Syreeta, whose real name is Syreeta Wright, was an American singer-songwriter who saw her artistic career really start in 1966, while a simple secretary for Motown, she was noticed by the Holland-Dozier-Holland team who decided to test her as a Supremes liner.
This is how she was offered the opportunity two years later in 1968 to release a first single "Something on my mind" under the name Rita Wright. Single that will go somewhat unnoticed…
A year 1968 which also saw her cross paths with a certain…Stevie Wonder. A providential encounter that saw them pair up the following year and start composing together.
Solo and under the name Syreeta, she released her first single "To know you is to love you" four years later in 1972, a single that would once again go unnoticed. The same year she released a first eponymous album which will know a slightly more favorable fate. An album supervised by Stevie Wonder with which she has just separated…
Although separated, they continue to work together and the second album of the singer "Stevie Wonder presents: Syreeta" will know a level of success a little higher than its predecessor in 1974. And especially offer her her first title classified on the Singles side with the title "Spinnin' and spinnin'".
The year 1975 saw her pass a stage in terms of success with her first title classified on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to the single “Harmour love”. Single found two years later in 1977 on his new album "One to one".
She will know a semblance of consecration at the very end of the 70s when she joins the time of the album "Fast break" with the singer Billy Preston. Album which will produce in 1979 the biggest success of all his discography on the Singles side with the title "With you I'm borna gain".
She will produce other albums thereafter but none will be able to produce hits of planetary level.
A great adventure that will end definitively at the age of 57, the age at which the singer will die following heart failure in connection with the chemotherapy undertaken to fight 2 cancers that she had developed.
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others…) :
Something on my mind (Rita Wright) 1968
To know you is to love you 1972
I love every little thing about you 1972
Come and get this stuff 1974
Spinnin’ and spinnin’ 1974
Your kiss is sweet 1975
Harmour love 1975
Let’s make a deal 1977
With you I’m born again 1979
Go for it 1979
Love fire 1980
One more time for love 1980
It will come in time 1980
You set my love in motion 1981
Quick slick 1982
Forever is not enough 1983
To know 1983
Once love touches your life 1983
If the shoe fits 1989
Moment of weakness 1990
Reflections 1990
Clips :
1968...a very first title released under the name of Rita Wright. A title full of finesse that shows that this young singer has a nice bit of voice as they say...
1972 ... we immediately recognize the 'Wonder' touch on this title where the 2 lovebirds push the song. A title that will however go somewhat unnoticed despite the emerging talent of the 2 protagonists...
1972...a year 1972 which will above all allow her to start talking about her. No classified title for the moment but a slow but obvious rise in power...
1974...we'll have to be a little more patient to witness the big take-off. It now remains to produce THE title that will change everything and set her apart from the crowd...
1974...and THE title, there it is. Admittedly, we are not talking about success on a planetary level, but the essential is done with this first success that she obtains across the Channel...
1975...success is still limited to England but it is confirmed at least. The young singer is therefore now on a good dynamic and that is the main thing…
1975...the first success on both sides of the Atlantic, we were waiting for it, here it is. Admittedly, once again it's not a tidal wave but at least it's now done !
1977... after Stevie Wonder, we find her alongside G.C. Cameron. Even if this duo is nice, it won't bring her more than that unfortunately...
1979... it will be the 3rd duo which will be the good one ! She will obtain here the biggest success of her entire career, all thanks to this very fine title that she interprets in the company of Billy Preston. MA-GIC !
1979...a collaboration that they push a little further with this title. Admittedly, it won't have the same level of success as their previous title, but still...
1980...a passage to the 80s which is done in Dance mode, unlike previous titles. A Dance mode that will not benefit her more than that...
1980... suddenly we find her in charming duet mode once again with Billy Preston. A duo that succeeds to the highest degree since here she wins a new star to add to her prize list...
1980...the duo said to themselves that it might be time to speed up the tempo just to see. It starts from a good feeling but the result in the Charts will be somewhat disappointing to say the least...
1981...back in solo mode from the year 1981. Unfortunately, we feel that the singer does not really manage to situate herself in this 80s decade and the result is necessarily affected...
1982 ... she will still manage to land a last 'little' hit with this title but it will indeed be the last. Hard law of the trade...
1983...paradoxically, it was when she began to take stock of the latest musical trends when success desperately escaped her. Really unfortunate...
1983... the adventure continues but the singer sees the head of the race moving further and further away from her. Not easy in these conditions to stay motivated...
1983...she tries to resist somehow but it is clear that the rest of the course will be complicated to say the least. How long will she last, good question...
1989... she will disappear from the radar for several years and try to come back in this very end of the decade. But what didn't work in the middle of a decade won't work in the end...
1990...she will even attempt the transition to the 90s. One wonders what can still motivate her, but she knows it anyway...
1990...this time the adventure won't go any further. An adventure that will still have allowed her to produce several high-caliber titles, which is already a more than positive assessment !
Wiki :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :