Ready For Bettye

With a dynamic voice and singing-style reminiscent of no one (save possibly Tina Turner), Blues and R&B artist Bettye LaVette has been recording and performing for over 45 years (with but one Top Ten from her debut single). Although the music industry's inability to define her has prevented her from...

By Katey Margolis

February 12, 2009

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With a dynamic voice and singing-style reminiscent of no one (save possibly Tina Turner), Blues and R&B artist Bettye LaVette has been recording and performing for over 45 years (with but one Top Ten from her debut single). Although the music industry's inability to define her has prevented her from being easily marketed, the Grammy nominee was named 2007 Blues Artist of the Year by Living Blues magazine. A singer with various unique performances on her resume, LaVette recently performed at the December 2008 Kennedy Center Honors show--singing an exquisite version of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me"--and at a special Inauguration concert for Barack Obama on January 18. She is also the reigning Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, and is again nominated in that category for the 2009 Blues Music Awards. LaVette's 2007 Grammy-nominated album, The Scene of the Crime, was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Further proving that LaVette will not be pigeon-holed, alt-country rockers The Drive-By Truckers served as the backing band for the album, which the Truckers' Patterson Hood co-produced with LaVette. The legendary LaVette performs at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium, 6405 Boaz Lane, 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $14 to $59. Call 214-528-5576 or go online at titas.org.
Fri., Feb. 13, 8 p.m., 2009

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