Reverend Timothy Wright Dies

The Brooklyn pastor and gospel singer, Timothy Wright, has died, after an eight-month struggle to recover from injuries he received in a car crash last year. Wright was 61 years old. Wright, the pastor at the Grace Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Crown Heights, was critically injured in a crash on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania. His wife and grandson were killed in the accident. Wright released more than a dozen gospel recordings, and worked for Manhattan radio station WLIB. In a statement, Mayor Bloomberg extended his sympathies to Reverend Wright's family, and said he inspired millions of Americans as the 'godfather of gospel.'

'You Must Come In At the Door'

Long time friend and producer of the late reverend, Dr. Bobby Banks, described Wright as a giant in the gospel industry that remained personal to the people that loved his music.

'He was just so much different from people who get stardom. He would go to the smallest, what they call store front churches, that would probably have a membership of 50 to 100 people, and he would sing like he would sing when I produced him at Madison Square Garden.'