Wonder Mike
Michael Anthony Wright (born April 30, 1957), known professionally as Wonder Mike, is an American rapper and member of the Sugarhill Gang. The group was part of the Hip Hop movement in the 1970s and 1980s.[1]
Wonder Mike | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Anthony Wright |
| Born | April 30, 1957 Englewood, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels | Sugar Hill |
Career
Wonder Mike is best known for being a member of the Sugarhill Gang, the first hip hop act to produce a record, the 1979 single "Rapper's Delight".[2]
He is known for his large stature, standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m).[1]
Personal life
Wright is a born-again Christian who enjoys painting, reading the Bible, sketching and writing poetry.[3] He has suffered from asthma at times.[3]
On July 11, 2013, Wright's daughter Carmen Delgina auditioned for the thirteenth season of the American televised singing competition American Idol with "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell and was unanimously sent through to the Hollywood round, as shown in the episode that aired on January 29, 2014.[4] However, during the "group round" stage of Hollywood Week, she was eliminated at the end of her group's performance.
As of 2019, Wright and other members of the Sugarhill Gang continue to perform in '80s nostalgia shows.[5]
References
- Simpson, Dave (2017-05-02). "Sugarhill Gang: how we made Rapper's Delight". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
- "Is Rap Music Here To Stay?". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 94 (12): 57. August 17, 1988. ISSN 0021-5996.
- JayQuan. "The Jump Off – Wonder Mike – The First Recorded Emcee". thafoundation.com. JAH Holdings. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
- Mansfield, Brian. "'American Idol' in Utah: It's another Tiquila sunrise". USA Today. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
- Raesman, Bryan (27 September 2019). "The Motels, The Sugarhill Gang & O.G. MTV VJs Unite for NostalgiaCon '80s". Billboard. Promethesus Global Media LLC.