Timothy Wright, Grammy-Nominated Gospel Singer Dead at 61

Timothy Wright, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer, has died. Wright, who lived in New York, had been on a respirator since a wreck last year. He was 61 years old.Timothy Wright was best known for his 1990 album, “Come Thou Almighty.” Recorded with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, the record made it into the Billboard Top 20 charts for gospel albums and also earned Wright his first Grammy nod. He received a second nomination in 1999 for “Been There Done That,” featuring Myrna Summers.

Some of Wright’s more well-known hits include “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” “Who’s on the Lord’s Side,” and “You Must Come In at the Door.”Timothy Wright’s wife and grandchild were both killed in the three-car crash that left him critically injured last July. Another driver was apparently heading the wrong way on the interstate when the two cars collided. The other driver also died in the wreck.

Pastor Timothy Wright was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was 61 years old. He was also known as Timothy D. Wright. He was married for 37 years to Betty J. Wright, variously known as Betty Wright. The couple had five children, Danny Wright, David Wright, Derrick Wright, Dwayne Wright and Donny Wright.

As a gospel music singer, musician and composer, he was known as Godfather of Gospel. He had a powerful baritone voice and utilized mass choirs in songs that were frequently uptempo praise songs. He got his start at age 12, playing piano at his church and composing songs. He became music director of Washington Temple Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn, New York while still in his early 20s.

He began his own choir in 1976, the Timothy Wright Concert Choir, which produced several hit songs including “You Must Come In at the Door,” “Troubles Don’t Last Always,” and “Who’s on the Lord’s Side?” Pastor Timothy Wright’s most recent album was the 2007 “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” whose title track’s focus is the victims of of Hurricane Katrina and was recorded live with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir. Throughout his career Rev Timothy Wright recorded 19 gospel albums.