Ruben Wright (born 1937/8)[1] is a musician and former bandleader from Philadelphia. He had an R&B Top 30 hit with "I'm Walking Out On You". He is also a songwriter. He also wrote the regional hit "God Only Knows" for The Capris in 1954.
Ruben Wright | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Reuben Wright |
| Born | c.1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Origin | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Genres | Doo Wop, Soul, Pop |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | 1953 - 2000s - ? |
| Labels | Capitol, |
Background edit
Wright was a member of an early 1950s group called The Uniques, in which he played piano. All of the members came from the same neighborhood.[2] The group later evolved into the Capris. At that time the group's ages ranged from 15 to 16.[3][4] In June 1954, the group was signed to Gotham Records,[5] and recorded the Wright-penned "God Only Knows", featuring female singer Renee Hinton on lead.[6][7][8] The Capris broke up after their final single in 1958,[9][10] and Wright began his solo career.
Career edit
The single "Girls Make Me Nervous" bw "Love Is Gone" was released on the Wynne label in 1958. The B side "Love Is Gone" was composed by Eddie Warner and it has been suggested that some of the backing singers were members of The Capris. His next single "To You" bw "Bye Bye" was released on the Lancer label.[11]
In the early 1960s, he was a member of a backing group called The Manhattans. They backed a group called The Larks on the single "It's Unbelievable" bw "I Can't Believe It" which was released on the Sheryl label.[12]
Wright recorded 5 singles for the Capitol label,[13] beginning with "Where Was I" bw "Bye Bye" in 1964.[14] In 1966, "I'm Walking Out On You" was released bw "Hey Girl". By May the 7th that year, "I'm Walking Out On You" was holding its second week in the Baltimore Top 40.[15] By May 14, it had made the National R&B Top 40, and was at no 37.[16] The June 18 edition of Billboard reported his single as a Regional Breakout in New York.[17] However, its progress in the R&B Charts was doing well with the single, spending 6 weeks there, having made it to no 29 the previous week.[18]
In February 1967, Billboard reported that his Capitol single "I'll Be There" was predicted to reach the R&B Singles Chart.[19] He composed "That's All That Counts" for The Four Larks which was released on the Uptown label that year.[20]
His last single released was "I'm Gonna Have My Day" bw "La La La" on the Virtue label.[21]
Discography edit
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Girls Make Me Nervous" / "Love Is Gone" | Wynne 119 | 1958 | |
| "To You" / "Bye Bye" | Lancer 101 | 1959 | |
| "Where Was I" / "Bye Bye" | Capitol 5317 | 1964 | |
| "I'm Walking Out On You" / "Hey Girl" | Capitol 5588 | 1966 | |
| "Crazy Baby" / "Everybody Needs Somebody" | Capitol 5686 | 1966 | |
| "You've Done Me Wrong" / "I'll Be There" | Capitol 5835 | 1967 | |
| "Let Me Go Lover" / "When The World Is Ready" | Capitol 2045 | 1967 | |
| "I'm Gonna Have My Day" / "La La La" | Virtue 2505 | circa 1969 | [22] |
References edit
- ^ Lloyd, Jack (21 March 1966). "Teletypist is lured by piano keys". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1 - ^ "The Capris Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
- ^ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-634-09978-6.
- ^ The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music, Colin Larkin - Page 62
- ^ Discogs - Ruben Wright Discography , Writing & Arrangement
- ^ American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, By Jay Warner - Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)
- ^ AllMusic - The Capris, Biography by Jim Dunn
- ^ American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, By Jay Warner - Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)
- ^ AllMusic - The Capris, Biography by Jim Dunn
- ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article pages 6 to 7 - ^ Marv Goldberg's Yesterday's Memories Rhythm & Blues Party - The Other, Other Larks By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Weldon McDougal
- ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article pages 6 to 7 - ^ 45Cat - Ruben Wright - Discography
- ^ Billboard, May 7, 1966 - Page 16 Top Sellers In Top Markets, Baltimore
- ^ Billboard, May 14, 1966 - Page 35 TOP SELLING R&B SINGLES
- ^ Billboard, June 18, 1966 - Page 42 Breakout Singles, * Regional Breakouts
- ^ Billboard, June 18, 1966 - Page 29 Rhythm & Blues, Top Selling R&B Singles
- ^ Billboard, February 4, 1967 - Page 16 R&B SPOTLIGHTS, CHART, Spotlights--Predicted to reach the R&B SINGLES Chart
- ^ 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Four Larks , Catalogue: 748
- ^ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 12 Capris Related Discography, Singles by Ruben Wright - ^ 45Cat - Ruben Wright - Discography