Soul singer Betty Wright, 66, dies

American soul and R&B singer Betty Wright has died. She was 66 years old.

Her niece Bella confirmed the news of her death - which is not yet known - on Twitter.

"I just lost my aunt this morning and now my mood has changed sleep in peace aunty Betty Wright. Fly high angel. My auntie was a legend.... she helped me get my first pay checks singing background and I didn’t make it to see you this past week and that’s going to haunt me R.I.P. Betty Wright," she wrote.

SEE THE FULL TWEET HERE:

I just lost my aunt this morning.... and now my mood has changed.... sleep in peace aunty Betty Wright ???????????? fly high angel

— #BELLA (@iBellaNIEMA) May 10, 2020

My auntie was a legend.... she helped me get my first paychecks singing background..... and I didn’t make it to see you this past week and that’s going to haunt me .... R.I.P. Betty Wright pic.twitter.com/62fCg5crYh

— #BELLA (@iBellaNIEMA) May 10, 2020

On Sunday, 3 May singer Chaka Khan shared a post on Instagram asking for prayers for Betty. She wrote: "Calling all my #PrayWarriors. My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is now in need of all your prayers."

According to Essence Magazine Betty was known for classic R&B songs such as Tonight is the Night, No Pain, (No Gain) and the single Clean Up Woman which Mary J. Blige sampled in the remix of her song Real Love.

In the 1980s she launched an independent record label which was never done before by a female artist.

Betty is survived by her four children reports TMZ.