Marva Wright

Marva Wright (born Marva Maria Williams; March 20, 1948 – March 23, 2010) was an American blues singer.

Biography Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, Marva graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1965 and attended Southern University of Baton Rouge.

When Wright was discovered she was working as a secretary at Eleanor McMain Junior High in New Orleans. Wright did not turn professional until 1987, when she was almost forty years old. Even then, she only began singing as a way to support her family with a second job, the song that got attention was "Dr. Feelgood" by Aretha Franklin. Early in 1989 during a live set at Tipitina's in New Orleans, Wright made her first recording, "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean". She made her debut on national television in 1991, when her hometown was the setting for a special that revolved around the Super Bowl where she met CBS news anchorman Ed Bradley, who thought at that time that she only sang Gospel. Later that same year he rediscovered her at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and from that day on encouraged her career and introduced her every Jazz Fest. Heartbreakin' Woman, Wright's first full-length release, appeared later that year. Wright's 1993 album Born With The Blues was originally released in France, then three years later the major-label imprint Virgin picked it up for the rest of the world. Her 2007 album, After The Levees Broke, addressed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina - which destroyed her house and all her belongings - by repurposing songs like Willie Nelson's "Crazy", Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come", and Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is". Wright had four children from two previous marriages.

Discography Heartbreakin' Woman (1991) Born With The Blues (1993) Marva (1994) My Christmas Song (1994) I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1995) Marvalous (1995) Bluesiana Mama (1997) Let Them Talk (2000) Glitter Queen (2002) Blues Queen Of New Orleans (2004) (compilation) Do Right Woman: The Soul of New Orleans (2006) (re-issue of Born With The Blues) After The Levees Broke (2007)