James "Big Jim" Wright
Background information
Birth nameJames Quentin Wright
Also known as
  • Big Jim
  • Jimmy Wright
Born(1966-03-19)March 19, 1966
Rockford, Illinois
DiedSeptember 29, 2018(2018-09-29) (aged 52)
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer

James Quentin "Big Jim" Wright (March 19, 1966 – September 29, 2018) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, film score and record producer. A member of the vocal and instrumental ensemble Sounds of Blackness, Wright became a frequent collaborator of production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and an in-house producer for their company, Flyte Tyme Productions, in the 1990s.

Biography

Wright was born in Rockford, Illinois.[1] The son of Jenniel Wright and Alan Jackson, he lived most of his life in Rockford, also living in Roscoe as well as Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Atlanta, Georgia.[1] In 1984, he graduated from Rockford West High School before relocating to Eden Prairie, Minnesota.[1]

In Minnesota, Wright joined the vocal and instrumental ensemble Sounds of Blackness, serving as the band's producer, arranger and composer.[1] Through band member Ann Nesby he became connected to songwriter-producer Terry Lewis who Lewis offered Wright an exclusive publishing contract with their company, Flyte Tyme Production, while he was still providing lead vocals and keyboards for Sounds of Blackness.[1]

In 1999, he wrote and produced Yolanda Adams's NAACP Image Award-winning song "Open My Heart." In 2004, Wright won the Black Reel Award for Best Original or Adapted Song for his contribution on "He Still Loves Me" for the soundtrack of the musical comedy film The Fighting Temptations (2003).[2] In 2006, he won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song for co-writing Adams' song "Be Blessed" from her album Day by Day (2006).[3]

Death

On September 29, 2018, Wright was found dead in his Rockford home.[3][4]

Discography

Singles

Selected credits

Title Artist(s) Originating album Year Notes
"Free" Mýa Fear of Flying 2000 Co-producer
"How Do I Say" Usher 8701 2003 Co-producer
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" Aretha Franklin So Damn Happy 2003 Producer
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" Mary J. Blige Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 2004 Co-producer
"Secuction" Usher Confessions 2004 Writer, Co-producer
"That's What It's Made For" Usher Confessions 2004 Writer, Co-producer
"Alwaysness" Yolanda Adams Day by Day 2006 Writer, producer
"Be Blessed" Yolanda Adams Day by Day 2006 Writer, producer
"Lift Him Up" Yolanda Adams Day by Day 2006 Writer, producer
"Can't Get Enough" Mary J. Blige The Breakthrough 2006 Co-producer
"Circles" Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi 2006 Co-Writer, Co-producer
"Fly Like a Bird" Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi 2006 Co-Writer, Co-producer
"I Wish You Knew" Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi 2006 Co-Writer, Co-producer
"Home" Heather Headley In My Mind 2006 Writer, Co-producer
"Home" Carl Thomas So Much Better 2007 Writer, Co-producer
"Angel" Chaka Khan Funk This 2007 Writer, producer
"Back in the Day" Chaka Khan Funk This 2007 Writer, producer
"Hail to the Wrong" Chaka Khan Funk This 2007 Writer, producer
"Ladies' Man" Chaka Khan Funk This 2007 Producer
"One for All Time" Chaka Khan Funk This 2007 Writer, producer
"All Hearts Aren't Shaped the Same" Deborah Cox The Promise 2008 Writer, producer
"All Over Me" Deborah Cox The Promise 2008 Writer, producer
"Beautiful U R" Deborah Cox The Promise 2008 Writer, producer
"Did You Ever Love Me" Deborah Cox The Promise 2008 Writer, producer
"Down 4 U" Deborah Cox The Promise 2008 Writer, producer
"Love Is Not Made in Words" Deborah Cox The Promise 2008 Writer, producer
"The Point of It All" Anthony Hamilton The Point of It All 2008 Writer, Co-producer
"Betcha Gon' Know" Mariah Carey Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel 2009 Co-Writer, Co-producer
"Higher Than This" Ledisi Turn Me Loose 2009 Writer, Co-producer
"My Love" Johnny Gill Still Winning 2011 Producer
"All I Want for Christmas Is You (SuperFestive!)" Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey Under the Mistletoe 2011 Co-Producer
"America the Beautiful" Mariah Carey Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse 2014 Co-Producer
"Camouflage" Mariah Carey Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse 2014 Co-Writer, producer
"Cry" Mariah Carey Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse 2014 Co-Writer, Co-producer
"It's a Wrap" Mariah Carey Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse 2014 Co-Producer

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Celebrating James "Big Jim" Wright". urbanbridgez.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. "Big Jim – Showing all 3 wins and 2 nominations". IMDb. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Poulisse, Adam. "Grammy-winning Rockfordian James "Big Jim" Wright honored at Coronado". rrstar.com. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  4. "Celebration of life for James "Big Jim" Wright held at the Coronado". wifr.com. 14 October 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  5. "Til I Found You (feat. Ann Nesby, "Big Jim" Wright & Lauren Evans) - Single". Apple Music (US). Retrieved April 6, 2022.
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