King Sporty Wiki – King Sporty Bio
Noel George Williams, better known as King Sporty, was a Jamaican DJ, reggae musician, and record producer for the Tashamba and Konduko labels. He is best known for co-writing the song, “Buffalo Soldier,” made famous by Bob Marley. King Sporty was married to Betty Wright.
King Sporty Age
He was born on September 19, 1943. He was 72 years old. King Sporty died on January 5, 2015.
King Sporty Family & Career
Sporty was the husband of American soul and rhythm and blues singer Betty Wright. In his life, Wright was married three times. She had five children, Aisha, Patrice, Patrick, Chaka, and Asher. Her son Patrick Parker was shot dead in the Opa-Laka community in South Florida in 2005. He was only 21 years old. Sporty was a Jamaican DJ, reggae musician, and record producer for the Konduko labels he owned. In 1977 he released an album, Mr Rhythm on his own Konduko label. In 1982 he found lasting hits in the electro-funk canon with Connie Case’s “Get on Down” and “Haven’t Been Funked Enough”. His original version of “Buffalo Soldier” was released in the late 1970s, while Bob Marley first recorded The Song towards the end of the Kaya tour in 1978.
In 1992 he released the song “Computer Age” under the name Sporty and the Laptop. He was honored by International Reggae and World Music Awards – IRAWMA with his Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. In 2013, Sporty’s song “Self Destruct” was sampled by Justin Timberlake for his song “That Girl” on his album 20/20 Experience.
King Sporty & Betty Wright
Sporty was married to American soul and rhythm and blues singer Betty Wright. They had five children, Aisha, Patrice, Patrick, Chaka and Asher. Betty rose to fame in the 1970s with hits like “Clean Up Woman” and “Tonight is the Night”.
Betty Wright Illness and Death
Wright passed away on the morning of May 10, 2020 at age 66. His cause of death has not yet been made public. Her death comes a week after singer Chaka Khan asked fans to pray for Wright’s health. Khan tweeted:
Calling all my #PrayWarriors | My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is now in need of all your prays.
“Que Sera, Sera | Whatever Will Be, Will Be”
In Jesus Name We Pray for Sister Betty
All My Love Chaka pic.twitter.com/krQcfWFl5r— 🎼 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖐𝖆 𝕶𝖍𝖆𝖓 💜 (@ChakaKhan) May 2, 2020
Most of Wright’s works have been sampled over the years by hip hop, rock and R&B musicians. The riff from “Clean Up Woman” has been sampled constantly by acts such as Afrika Bambaattaa, SWV, Mary J. Blige, Sublime, Willie D, and Chance the Rapper. Wright’s first hit, “Girls Can’t Do What Guys Do”, was sampled for Beyoncé’s “Upgrade U”.
One of her Most Famous Songs, ‘Tonight Is the Tonight,’ Was Lauded by DJ Khaled & Lil Wayne in a March 2020 Episode of ‘Unsung’
