I’ll Be A Liar - USA Jubilee 5465 1963)
recorded first by Soloman Burke
and a hit for Janis Joplin in 1969.
His Kiss’ / It's Dark Outside
Nearer to You /I'm Evil Tonight- 1967, Sansu 466 USA (Produced by
Allen Toussaint)
I Don't Want To Hear It - 1967
RIDE YOUR PONY Action (B side) / Trouble With My Lover (A side)
What A Sad Feeling
(Also did a duet album with Lee
Dorsey).
Born 1941 (others say 1943?) in Florida with a Minister father and a missionary mother. As a teenager she went to work for R & B star Big Maybelle as a maid and it was Big Maybelle who first realised her talent. Sometimes referred to as 'The Lost Soul Queen'.
In 1960 she recorded her first single, Taking Care of Business / Yesterday's Kisses for Douglas Records and was introduced via her Big Maybelle to Solomon Burke, who in turn recommended her to his producer Bert Berns as well as song writers Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. She re-recorded Solomon's hit Cry To Me for Jubilee Records in 1963.
It reached 10 R & B and 29 pop. It was re-released in 1970. Her version was slower, with a gospel feel and backing vocals with Cissy Houston and Dee Dee Warwick.
Her last record for Jubilee was Mojo Hannah originally done by Henry Lumpkin on Motown (co-written by Andre Williams), and also covered by Larry Williams as Louisiana Hannah then later a New Orleans hit for Tammi Lynn.
In 1965 Betty met Allen Toussaint and on the legendary Sansu label. She released some great soul blues numbers, e.g. Trouble With My Lover.
In 1967 she cut a duet with Lee Dorsey. Love Lots Of Lovin; / Take Care of Our Love (Sansu 474 and Buffalo 1002 in the UK. In 1968 she released , What'd I Do Wrong (Sansu 478) and a great B side a cover of Lee Dorsey’s Ride Your Pony on the Action label in the UK.
She retired in 1969 but came back in 2005 appearing at the Ponderosa Stomp live in the USA .