Bette McLaurin facts for kids

Bette McLaurin (born around 1929) is an American singer. She became famous in the 1950s for her amazing voice. She sang jazz and R&B songs. Two of her songs, "I May Hate Myself In The Morning" and "Only A Rose," were big hits. They even made it onto the Billboard pop music charts!

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Bette McLaurin was born in North Carolina. She loved music from a young age. She studied classical music and dreamed of becoming a concert singer. However, her mother encouraged her to try singing popular music instead. Bette had one sister.

In 1950, Bette made her very first song. It was called "Crying My Heart Out Over You." She recorded it with the Claude Hopkins Orchestra. This song was released on a small record label called Big Nickel Records.

Rising to Fame

By 1952, Bette McLaurin signed with Derby Records in New York City. Her first song with them was "I May Hate Myself In The Morning." This song quickly became a big hit! It reached number 23 on the national pop chart. This was a huge success for a song with an R&B style from a smaller record company.

Bette then went on tour across the United States and Canada. She performed with the famous group The Ink Spots. Her next song, "My Heart Belongs to Only You," was also very popular. She sang it with a vocal group called the Striders.

More Hits and Performances

Later in 1952, Bette McLaurin joined the Coral label. This company was part of Decca Records. She even performed at the famous Apollo Theater in New York.

In 1953, she had another hit song called "Only A Rose." The Sy Oliver Orchestra played music for this record. "Only A Rose" reached number 25 on the Billboard pop chart. Bette also toured with other R&B stars like Illinois Jacquet and Willie Mabon. She performed regularly in cities like Chicago and Detroit.

In 1954, Bette performed with jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. She also toured with a vocal group called the Dew Droppers. She later recorded for the Jubilee label. They wanted to present her more as a pop singer.

Later Career and Legacy

As music styles changed, Bette McLaurin performed less often. She recorded a song called "What A Night For Love" in 1957. In 1960, she released "Zip." After this, she took a break from music due to health reasons.

In 1964, Bette tried to make a comeback. She released "You're the Greatest," a song honoring the boxer Cassius Clay. She also released "As Long As You're Mine" in 1965. Her last known single, "The Masquerade Is Over," came out in 1969.

Bette McLaurin's later life is not well-known. She lived in Jamaica, Queens for many years. In 1989, a collection of her songs called The Masquerade Is Over was released as an album. It was later released on CD in 2013.