Bettye LaVette (Born 0n 29/01/1946)

Bettye has rarely been affected by trends. In today's market of hip hop, rap and singers who do not challenge themselves, Bettye and her peers continue to give soul music lovers what they expect, a performer who sings hard and gives the type of show that has become associated with the best show business has to offer. Born in Michigan, LaVette became a singer almost accidentally. She met record producer Johnnie Mae Matthews who had written a song, 'My Man - He's a Lovin' Man' and asked young Bettye to record the song. When Atlantic Records heard the tune, which was released on Lupine, they picked it up and LaVette was on her way to New York. The record was a bona fide hit on the r&b charts and also made the pop lists.

Unfortunate circumstances arose which prompted Bettye to ask for a release from her Atlantic contract. This decision was made despite the promise from Jerry Wexler to team Bettye with a then unknown songwriter, Burt Bacharach. On her own again, Bettye recorded prolifically for several different labels including Epic, Karen, Calla and an eventual return to Atlantic (Atco) on which she recorded an album, 'Child of the '70s' which was shelved until the year 2001 and issued as "Souvenirs". Critics hailed its release and showered it with praise. In the UK it's currently available on import from Amazon but I suspect, unusually, you may be able to get it cheaper if you go elsewhere.

Friend Stevie Wonder wrote 'Hey Love' especially for Bettye, which she recorded on Karen Records. In between record contracts, she performed on shows with many of the greats of show business including Otis Redding, Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson, Ben E. King, The Temptations, among many others, and she toured with James Brown.
On Calla Records, she scored with 'Let Me Down Easy', a performance of timeless excellence, which captivated the world of soul. The song is now considered Bettye's "theme song".

In New York, 1970, she won a singing contest (the prize was a Schaffer Beer commercial) in which she defeated scores of other female singers. The male vocalist who won was future Broadway star, Carl Hall. This commercial won an Obie Award and led to Bettye accepting another singing commercial contract with Salem Cigarettes.
Impressed with Bettye's cover of his recording of 'The Condition My Condition is In', Kenny Rogers recommended her to his brother, Leland, who owned Silver Fox Records. LaVette recorded the provocative, 'He Made a Woman Out of Me' which was banned in some cities because of its adult message. Bobbie Gentry ('Ode to Billy Joe') later covered it. Similarly, Tina Turner and Ann Peebles covered Bettye's 'My Man'. Accepting the offer to star in the Broadway, national and summer stock versions of "Bubbling Brown Sugar" was one of the wisest choices she made. Bettye co-starred with legendary performer Cab Calloway and dancer Honey Coles and drew rave reviews from the critics. She stayed with the show for seven years.

During the disco era, Bettye reluctantly waxed 'Doin' The Best That I Can' even though she did not consider herself a disco singer. Afterwards, she went on tour with Bubbling Brown Sugar, unaware that the record was a big hit at Studio 54 in New York and other leading discos around the country.
In 1982, after Diana Ross left Motown, the company offered Bettye a contract. She recorded the critically acclaimed album, "Tell Me a Lie" which garnered the hit, 'Right in the Middle of Falling in Love'. The album was not 'pure LaVette', but contained enough of her magic to charm the critics and her ardent fans. She brought some much-needed soul to the label, soul that was sorely missing since the demise of LaVette's old friend, David Ruffin. After appearing on Soul Train with Smokey Robinson to promote the album, Bettye returned to nightclubs and concerts. Charley Records in the UK released a compilation of LaVette's recordings on an album, now CD, called "Nearer To You". Currently out of print, it needs a reissue!

A prestigious engagement at New York's Columbia University in 1999 helped to ignite renewed American interest in Bettye LaVette. She still works with her beloved musical director, Rudy Robinson, veteran of The Dells, Staple Singers, David Ruffin, etc. She is prominently featured in David Freeland's new book, Ladies of Soul in which she candidly discusses her career with grit and humour. She recorded a live concert CD in Holland in 2000 called "Let Me Down Easy - In Concert" for Munich Records. The album was received well by the music critics and fans alike. It includes many of LaVette's staple tunes such as, 'Almost' and 'Your Turn to Cry' plus a few newer ones like 'Damn Your Eyes'.

In 2001, LaVette performed at the Tribute to Otis Redding at the Porretta Soul Festival in Bologna, Italy. She shared the stage with other soul legends, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), whom Bettye has known before her first hit record, the Memphis Horns' Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love with whom she recorded two albums. Also appearing were soul singer Ann Peebles and The Sweet Inspirations.

The good news is that Bettye LaVette has recently signed with Blues Express Records and has recorded the recent CD, "A Woman Like Me" which contains mostly new material and is produced by Dennis Walker, Grammy Award winner, who has produced both Robert Cray and B.B. King. Further releases include "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise" and "Scene Of The Crime".
You can read more about the great lady at http://www.bettyelavette.com

(With thanks to Oliver Mack for additional material).