Home » Jazz Musicians » Keter Betts

Keter Betts

Keter Betts has been one of the most in demand jazz bassists of the last century.

Born in 1928, in Port Chester New York, he began his musical studies as a drummer after following a marching band around in a parade. After moving to New York to study and work professionally, he became tired of hauling his drums up and down several flights of stairs and made the switch to bass. He moved to the fertile musical ground of post war Washington, DC in 1947 and made the most of the opportunity, sitting in with all the legends that came through town. As he honed his skills, his reputation spread and band leaders in New York, regularly sought his services, working with Earl Bostic and Dinah Washington. In 1957, he began working with Charlie Byrd in groups including Buck Hill, Carlos Jobim, and Stan Getz. During the same period, he worked with Nat and Cannonball Adderley.

In 1965, Ray Brown recommended Keter to Ella Fitzgerald as a member of the Tommy Flanagan Trio. He became her full-time bassist in 1971 and stayed with her band through her final performance in 1992. She would always claim that Keter was her favorite bass player. With Ella, he collaborated with giants such as Count Basie, Joe Pass, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington.

During his long career, Keter Betts traveled all over the world, but kept the Washington, DC area his home, marrying and raising five children. Besides his family and touring, Keter devoted much of his time to workshops in schools throughout the DC area.

Keter was the bassist on Charlie Byrd’s seminal Brazilian jazz classic, Jazz Samba. He has a recording catalog in the several dozens. Yet only in the last few years did he become a solo artist in his own right, self producing Bass Buddies and Bass Buddies Too. In 2002, he released Pinky’s Waltz: Live at Montpelier, in tribute to his wife.

Sadly, that was his last recording, having passed away in the late summer of 2005. Jazz and political royalty came out en masse in appreciation of his many contributions to the music and educational communities. Keter Betts was one of the great gentleman of jazz.

Tags

17
Album Review

Ella Fitzgerald: Live at Chautauqua: Volume 1

Read "Live at Chautauqua: Volume 1" reviewed by James Doherty


Live at Chautauqua, Volume 1 (Dot Time Records) captures Ella Fitzgerald in concert in July 1968. Accompanied by the Tee Carson trio, the eclectic programme ranges from her 1938 breakthrough hit “A-Tisket A-Tasket" through to contemporary pop and Broadway tunes, taking in some selections from her famed songbook series along the way. As Ella explains on her introduction to “Sunny," her intention is “to do something for everyone." While her forays into contemporary pop would sometimes prove unwise, the blend ...

284
Profile

In Memory of Keter Betts

Read "In Memory of Keter Betts" reviewed by Eric M. Brewington


While not the most prominent instrument in jazz, the bass is one of its most essential elements. In a jazz quintet, one of the responsiblities of the bass is to help drive the rhythm section steadily forward while keeping the music interesting. All of this is done in an effort to support the soloist and make them look good (and ultimately make the audience feel good). Remove the deep earthy pulse of the bass and the listener would immediately take ...

318
Album Review

Dinah Washington: Queen of the Juke Box "Live", 1948-1955

Read "Queen of the Juke Box "Live", 1948-1955" reviewed by Dave Nathan


Ted Ono's Baldwin Street Music has rescued Dinah Washington's live performances from New York's Birdland, Royal Roost and Basin Street. There are also a couple of cuts from the soundtrack of Harlem Variety Review. It was during this period that many of her recordings consistently appeared at the top of the R & B charts. But it wasn't until her classic “What a Difference a Day Made" that she broke through to the pop charts. The first performance on the ...

Read more articles
94

Obituary

Bassist Keter Betts Dies at 77

Bassist Keter Betts Dies at 77

Source: All About Jazz

BETTS, WILLIAM THOMAS “Keter" died of natural causes at his home on Saturday, August 6, 2005. The jazz great is survived by three sons, William Thomas, Jr., Jonathan and Derrick; two daughters, Jacquelyn and Jennifer; four grandchildren, his devoted companion, Roscoe Dellums, and numerous relatives and friends. Mr. Betts' wake will be held on Monday, August 15th at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC from 10 o'clock AM until the funeral service commences at noon. ...

106

Performance / Tour

Keter Betts Performs in Annapolis, Thursday August 1

Keter Betts Performs in Annapolis, Thursday August 1

Source: All About Jazz

Keter Betts, long time bassist to Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Byrd appears with Annapolis MD guitar wiz Rob Levit at 49 WEST Cafe in Annapolis MD Thursday August 1. Please call 410-626-9796 for info. and reservations. Joining them will be drum stalwart Frank Russo in an intimate evening of standards.

Betts will be featured in JazzTimes in an upcoming Overdue Ovation article.

Rob Levit is Artist-In-Residence at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts (www.mdhallarts.org) and a 5 time consecutive recipient ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Live at Chautauqua:...

Dot Time Records
2015

buy

Queen of the Juke Box...

Baldwin Street Music
2001

buy

Jazz Samba

Verve Music Group
1962

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.