LITT MAGAZINE

For real! If you're a non-believer check out her 2007 cd "Scene Of The Crime"-you'll be tapping your feet to the 1:3 beat just like YOU were from Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

In 2008 LaVette's star was on high burn when she received the BMA-"Best Contemporary Female Blues Singer"
And, oh by the way, did I mention... that the lady sings rock. In December 2008, at the Kennedy Center Honors Ceremonies, Bettye LaVette bumped her version of the Who's 1973 "Love , Reign o'er Me". *For those of you not yet born, never heard, or simply not versed in rock (and his brother, roll) -"Love, Reign..." is one of the most significantly enduring of rock anthems-marked by a high degree of difficulty in vocal interpretation, and highly structured orchestration. LaVette figuratively and literally rocked it!

On January 18, 2009, she performed a duet with Jon Bon Jovi at the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.

Later in 2008 she shared the stage with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr at Radio City Music Hall.

LaVette tells Litt-
"I love performing in Minneapolis-I love your energy and everything Minnesota. I love Minnesota, and Minnesota shows its love for me. The Dakota is a wonderful place to play-like a home instead of a venue. Lowell (Pickett-Dakota Cooks owner) makes my visits special. I'm coming back as often as the schedule permits, because we love Minneapolis."
This reporter is out of time and space, but LaVette's story is far broader and deeper than can be done justice with a single page. Look up her story and accomplishments for yourself-and do, go see her wherever you can! Whatever your musical inclination you will not be disappointed.

  RE; nom

 A legend, and continually rising star, recently graced the twin cities with sold out performances at Dakota/Cooks, on the Nicollette Mall in Minneapolis.

On Monday Aug 9th and Tues Aug 10th a High Priestess of Soul, Bettye LaVette had the house rockin’ to a standing room only crowd. With no diva pretense, the sista' got down to business...the business of music...and stayed with that business until closing time. LaVette worked the soul hungry crowd and the crowd loved her for it.

For those not familiar with Bettye LaVette here's the skinny bio-born Jan, 29 1946 in Muskegon, Mich-raised in Detroit she began her recording career in 1962 at 16 years of age-recorded "My Man-He's a Lovin' Man"-Top 10 R&B hit. From that point on many collaborations, heartaches, and hard work on a tough road left LaVette with only modest acclaim-far less than she deserved.

Of course there were the highs of the 70's disco hit "Doing The Best That I Can", and the 80's R&B Top 40 single "Right In The Middle(Of Falling In Love)-not to mention her 6 year run on Broadway in the theatrical smash of that decade, "Bubbling Brown Sugar", with the late Cab Calloway.

In 2005 through perseverance and grace La Vette's star began to rise anew with the release of the cd "I've Got My Own Hell To Raise"
In 2006 she received the "Pioneer Award" from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation.

But hold on-put the phone back on the hook-before you might begin to surmise LaVette as only a soul, R&B, Blues, Funk singer....you must know that LaVette sings "rock". I didn't say sings a rock song-LaVette sings "rock". And...if that weren't all-she sangs (I didn't mean sings-I mean "sangs") country and western. Bettye LaVette "sangs" country so beautifully "she could charm the tweeters off a skeeter" -

 www.bettyelavette.com