R&B Singer, Songwriter. She emerged from the 1970s Motown scene, the first wife of singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder. She collaborated with him on several Motown hits, including 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered,' 'If You Really Love Me' and 'It's A Shame.' She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began singing at age 4. Her father was killed in action during the Korean War, and she was raised by her mother and grandmother. She attended private school after her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, when she was 11 years old. They moved to South Carolina when she was 15 before returning to Detroit. She had dreams of being a ballet dancer, but the costs of training discouraged her from pursuing the dream. She soon developed an interest in writing and singing. Music led her to the offices of Motown Records. In the 1960s, she worked as a secretary in one of Motown's arranging departments. She later became a performer, after being discovered by Motown producer, Brian Holland. Berry Gordy simplified her name to Rita and she began recording background vocals during the 1960s releasing a single of her own in 1967, 'I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel For You,' an Ashford and Simpson underground classic, originally written for Diana Ross. The following year, after a suggestion by Stevie Wonder, she became a songwriter, and made a bigger splash at Motown as a songwriter. One early success was the song 'It's A Shame' for the Spinners. By 1970, the collaboration with Wonder saw the release of the song 'Signed, Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours." That same year, she collaborated with Wonder on his album 'Where I'm Coming From,' co-writing the songs 'Do Yourself A Favor,' 'Something Out of the Blue,' 'If you Really Love Me' and 'Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer.' Wonder and Wright dated and eventually married on September 14, 1970 and although they were divorced just 18 months later, they continued to work together for several years. She then married drummer Curtis Roberstson, who she later divorced. In 1972, she released her debut album, entitled 'Syreeta.' In 1974, Wright and Wonder collaborated again on the album 'Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta.' This set brought her chart success with the singles 'Your Kiss Is Sweet' and 'Spinning & Spinning.' On background vocal chores, the line-up included singers Deniece Williams and the late Minnie Riperton. Wright and Wonder's last collaboration came with the song 'Harmour Love,' which became another crossover hit and was later included on her 1977 album 'One to One.' She recorded one album with G. C. Cameron (The Spinners), entitled 'Rich Love, Poor Love," in 1977, before collaborating with Billy Preston, producing the film 'Fast Break.' The couple's major success came with the U. S. and U. K. top 10 hit, 'With You I'm Born Again,' in 1979. In 1980, she recorded 'And So It Begins,' which has become a rare groove over the years. She and Preston completed a further album project in 1981 and a single release entitled 'Go For It.' That same year she released the album 'Set My Love In Motion.' Shortly thereafter, family affairs took over and she stopped recording for a while. She returned to the studio in the late 1980s, recording several tracks for Ian Levine's Motor City label, including a solo rendition of 'With You I'm Born Again' and new duets with Billy Preston. Throughout her career, she wrote or recorded with Sheree Brown, George Howard, Gary Bartz, Patrice Rushen, Wayne Henderson, Jeffrey Osborne, The Stair Steps, George Duke, Quincy Jones, and Donald Byrd among others.