s Prayer and my mother would hold her breath until I made the high notes.” Her father was killed in the Korean War and she was raised by her mother and grandmother, and attended private school after her family moved to Detroit when she was eleven years old. There was a move to South Carolina when she was age 15 and then she returned to Detroit. She had dreams of being a ballet dancer but the costs of training discouraged her from pursuing this dream. She developed an interest in writing and singing. Music led her to the offices of Motown Records. In the 1960’s, Syreeta worked as a secretary in one of Motown’s arranging departments. She did session singing and was noticed by Stevie Wonder. They co wrote and she recorded “Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I’m Yours”. Syreeta wrote lyrics to many of Wonder’s melodies. This working relationship developed and in 1972, they married. The same year, her first album, “Syreeta” was released on MoWest Records. Although their marriage ended in divorce in 1974, her second album “Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta” was released by Motown. Following the divorce Syreeta took a three month course in Transcendental Meditation in Ethiopia, presumably to reestablish her emotional equilibrium. Her third album “One to One” had a spiritual reflective theme. Although the single from the album “Harmour Love” was released, the album slated for release in 1975 was not put out until 1977 on Tamla Records (also owned by Motown). This album was produced by Syreeta, Leon Ware and bassist Curtis Robertson Jr., who later became Syreeta’s second husband. In the latter part of 1977 Syreeta’s duet with album with G. C. Cameron was released. This was a concept album, which did not meet with commercial success. Motown did not push Syreeta’s efforts as a singer and songwriter. In the next few years she appeared on other artists’ records, including Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, Gary Bartz, and Donald Byrd. In 1979 Syreeta teamed with Billy Preston for the soundtrack of the Paramount comedy “Fast Break”. The duet “With You I’m Born Again” written by David Shire and Carol Connors was included on the soundtrack and Preston’s album “Late at Night”. It was released as a British single in August of 1979. Although it had a slow start the record promoter Chris Marshall pushed it and the song reached #2 in England and earned a silver disc for the duo. It was then released in the U.S. and became a huge hit. In 1980 her contract was up with Motown but because of the success of “With You I’m Born Again” she was resigned and recorded her next album; “Syreeta”. In 1981, Motown released an album of duets with Billy Preston. But the record label waited too long and the momentum was gone. This record was followed by “Set My Love in Motion” in 1981. One of the songs on the album “Wish Upon a Star” was written by Syreeta “with Minnie Riperton in mind.” “I Love You” was dedicated to John Merrick (The Elephant Man). Syreeta said; “I was so moved by how one person cared so much for him and how this terribly lonely man found joy in that blessing, it started me thinking about all the people who have cared for me.” “The Spell” produced by Jermaine Jackson in 1983 was Syreeta’s final album. It was a curious blend of rock, pop and soul. A portion of the material was written three years prior to the actual recording because Syreeta had become discouraged and stopped writing. It is difficult to understand why Motown did not support Syreeta’s development. Mary Wilson in her book "Dream Girls, My Life As a Supreme" says Berry Gordy wanted Syreeta to replace Diana Ross as a Supreme but she refused, and Mary feels that may be the reason she was ignored. Motown has only released “Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta” on CD. On the other hand, the Japanese have made many of her albums available. Syreeta, the mother of two, decided her children were more important than touring, and this may be an additional reason why Syreeta although multi-talented is largely under appreciated. Syreeta has also been seen in the 1995 tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” as Mary Magdalene.

OMG!!!

NOOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
OOOOO
!!!!!






I didn't even know she was sick!!!! I'm truly at a loss for words right now...

Courtesy of Josh from the luvs board:

It is with much sadness that we learned today of the passing of SYREETA
WRIGHT in Los Angeles, due to complications from cancer. An
outstanding, multi-talented singer and songwriter - who remained close
friends with former husband Stevie Wonder - she contributed some fine
work during her years with Motown, from the late '60s through to the
early '80s. I had the opportunity to interview her on a number of
occasions in the late '70s and early '80s and our last chat was in
February 2001 in connection with the release of the UK Essential
Collection. She was always warm, articulate and the experience of
speaking with her was fulfilling and enjoyable. She will truly be
missed by those soul music lovers worldwide who appreciated her
distinctive sound and superb artistry.

You can read Robert Fontanella's appreciation feature on SYREETA at:
http://www.soulmusic.com/...yreeta.htm where you will also find a link
to our last interview together.

[Courtesy David Nathan @ Soulmusic.com]

I am so sorry to hear this news. Her solo work and her work on Stevie's early 1970's albums were amazing. Her ethereal voice will be missed. R.I.P.

/peace Manki

I can't stop playing "Come Back As A Flower"

I have to say I am sorry to hear of her passing!! I had issues with her as an artist ( I was just jealous that she married my man Stevie) in the past but I could never deny her tremendous talent!! she was a R&B gem that is for sure!! She will be missed R.I.P Syreeta!

nammie said:

Definitely one of the greatest yet underrated songwriters of our time.

God bless her soul! She was a good writer and was apart of the greatest musical dynasty in history!

Is Yvonne Wright Syreeta's sister?