Wright Specials

** This is just a short biographical summary – for the full story, check out this artist’s reviews! **

One of several gospel acts to record for Motown in the early Sixties, the Wright Specials – who once boasted a teenaged Kim Weston in their ranks, though she had left the group by the time they arrived at Hitsville in 1962 – were brought to Motown by writer-producer George Fowler, brother of the group’s pianist. Sponsored by the legendary Rev. James Cleveland, the King of Gospel himself (the “Wright” in the title was for their manager, Thomas Wright, not their preacher and mentor), and heavily associated with the Caravans, another group legendary in gospel circles, the Wright Specials had bona fide gospel credentials.

Thanks to Kim Weston herself and her comments on this very site you’re reading now (!), we’re able to name the group’s other members: Delores Hall, Carrie Jones, Betty Knox and Effie Ellington – and Delores in particular possessed a remarkable, powerful voice. Sadly, Motown’s flirtation with the gospel market was brief, and the Wright Specials left Motown in 1963 having only seen two singles released.

Review Archive: The WRIGHT SPECIALS (1962-63)

We have 4 reviews for the Wright Specials currently available here on Motown Junkies – see our archive for more details, or click a link below:

  1. That’s What He Is To Me
  2. Pilgrim Of Sorrow
  3. Ninety-Nine And A Half Won’t Do
  4. I Won’t Go Back

3 thoughts on “Wright Specials”

  1. Erik R. Huber said:

    Great tribute! I just followed a link to this update from Ken Knox via facebook (Ken is Betty’s brother). Thanks to my close association with Kim, I was one of the few people following the internet age to be privy to so much information about Kim’s involvement with the Wright Specials. I am blessed and honored to work for Kim as her Personal Assistant for the last 5 years, and I have actually put together a tribute to the Wright Specials with Kim’s own confirmation of historical fact and her endorsement and blessings. Here is the link:

    https://www.facebook.com/notes/erik-r-huber/the-wright-specials-the-final-word/1081143172001562/

    I just updated the Note to include Motown Junkies as a valuable resource. 🙂

    Here is another important link from Betty Knox’s brother, Ken:

    There is more information about Kim’s days with The Wright Specials in her soon-to-be-released autobiography, of which I’m the editor. Visit my own page to stay tuned about Kim’s book and upcoming appearances:

    https://www.facebook.com/erik.r.huber

    Motown Junkies is a must-visit site. I’m linking this to facebook tonight. Thank you all very much for your beautiful support of Kim, The Wright Specials, and all things Motown!

    ~Erik, Personal Assistant to Ms. Kim Weston

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  2. Erik R. Huber said:

    …Oh, and by the way, Kim originally signed with Motown via Divinity in 1961. Kim was born Agatha Nathalia Weston, despite a 50-year long typo of “Natalie.” And – Emma Bass was Kim’s replacement in the group once she left – eventually to venture to Motown as a solo artist. This information is via Kim herself, as you’ll see in the link above. ~Erik, Personal Assistant to Ms. Kim Weston

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  3. Ken Knox said:

    Thank you Erik!!!

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