Grammy-nominated gospel singer, composer and pastor Timothy Wright has died, apparently of complications from a car wreck that left his wife and grandson dead last year.

Wright penned songs for other gospel performers, including Mattie Moss Clark and Rev. Isaac Douglas, before recording his own praise music.

He became known for the kind of upbeat, inspirational tunes, and for using mass choirs, in a sound that preceded the work of Kirk Franklin and other cross-over acts. Wright's 1994 track "Come Thou, Almighty King," performed with the New York Fellowship Mass Choir, hit Billboard's Top 20 and earned a Grammy nomination for best traditional soul gospel album. A second nomination came in 1999 for "Been There, Done That," featuring Myrna Summers.

Having spent most of his life in church settings, Wright served as music director of Brooklyn's Washington Temple Church of God in Christ while in his 20s. In 1976, he formed the Timothy Wright Concert Choir. He would later serve until his death as pastor of Grace Tabernacle Christian Center Church of God in Christ in Brooklyn's Crown Heights. Wright was traveling on the Fourth of July when he was involved in a three-car crash in Pennsylvania that fatally injured Betty Wright, 58, and D.J. Wright, 14.

The singer's latest CD "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" was released in 2007. Wright was 61.

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