Bettye LaVette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bettye LaVette
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LaVette at Cosmopolite Scene in Oslo in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Betty Jo Haskins |
| Born | January 29, 1946 Muskegon, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, Blues, R&B, Funk, Rock, Country, Americana, Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, entertainer |
| Years active | 1962–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, Calla, Silver Fox, Atco, Motown, Epic, Charly, Munich, Blues Express, ANTI-, Verve |
Bettye LaVette (born Betty Jo Haskins on January 29, 1946) is an American soul singer. She recorded her first song when she was only sixteen years old. For many years, she was not widely famous. That changed in 2005 with her album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. Critics loved it, and many called it one of the best albums of the year.
Her next album, The Scene of the Crime, was also a big success. It went to number one on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 2008. LaVette's music is a mix of many styles. She sings soul, blues, rock, funk, gospel, and country. In 2020, she was honored by being inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and First Hit
Bettye LaVette was born in Muskegon, Michigan, and grew up in Detroit. Unlike many singers from her time, she didn't start singing in church. Instead, she sang in her family's living room, enjoying R&B and country music.
A local record producer named Johnnie Mae Matthews discovered her talent. In 1962, when LaVette was 16, she recorded her first single, "My Man – He's a Lovin' Man." The famous Atlantic Records released the song, and it became a big R&B hit. This success allowed her to tour with famous musicians like Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, and a rising star named Otis Redding.
A Long Road to Fame
After her first hit, LaVette released a few more songs. In 1965, her song "Let Me Down Easy" made it to the R&B charts. This led to a tour with the legendary James Brown.
In 1972, she recorded her first full album, called Child of the Seventies. It was recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. However, the record company, Atco, decided not to release it. For many years, the recordings were thought to be lost.
For a while, LaVette stopped recording music. She performed for six years in the popular Broadway show Bubbling Brown Sugar. In 1982, she signed with the famous Motown label and released her first album that was available to the public, Tell Me A Lie.
A Career Comeback
Years later, a French music collector named Gilles Petard heard LaVette's personal recordings of Child of the Seventies. He searched for the original master tapes at Atlantic Records and found them. In 2000, he released the "lost" album, and people began to take a new interest in LaVette's music.
In 2003, she released a new album, A Woman Like Me. It won a W. C. Handy Award for "Comeback Blues Album of the Year." This marked the beginning of the second phase of her career.
Her 2005 album, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise, was a huge critical success. For this album, she sang songs written by talented female artists like Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, and Dolly Parton.
Her 2007 album, The Scene of the Crime, was recorded with the rock band Drive-By Truckers. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary Blues Album."
Major Performances and Awards
LaVette has performed at many important events. In December 2008, she sang at the Kennedy Center Honors to celebrate the band The Who. Her performance of their song "Love, Reign o'er Me" was a highlight of the show.
In January 2009, she performed at a celebration for President Barack Obama's inauguration. She sang "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. She also shared a stage with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at a benefit concert.
Over the years, LaVette has won many awards. She received a "Pioneer Award" from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2006. She has also won several Blues Music Awards for "Best Contemporary Female Blues Singer" and "Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year."
Recent Work
LaVette continues to record and perform music. In 2010, she released Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook. On this album, she sang classic songs by British bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. It was nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 2017, she was part of the documentary film The American Epic Sessions. In the film, she recorded a blues song using a 1920s sound recording system.
Her 2018 album, Things Have Changed, featured songs written by Bob Dylan. It was nominated for two Grammy Awards. In 2020, she released the album Blackbirds, which honored songs by great female singers of the 1950s. This album was also nominated for a Grammy.
In 2022, the electronic music group Odesza sampled her voice from her 1965 song "Let Me Down Easy" for their hit "The Last Goodbye."
Personal Life
LaVette is married to Kevin Kiley, who is also a musician and singer. They live in West Orange, New Jersey.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Tell Me a Lie (1982)
- Not Gonna Happen Twice (1990)
- A Woman Like Me (2003)
- I've Got My Own Hell to Raise (2005)
- The Scene of the Crime (2007)
- Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook (2010)
- Thankful n' Thoughtful (2012)
- Worthy (2015)
- Things Have Changed (2018)
- Blackbirds (2020)
- LaVette! (2023)
Notable Compilations
- Souvenirs (2000) - The original unreleased album from 1973.
- Child of the Seventies: The Complete Atlantic/Atco Recordings (2006)
See also
In Spanish: Bettye LaVette para niños
