Bettye LaVette is not a name you think of when you think of legends from the 1960s. LaVette never gained as much traction like her peers Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and others, who came out of Detroit’s music scene. The overlooked singer released a few humble top-ten R&B hits like “My Man – He’s a Lovin’ Man,” recorded at age 16, and “Let Me Down Easy.” The hits led to a whirlwind tour with Otis Redding and Ben E. King, and exposed her to many indiscretions living the tour life. She now has a new album “Thankful N’ Thoughtful” on ANTI Records, as well as a memoir titled “A Woman Like Me,” in which she exposes the happenings behind the golden glitz of Motown.
Written with biographer David Ritz, the book tells dirty details and makes juice claims. She explains in her book how she slept with her first music producer at age 16, also claiming to have slept with Otis Redding, who asked her to marry him even though he had a pregnant girlfriend at the time. She says she was the mastermind behind a party held in order for a young Stevie Wonder to lose his virginity. She talks regretfully about how she never got a chance to add Marvin Gaye to her list of sexual conquests. After hounding him with many invites to her room, he finally showed up, but she just happened to not be alone. “Marvin had finally come for me, and I blew it,” she writes.
But a huge bulk of her disdain is directed towards Diana Ross, in particular, calling her a “stuck up b*tch with a small voice and big ambition.”
Well, then! Seems like quite the juicy read!
Despite her animosity and bitterness, she is striving to be “Thankful N’ Thoughtful,” like the name of her newest LP. Her most recent notoriety came three years ago when she was invited to sing for the 2009 Pre-Inaugural concert for President Obama (below). Hopefully, she’s letting the anger go and is making steps towards forgiveness and healing.
Bettye LaVette is a Grammy-nominated soul singer who has been captivating audiences with her powerful voice and emotional performances for decades. Now, she’s ready to share the secrets of her life in showbiz through her tell-all memoir, Unbreakable: Her Story of Resilience, Redemption, and True Love. In it, Bettye dishes on Motown scandals that have never come to light before—and it’s sure to be an eye-opening read!
For those unfamiliar with her work, over the course of her career Bettye has worked with some legendary names like The Who and Bob Dylan. She sang at President Obama’s inauguration and then again when he presented Aretha Franklin with the Medal of Freedom. But there are many stories from behind the scenes that fans have yet to hear about until now.
In Unbreakable, readers will get a glimpse into what Bettye experienced during both the highs and lows throughout her career as well as witness how she was able to remain resilient despite facing obstacles along the way. It promises to be a page-turner which will leave you wanting more by its end!
Overview Of Bettye Lavette’s Career
Bettye LaVette is an acclaimed soul singer and songwriter who has been performing since the early 1960s. She was born in Muskegon, Michigan in 1946 and began her career with a single released on Atlantic Records when she was just sixteen. Since then, she has recorded over 20 studio albums, including some that have become classics of American music. Throughout her long career, Bettye has earned numerous accolades for her powerful vocals and ability to interpret songs from a range of genres, including blues, R&B and pop.
In recent years, Bettye’s profile has risen further due to her tell-all memoir – A Woman Like Me – which delves into the inner workings of Motown during its heyday as well as personal revelations about relationships, heartbreak and triumphs throughout her life. The book also reveals how she survived despite all the sexism and racism she faced during her time as a black female artist trying to make it in the male-dominated music industry.
The success of A Woman Like Me proves that there’s still great interest in Bettye LaVette’s story among fans old and new alike. Her tireless dedication to making sure every performance is special continues to drive forward her legacy – one built on decades of hard work, talent and resilience.
Highlights From The Memoir
In her memoir, A Woman Like Me, Bettye LaVette offers a candid and compelling look at both her personal life and the music industry. From stories of heartbreak to tales of triumph, she reveals all while pulling no punches as she describes her experiences as an African-American female artist in a male-dominated business. Here are some highlights from this captivating autobiography:
Bettye dishes on Motown’s inner workings during its heyday, including working with luminaries like Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye. She also shares details about how sexism and racism made it difficult for black female musicians to make their mark in the industry. In addition, readers learn about behind-the-scenes struggles dealing with record companies that refused to pay royalties or take responsibility for career decisions gone wrong.
The book is filled with intimate revelations about her relationships -how they were impacted by fame and betrayal—as well as moments of joy when performing sold out shows around the world. Through it all, Bettye remains unapologetically honest yet openhearted as she recounts what it was really like living through these tumultuous times.
Her memoir provides insight into why Bettye LaVette stands out among soul singers today—her resilience in the face of adversity has kept her going despite many obstacles along the way. Today, she continues to deliver powerful performances every night with humility and grace, proving time and again that talent wins over any obstacle.
Conclusion
I couldn’t be more excited for Bettye LaVette and her new memoir. She has been a soul singer since she was 16, and over the years she’s faced challenges many of us can only imagine. But despite it all, she has persevered and is now one of the most beloved stars in music.
In this tell-all memoir, readers get an inside look at some of Motown’s biggest scandals as well as what life is like being a successful artist. From stories about Marvin Gaye to memories from her time on tour with Aretha Franklin, I’m sure fans will appreciate getting this behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of soul music.
Bettye LaVette’s story proves that hard work pays off and age doesn’t matter when it comes to success. After decades in the business, she still shines brightly—and if you haven’t heard her music yet, I highly recommend giving it a listen! You won’t regret it.
