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Betty Carter

Betty Carter is an NEA Jazz Master

Betty Carter was born Lillie Mae Jones in Flint, Michigan, on May 16, 1930. At a young age, she began the study of piano at the Detroit Conservatory of Music, and by the time she was a teenager she was slready sitting in with Charlie Parker and other bop musicians when they performed in Detroit. After winning a local amateur contest, she turned professional at age 16, hooking up with the Lionel Hampton band by 1948, billed as Lorraine Carter. Hampton was the man who hung the nickname 'Betty Be-Bop' on her (a nickname she hated, as she found bebop limiting and wanted to do more than just scat), but it stuck, and ultimately she changed her stage name to Betty Carter. At the age of 21, she traveled to New York with the Hampton band and set up home there.

Betty spent the early 1950s as a singer with different group. She did several shows at the Apollo, playing with such notables as Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie, toured with Miles Davis in 1958 and 1959, and spent much of the rest of the time on the outskirts of the jazz scene. Her refusal to adopt a more "mainstream" jazz style led to difficulty in finding bookings and making recordings. She made her first recordings in 1955 with a then-unknown piano player named Ray Bryant. The album, Meet Betty Carter and Ray Bryant, was little received, and her second set of recordings, with the Gigi Gryce band in 1956, languished unpublished until 1980.

By 1958, she was ready to record again, and another little known album, I Can't Help It, was the result, followed closely by a recording on the Peacock label (a Texas gospel label), Out There. She was developing a reputation as a fiercely independent woman (an attitude she developed based in part on her interactions with Gladys Hampton, Lionel's no-nonsense wife) and a devoted jazz singer, and her popularity among the inner jazz circles was high, but critical and popular acclaim eluded her. She was becoming well-known for her signature style that combined off-beat interpretations of classic tunes and wild scat-singing that never seemed to find the right beat. Even a move to the ABC label for her 1960 album The Modern Sound of Betty Carter did little to help that. She needed a break, and it came in the form of Ray Charles.

Ray Charles, on a recommendation from Miles Davis, agreed to take Betty on tour with him in the late 1950s. Enchanted by her voice and looking for a partner to record a series of duets, he enlisted Ms. Carter in a project that became Ray Charles and Betty Carter. The album, recorded in 1961, became an instant critical and popular smash; the single Baby It's Cold Outside gave Betty her first introduction into the popular music scene (indeed, at the 1997 White House ceremony where President Clinton presented Ms. Carter with a National Medal of Arts, the President said, "Hearing her sing 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' makes you want to curl up in front of the fire, even in summertime."). The sessions took on almost legendary status; after fifteen years in the business, fame had found Betty Carter.

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Radio & Podcasts

The Music Never Stops: Tales of Wonder and Ms. B.C.

Read "The Music Never Stops: Tales of Wonder and Ms. B.C." reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


This week we focus on new releases from pianist Danny Green's band LP and the Vinyl, vocalist Linda Purl, saxophonist Brian Landrus, the duo Const, plus a Stevie Wonder tribute by various Posi-Tone artists for his 70th birthday and a special single from Cynthia Scott, with more birthday shoutouts to lyricist Betty Comden and Betty Carter (pictured) plus a remembrance of Holli Ross. Thanks for your continued support and please support these artists and their music. Playlist Jon ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Jazz Singers in the 60s - Betty Carter, Shiela Jordan Plus (1961 - 1969)

Read "Jazz Singers in the 60s - Betty Carter, Shiela Jordan Plus (1961 - 1969)" reviewed by Russell Perry


The 1960s featured many recordings by highly musical singers in the company of great jazz instrumentalists. In this hour of Jazz at 100, we will survey the 1960s recordings of jazz singers Betty Carter, Eddie Jefferson, Sheila Jordan, Nancy Wilson, Shirley Horn, Carmen McRae, Jon Hendricks and Johnny Hartman. Playlist Host Intro 0:00 Betty Carter Quartet “This Is Always" from The Jazz Singers (Smithsonian) 2:21 Betty Carter Quartet “I Only Have Eyes for You." from Finally (Roulette) 5:30 ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Birthday Shout-outs to Betty Carter and Stevie Wonder

Read "Birthday Shout-outs to Betty Carter and Stevie Wonder" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


A two hour broadcast with new releases from bassist Linda May Han Oh and vocalist Elizabeth Tomboulian, plus birthday shout outs to Betty Carter, Stevie Wonder, lyricist Betty Comden, flutist Jan Leder, pianist Brittany Anjou, saxophonists Virginia Mayhew and Grace Kelly and vocalist Miles Griffith, among others. Playlist Jan Leder “Bird of Beauty" from Nonchalant (Challenge) 00:00 Nnenna Freelon “Black Orchid" from Tales of Wonder (Concord) 06:55 Stevie Wonder “You've Got It Bad Girl" from Talking Book (Tamla) ...

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Bailey's Bundles

Classical Boxes: Harnoncort’s Strauss & Bostridges’ Schubert

Read "Classical Boxes: Harnoncort’s Strauss & Bostridges’ Schubert" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


With the traditional music industry in shambles, the larger labels are repackaging their deep catalogs as never before, releasing well-conceived box sets that are modestly priced for the amount of music offered. Here are two from Warner Classics that make me want to yell, “Yeehaw!" (In the southern classical music vernacular, that is.) Nikolaus Harnoncourt Johann Strauss II Warner Classics 2014 When considering Austrian period-performance conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt, ...

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First Time I Saw

Betty Carter: Along Came Betty

Read "Betty Carter: Along Came Betty" reviewed by Rob Mariani


It's a warm October Saturday, the first year of the new Century. Small leaf storms are rising into the cloudless blue sky. The early autumn peace is broken by the news in the paper that Betty Carter has died in New York City at the age of 69. None of the accounts I read say just where and under what conditions she died. So many jazz musicians seem to have a way of breaking themselves like old 78 glass records, ...

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First Time I Saw

Betty Carter Remembered

Read "Betty Carter Remembered" reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil


On a smoggy summer day in the mid-1970's, Soul & Jazz Record magazine scheduled my interview with Betty “Be Bop Carter. Even then she was legendary. Lillie Mae Jones, soon to become Betty Carter, grew up traveling between Flint and jny: Detroit chasing scat dreams. Ultimately, Lillie Mae would become the world's Be Bop Queen, donning her crown along with a new name.In her hotel suite that morning, Carter had on a silky, lounge outfit and no make-up. ...

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Book Review

Open The Door: The Life and Music of Betty Carter

Read "Open The Door: The Life and Music of Betty Carter" reviewed by Craig Jolley


Open The Door William R. Bauer Univ of Michigan Press ISBN: 019514838X

Betty Carter came up as a bebop-only singer in the late 40's. She gradually broadened and deepened her music, enduring what she perceived as failed career over the next 25 years. Beginning with an engagement at the Keystone Corner (San Francisco) in 1975 she turned it around. A demanding and stubborn bandleader Carter won the respect (if not the affection) of the ...

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Video / DVD

Betty Carter: Music Never Stops

Betty Carter: Music Never Stops

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

After singing with Lionel Hampton in the late 1940s, vocalist Betty Carter had her first hit with Red Top. Teamed with vocalist King Pleasure in 1952, their vocalese duet put words to the solo melodies of tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons and trumpeter Gail Brockman on their 1947 version of Red Top. Between 1956 and 1964, Carter recorded six studio albums and then took a break to raise a family. By the time she returned at the end of the decade, ...

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Performance / Tour

Nu-Art Series to Present Erika Johnson in Betty Carter Tribute on Saturday, April 7

Nu-Art Series to Present Erika Johnson in Betty Carter Tribute on Saturday, April 7

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The Nu-Art Series has announced that Erika Johnson (pictured) will sing works associated with legendary jazz vocalist Betty Carter in a concert at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 7 at the Metropolitan Gallery, 2936 Locust St. Originally from East St. Louis, Johnson has performed around the area since the mid-1990s, and also serves as the voiceover artist for station identity spots on radio station WSIE (88.7 FM). She'll be accompanied during her Betty Carter tribute by guitarist Eric Slaughter, drummer Montez ...

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Recording

Ray Charles Christmas Album Features Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter

Ray Charles Christmas Album Features Freddie Hubbard, Betty Carter

Source: conqueroo

Los Angeles, CA -- Concord Records caps a year in which it reissued many of Ray Charles' classic albums (Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, A Message From the People and The Genius Hits the Road) with the artist's only Christmas album of his entire career, The Spirit of Christmas. Concord's digitally remastered reissue marks the first time the album has been available in more than 12 years. Street date is October 6, ...

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Event

NYC Duo Brings Ray Charles & Betty Carter's Music Back Around

NYC Duo Brings Ray Charles & Betty Carter's Music Back Around

Source: Mix Management, Bonnie Ahl

Soul/blues duo Dwight & Nicole (Dwight Ritcher & Nicole Nelson) have just sold out two shows at the Blue Note NYC, and two more at the Regattabar, Cambridge, MA, with their acclaimed show honoring the music of legendary duo Ray Charles & Betty Carter.

They return to the Northeast in May & June for shows at the Real Deal Jazz Club, a beautiful historic theater within the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center; Friday May 9 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. (For tickets ...

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Event

Ray Charles & Betty Carter Celebrated at the Blue Note

Ray Charles & Betty Carter Celebrated at the Blue Note

Source: Mix Management, Bonnie Ahl

On Sunday, April 20th, soulful duo Dwight & Nicole (Dwight Ritcher & Nicole Nelson) will help celebrate the lives of legends Ray Charles & Betty Carter with an afternoon of music in their honor at the Blue Note, 131 W 3rd St, New York, NY for two shows 12:30pm & 2:30pm. For tix (212) 475-8592 or go to bluenote.net Both risk takers in music and in life, Ray Charles and Betty Carter broke many rules to convey unique vision. Dwight ...

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Festival

Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead at VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest

Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead at VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest

Source: All About Jazz

READING, PA -- March 11 -- An amazing variety of first-rate jazz music isn't the only mission of the VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest; education and furthering youth involvement in jazz as an art form is also a major commitment of the festival. The Kennedy Center Presents: Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, a music residency program for young people, is coming to the Berks Jazz Fest, Sunday, March 30, at 1:30 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts. There is ...

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Music Industry

Look What I Got: Betty Carter

Look What I Got: Betty Carter

Source: All About Jazz


Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

El Momento

BETTYRules Music
2006

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'S Finest Hour

BETTYRules Music
2003

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Betty Carter's Finest...

Universal Music Group
2003

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I'm Yours, You're Mine

Verve Music Group
1997

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I'm Yours, You're Mine

BETTYRules Music
1996

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I’m Yours, You're...

Verve Music Group
1996

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Videos

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