song performed: “You Don’t Know Me At All” from the album Scene of the Crime
conan’s reaction: “that was fantastic! thank you so much. *shakes bettye hand* thank you, bettye lavette everybody. *claps three times and bows* that was terrific. we’ll take a break. we’ll be right back, stick around *taps bettye on the shoulder and chats*”

The Greate Ladye of Soule has comebacke in a bige waye!

Tonight is two in a row for musicians that probably deserved a bit more credit back in the day. I love it. Bettye’s is a great story of someone found early at 16 and then pretty much given the finger by records companies most of her life. Playing 2nd fiddle to Diana Ross (Motown went after her when things soured with Ross only). Recording an album in ‘72 that was shelved under 2000 (where it was released in Europe). Bettye is a story of a lady who kept on singing and performing despite studio and distribution support. And now she’s up for a Grammy. It is über fitting and an honor then that she is on Conan tonight.

On stage her band is dressed in all black. including keyboardist man wearing a black fedora. Bettye is actually wearing a black leopard-like shirt with giant hoop earrings. I love how she hops around doing the cha-cha during music interludes. Her band is tight, they look like they are having more fun than worrying about messing up.

There is a cute exchange of dancing/guitar solo which makes me wonder how old Bettye is, cause she can sure groove around. She definitely wears music on her body, at the end looking so bad ass that I thought she was giving birth. But it is fun, and clearly well done.

playing:
1.23 iron horse music hall - northampton
1.25 the narrows - fall river
2.7 scullers - boston
3.15-17 arlene schnitzer concert hall - portland
3.18-19 dinitriou’s jazz alley - seattle