Edna Wright

Edna Wright (February 2, 1945 – September 12, 2020) was an American singer, best known as the lead singer of Honey Cone, the girl group that went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song "Want Ads" in 1971. She was the younger sister of singer Darlene Love. Wright sang backup for various artists, including the Righteous Brothers, Ray Charles, and Cher. Life and career Edna Wright, a Los Angeles native, grew up singing in the church. Her father, Bishop J.W. Wright, was a pastor at King's Holiness Chapel in Los Angeles. In 1960, she began singing in a gospel group called The COGIC (Church of God in Christ) singers. Through her older sister, Darlene Love, Wright met producer Phil Spector. Jack Nitzsche, an associate of Spector, produced her first feature recording in 1964. Wright sang lead on "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" by Hale and the Hushabyes which was a pseudonym for a group that included Brian Wilson, Sonny & Cher, Jackie DeShannon. Under the stage name Sandy Wynns she released her debut solo single "A Touch of Venus" on Champion Records, which led to a nationwide nightclub tour. She then became a backing vocalist for the Righteous Brothers, Johnny Rivers, and Ray Charles. Charles asked her to join the Raelettes, his female backing group. In 1968, Wright's sister Darlene Love was scheduled to appear on an Andy Williams TV special. She was unable to attend, so she asked Wright to fill in for her. Wright asked Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark to join her for the appearance. She also contacted Eddie Holland, who recently left Motown Records along with Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier to form HDH Records, to watch the show. Impressed by Wright, Holland offered her a contract, but she preferred to be in a group. He signed the trio to Hot Wax Records. They released their debut single, "While You're Out Looking for Sugar", in 1969. But their biggest success came in 1971 when they topped the Billboard Hot 100 with the hit "Want Ads" from the album Soulful Tapestry. The song spent one week at No. 1, and also spent three weeks atop the R&B chart. The record was certified gold by the RIAA, and their next single "Stick-Up," also went gold. The trio split up in 1973.