The one and only Bettye Lavette.

Ms. Lavette has a mystical ability to get inside the song, to lay it on you with fierce majesty or vulnerable sensitivity what the lyrics are about, what the music is about, what life is about. She’s been around 40 years since her first single “My Man – He’s A Loving Man” to her perennial show closer “Let Me Down Easy”. Maybe you haven’t heard of her, but that’s what soul is about. You see, life may not be fair, but at the end of the day kick back in the wee hours with Bettye Lavette and you find empathy and comfort knowing that someone understands where your head is at and she’s putting it to music. She’s been singing for 40 years and despite her many singles, she’s never had one break into the Top 100 pop charts. It was 20 long years afer her first single that Bettye’s first full album was finally released (not counting the French release of her 25 year old unreleased masterpiece “Souvenirs”.) She should be a bigger star, but like I said, life’s not fair. The lack of awareness is a crime, but the thing about good music is that it stands the test of time.

Bettye’s still singing, still swinging, still sharing her special brand of magic. And when that happens, music is more than a product, it’s a spiritual journey with a powerful high priestess.