Bettye LaVette - The Ultimate Indie

Photo by Carol Friedman

What can be said about Bettye LaVette that has not been said already? She is the ultimate indie. Even though she was best friends (like family) with the biggest artists of her youth, like Sam Cooke, and she has been on several major labels that included Motown and Atlantic, she always maintained her independent ways.

Today, she is with Anti- Records, a division of the indie label, Epitaph Records. Epitaph is not a place for dead artists like it's name might imply, by the way. Bettye is independent like their Anti- label portends. And in that independent spirit, Bettye LaVette's music has probably never been more excellent in recent years. No matter what stage she is on, grandiose theaters to humble small venues, she always delivers it the same.  She digs so deep into her soul, you feel it and you believe it because it's real.

Below are some handpicked favorite performances and videos from this truly inspired authentic uncontrived soul/funk artist deserving of the highest honors for her longevity and adherence to keeping it real and never selling out. She is a gem who is way to far under the radar. She is refreshing to hear, at this time when bad art seems to be a trend of a society in free fall. And perhaps this is the best kind of success for real artists like Bettye, coming from the longer road less traveled. She gained and has maintained "street credibility" with musician's musicians. She is as tight and relevant today, musically and soulfully speaking, as she ever was. Her sense of the funk has not been diminished and has only increased, which is not the case for many of her peers, who for one reason or another, have been unable to maintain their chops and their stage hustle. Turn it up and enjoy!

This live performance featured below below is of a song she recorded for her most recent 2015 album titled Worthy, which is excellent in every way. Visit BettyeLaVette.Com to hear more and buy that directly from the source.

Bettye LaVette - Wait

Whilst, we would love to feature Bettye's new material here, we instead, hope fans will go straight to Bettye for that.  Instead, we are going to flash back on some of Bettye's earlier material that is also worthy of a listen, again.

The next two songs below are lyric videos to songs from her 2012 album titled Thankful N' Thoughtful.

Bettye LaVette - I'm Not The One

Bettye LaVette - Everything is Broken

And here is a terrific live performance of a Pink Floyd cover. It was filmed by a solo camera operator.

Bettye LaVette - Wish You Were Here, Highline Ballroom, NYC

Here is a song that is one of my favorites. It was written in 1965 by Dee Dee Ford under her birth name, Wrecia Holloway. Bettye's 1965 recording of the song was very successful for her. This version below was recorded and filmed in 1990. She sings her heart out and has a slightly different edge to it than the original.

Bettye Lavette - Let Me Down Easy

Next, is a great Bettye LaVette performance at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors in honor of The Who, where she delivers her own interpretation of The Who classic written by Pete Townshend titled Love Reign O'er Me with her trademark style.

Bettye LaVette - Love Reign O'er Me (Kennedy Center Honors in honor of The Who)

Last, but not least, is is a fantastic full concert that was filmed for Canal+ TV in France ad featured five six excellent songs: Joy, How I am Different, Little Sparrow, Freedom, Sleep to Dream, and I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.

Bettye LaVette - (In Concert on Canal+ France)

Connect Direct With Bettye LaVette at BettyeLaVette.Com, Instagram.com/bettyelavette, Facebook.Com/BettyeLaVette and Twitter.Com/BettyeLaVette

Hear/see more from Bettye LaVette in previous posts on our network:

http://www.musicload.com/2011/08/bettye-lavette-stories-from-segregation.html

http://www.musicload.com/2011/01/bettye-lavette.html

http://www.musicload.com/2009/01/who-is-bettye-lavette-she-is-someone.html

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This post was originally created on April 3, 2015, with subsequent edits and updates by The Indies Network at TheIndiesNetworkCom, Facebook.Com/TheIndiesNetwork and https://www.twitter.Com/indies