Ruben Wright
Also known asReuben Wright
Bornc.1937
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
GenresDoo Wop, Soul, Pop
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1953 - 2000s - ?
LabelsCapitol,

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.

Background

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

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

45 RPM Singles
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

  1. ↑ Lloyd, Jack (21 March 1966). "Teletypist is lured by piano keys". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  2. ↑ Classic Urban Harmony - Echoes of the Past, Issue #97, Philadelphia’s Original Capris by Charlie Horner
    With contributions from Pamela Horner, Article page 1
  3. ↑ "The Capris Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
  4. ↑ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-634-09978-6.
  5. ↑ The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music, Colin Larkin - Page 62
  6. ↑ Discogs - Ruben Wright Discography , Writing & Arrangement
  7. ↑ American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, By Jay Warner - Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)
  8. ↑ AllMusic - The Capris, Biography by Jim Dunn
  9. ↑ American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today, By Jay Warner - Page 92 The Capris (PHILADELPHIA)
  10. ↑ AllMusic - The Capris, Biography by Jim Dunn
  11. ↑ 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
  12. ↑ Marv Goldberg's Yesterday's Memories Rhythm & Blues Party - The Other, Other Larks By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Weldon McDougal
  13. ↑ 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
  14. ↑ 45Cat - Ruben Wright - Discography
  15. ↑ Billboard, May 7, 1966 - Page 16 Top Sellers In Top Markets, Baltimore
  16. ↑ Billboard, May 14, 1966 - Page 35 TOP SELLING R&B SINGLES
  17. ↑ Billboard, June 18, 1966 - Page 42 Breakout Singles, * Regional Breakouts
  18. ↑ Billboard, June 18, 1966 - Page 29 Rhythm & Blues, Top Selling R&B Singles
  19. ↑ Billboard, February 4, 1967 - Page 16 R&B SPOTLIGHTS, CHART, Spotlights--Predicted to reach the R&B SINGLES Chart
  20. ↑ 45Cat - Record Details, Artist: The Four Larks , Catalogue: 748
  21. ↑ 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
  22. ↑ 45Cat - Ruben Wright - Discography
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