Seattle’s first lady of gospel, Pastor Patrinell Wright, dies at age 78

Seattle’s first lady of gospel, Pastor Patrinell Wright, died at age 78 on Aug. 30, 2022.

Wright was often called upon to sing the national anthem before games.

Wright, called Pat by her friends, was the creator of the Total Experience Gospel Choir.

KIRO 7 profiled the choir a few years ago, which became a standard part of so many events involving diversity.

The choir also traveled nationwide and to 20 countries around the world. It involved a rotation of hundreds of young singers from Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle.

Wright herself has performed at events around the world, including the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

She sang for presidents, including several times for Barack Obama. She also sang Amazing Grace at Jimi Hendrix’s funeral in 1970.

Wright won hundreds of awards in choir competitions, but she has also won awards for her big heart, which went along with her big four-octave voice.

She won the Washington State Governor’s Heritage Award and the Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award for her work in her community.