DECEMBER 2010: GRAMMY Nominee Bettye LaVette Performs On Lopez Tonight December 21st
2011 GRAMMY Nominee Bettye LaVette will perform on Lopez Tonight December 21st. The show airs on the TBS network at midnight/11pm CST. This follows Bettye's recent TV appearances on The Today Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, Tavis Smiley and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Bettye's latest album Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook is nominated for the GRAMMY for Best Contemporary Blues Album. The album features songs composed by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others. The album is the most successful of Bettye’s career, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart (#55 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart) and still holding in the top 10 over 6 months later. Interpretations has received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, Wall St. Journal, USA Today and Entertainment Weekly among others. The New York Times' Jon Pareles proclaimed Bettye "now rivals Aretha Franklin as her generation's most vital soul singer." Catch Bettye live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
Related nominations include Cyndi Lauper's Memphis Blues (featuring Rosebud's Charlie Musselwhite and Allen Toussaint) for Best Traditional Blues Album as well as Treme, Music from the HBO Original Series, featuring Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media AND "Down In New Orleans" (From The Princess And The Frog) for Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (features Trombone Shorty playing with Dr. John on the song).
Congratulations and good luck to all.
NOVEMBER 2010: Bettye LaVette Featured on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson November 12th - NPR.org Interview / Performance Now Available Online
In addition to performing her own headline shows, Bettye was Robert Plant's Special Guest on his Summer tour. Her latest CD, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, has received rave reviews from Rolling Stone, Wall St. Journal, USA Today and Entertainment Weekly among others. The New York Times' Jon Pareles proclaimed Bettye "now rivals Aretha Franklin as her generation's most vital soul singer. She uses every scrape, shout and break in her raspy voice, with a predator's sense of timing, to seize the drama of a song." Catch Bettye live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
NOVEMBER 2010: Rosebud Artists Once Again Score Honors In Downbeat Readers Poll
Allen Toussaint scored honors in four categories, including #2 Best Blues Album for The Bright Mississippi, #4 Best Arranger and #5 Best Beyond Album. The Bright Mississippi also came in at #9 for Best Jazz Album of the year. Bill Frisell came in at #3 for Best Guitarist (a category he has won 3 times in the past). Bill was also voted among the top ten Best Composers and his album, Disfarmer, placed #12 for Best Jazz Album. Tommy Castro's Hard Believer was voted #5 Best Blues Album, while Duke Robillard's Stomp! The Blues Tonight earned the #7 Best Blues Album spot and Bettye LaVette was voted one of the Best Blues Artists. Congratulations to all!
OCTOBER 2010: Bettye LaVette Performs on Today Show October 15 - Bettye's Performance with Herbie Hancock at UNCF Tribute to Chaka Khan Coming to BET January 2011
Bettye LaVette performed on NBC's Today Show Concert Series Friday, October 15. Bettye's Today Show appearance adds to a growing list of major TV performances this year, having recently been featured on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America and Tavis Smiley.
Bettye was also joined recently by Herbie Hancock for a performance at the United Negro College Fund's, An Evening of Stars Tribute to Chaka Khan. Bettye sang Chaka's "Love Me Still" and "brought tears to the eyes of Chaka Khan and most of the rest of the audience" according to the UNCF press release. The show also featured Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Faith Evans, Angie Stone and Ledisi among others and is scheduled to be broadcast January 29 & 30, 2011 on BET. From the stage and in taped appeals, the stars asked the audience and TV viewers to text "UNCF" to 50555 on their cell phones to donate $10 to help UNCF students whose graduation is threatened by the lingering recession.
SEPTEMBER 2010: Bettye LaVette Honored with Heroes And Legends Achievement in Music Award
Bettye LaVette will be honored with the Heroes And Legends (HAL) Achievement in Music Award in a ceremony September 26, 2010 in Beverly Hills, CA. The award celebrates Bettye's contributions to the history of music and the creative landscape. The HAL Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to talented, underprivileged students in the performing arts and spotlights positive role models in the fields of music, theatre, motion pictures and business through their awards program.
Booker T. & The Drive-By Truckers with Bettye LaVette Live from the Artists Den extended preview
AUGUST 2010: Booker T., Bettye LaVette and Trombone Shorty Featured on Live from the Artists Den Premiering August 19th
Live from the Artists Den (PBS) features Rosebud artists Booker T., Bettye LaVette and Trombone Shorty taped at a very special performance on the eve of the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The show premieres August 19th - please check your local schedule at theartistsden.com for airdates. Booker and Bettye are each backed by The Drive-By Truckers, who played the same role on Booker's 2010 GRAMMY winning Potato Hole and on Bettye's GRAMMY nominated 2007 album, The Scene of the Crime. Sitting in are special guests Trombone Shorty and Ben Ellman (Galactic), who produced Trombone Shorty's album, Backatown (Verve Forecast).
Live from the Artists Den is a live music series produced in association with WNET.ORG (Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose) for public television. This episode was taped in New Orleans at the architectural landmark Patrick F. Taylor Library at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.
Catch Booker T., Bettye LaVette and Trombone Shorty individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
AUGUST 2010: Television Encores for Bettye LaVette, Jim Lauderdale With Elvis Costello, Trombone Shorty and Carrie Rodriguez
Bettye's May 24th performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno just re-aired on August 9th. Jim Lauderdale's performance as a member of Elvis Costello's Sugarcanes band on Austin City Limits replays on August 14th. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue's June 22nd performance on The Late Show with David Letterman will be re-broadcast on August 20th. Carrie Rodriguez's Austin City Limits performance will replay on December 4th. Here's your chance to check out these great performances if you missed them the first time or enjoy them again. Catch all these artists live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
JULY 2010: Bettye LaVette's Guest Appearances on Good Morning America July 6, and Tavis Smiley July 9 Precede Three Night Hollywood Bowl Run
Bettye LaVette makes two more major TV appearances this week when she guests on ABC TV's Good Morning America on July 6 and on PBS's Tavis Smiley July 9. On the heels of rave reviews across Europe and stellar shows at the Ottawa and Toronto Jazz Festivals, Bettye follows up her recent David Letterman appearance with Featured Guest spots on Good Morning America July 6, and Tavis Smiley July 9.
July 9 also marks the first night of a three night run at Hollywood Bowl where Bettye is one of the featured performers backed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for their special Beatles Anniversary Celebration. Catch Bettye on tour this Summer and Fall, including her special guest slots with Robert Plant. Please see Tour Dates >>
JUNE 2010: Bettye LaVette's Interpretations Scores Chart Personal Bests and Media Raves
Bettye LaVette's new CD, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook debuted at #55 on Billboard Top 200 in it's first week of release! She also charted at #26 on the digital chart, #5 on the Indie releases chart and #1 on Billboard's Blues chart! The chart numbers reflect a flurry of recent activity for Bettye as well as rave reviews from the media for her new CD.
NPR presented Bettye on their programs, First Listen, Weekend Morning Edition, Tiny Desk Concert and a very entertaining guest spot on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me". Also, on the eve of the CD's release, she performed an outstanding version of The Beatles' "The Word" on The Tonight Show (full episode at nbc.com). This was followed by a sold out show at New York's Highline Ballroom two nights later. Nationwide TV exposure continues with appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 23 as well as Good Morning America and Tavis Smiley in early July.
The New York Times' Jon Pareles proclaimed Bettye "now rivals Aretha Franklin as her generation's most vital soul singer. She uses every scrape, shout and break in her raspy voice, with a predator's sense of timing, to seize the drama of a song." That is just one of scores of press raves including USA Today, Rolling Stone, Wall St. Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Post and many more.
Bettye's upcoming live performance schedule is equally exciting as, in addition to her June headline shows in major European markets, she'll headline shows across the US throughout the summer including major festival appearances. She will also be featured as part of this summer's Beatles Anniversary Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles from July 9 to 11, followed by a series of dates supporting Robert Plant on his US summer tour and extensive touring throughout the rest of 2010 and beyond. Please see tour dates >>
MAY 2010: Bettye LaVette's May 24 Tonight Show Appearance Kicks Off Busy Summer
Bettye LaVette will return to the stage of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 24, 2010. The next day her new album, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook (Anti Records), will be released. The ambitious project features Bettye's renditions of compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others. Paste magazine declared: "She wholly re-imagines the songs. LaVette's raw singing chops revitalize transcendent lyrics that many of today's top female singers wouldn't be able to handle.' An interview with Bettye will air on NPR's Weekend Edition May 22 and she will be featured on an upcoming NPR Tiny Desk Concerts - video will be posted online when it becomes available.
MAY 2010: Bettye LaVette Special Guests On Robert Plant Summer Tour
Bettye LaVette will be Robert Plant's Special Guest on his upcoming Summer tour, beginning in Phoenix, AZ on July 20 through July 31 in Miami, FL. Bettye LaVette will release her new CD, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook (Anti Records) on May 25, 2010. Produced by Bettye, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others. Plant will be performing with Band of Joy, featuring Marco Giovino, Patty Griffin, Byron House, Buddy Miller and Darrell Scott.
Keith Richards recently said of Bettye: "When you hear a voice like Bettye LaVette's there's a sense of transportation (NOT to a penal colony!), but a certain freedom of movement and emotion, which is rare. Especially to me and I suspect other Englishmen who were so fascinated by the music that is so natural to Bettye while we were still getting our feet wet. The 'hands across the pond' aspect gives me a warm feeling. A connection! A great record. Put me in the fan club! How did Bettye LaVette slip thru the net for so long?"
Bettye is touring on her own both before and after the Robert Plant dates, including a six-show run in Europe in mid-June, please see Tour Dates >> and check here for more on her exciting new CD.
APRIL 2010: Bettye LaVette To Release Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook May 25, 2010 on Anti Records
Bettye LaVette will release her new CD, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook on May 25, 2010 via Anti Records. Produced by Bettye, Rob Mathes and Michael Stevens, the album is a 13-song journey through compositions by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd among others. It concludes right where the very idea for the disc began: Bettye's show-stopping rendition of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" performed at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors (a studio version is a bonus track on the disc). Pete Townshend himself came up to Bettye after her performance, took her hands into his and said, "You made me weep." Bettye also covers Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me." Elton says of her version: "I am truly touched by her picking these songs and can only hope that this album brings more attention to this incredible artist."
Bettye recently played at Carnegie Hall in New York City, in an All Star Tribute To The Music of The Who. According to Rolling Stone, Bettye delivered "definitely the vocal highlight of the night," (read full story) performing her rendition of "Love Reign O'er Me." In addition, she is Nominated for a Blues Music Award for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. She will be playing five shows in Europe in June and a number of upcoming North American festivals, including the Beatles Anniversary Celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles CA over July 9,10,11, 2010. Joining her on those dates will be Todd Rundgren and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra among others. Please see Tour Dates >>
MARCH 2010: Bettye LaVette Delivers "Vocal Highlight of The Night" at Carnegie Hall Who Tribute March 2, 2010; New CD: Interpretations - The British Rock Songbook Coming May 25
Dubbed as The Great Lady of Soul, Bettye LaVette returned to Carnegie Hall on Tuesday March 2 as part of an All Star Tribute To The Music of The Who. According to Rolling Stone Bettye delivered "definitely the vocal highlight of the night". She performed her rendition of "Love Reign O'er Me," with which she had previously wowed the Kennedy Center Honors audience in December 2008 (including Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Barbra Streisand and everyone else in attendance and those watching on CBS TV at home).
Duke Robillard and Tommy Castro both have four nominations each. Duke is nominated for Album of the Year for Stomp! The Blues Tonight, Band of the Year, Best Instrumentalist - Guitar and Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. Tommy is nominated for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Band of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Hard Believer and Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year. Bettye LaVette and Ruthie Fosterare both nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. In addition, Duke produced 10 of the 12 tracks and guests on one song on Album of the Year / Contemporary Blues Album of The Year nominee Between a Rock and the Blues by Joe Louis Walker.
Other Rosebud related nominations are, in the Instrumentalist - Horn category: longtime Tommy Castro Band saxophonist Keith Crossan and Deanna Bogart, who plays in the Rosebud booked Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue with Tommy Castro. Nominated in the Historical Album of the Year category are: Muddy Waters' Authorized Bootleg and Little Walter's The Complete Chess Masters, featuring hit compositions by Willie Dixon. Both Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon were Rosebud artists until their passing. Nominated in the Acoustic Album of the Year category is: Things About Comin' My Way - A Tribute to the music of the Mississippi Sheiks, which features songs by Rosebud artists John Hammond and Bill Frisell.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
NOVEMBER 2009: Bettye LaVette & Allen Toussaint Featured In Tributes To Jerry Wexler, Janis Joplin
Bettye LaVette and Allen Toussaint were featured performers in a memorial tribute to Jerry Wexler in New York City on October 30, 2009. Wexler, who coined the term "rhythm and blues," was a legendary producer and executive at Atlantic Records who signed Bettye in 1962 when she was 16. She performed a searing take on Ray Charles' "Drown In My Own Tears." Allen Toussaint performed his composition "With You in Mind," with Bonnie Raitt providing vocal support.
Bettye will also be featured performing at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame event, Kozmic Blues: The Life and Music of Janis Joplin on November 14, 2009 in Cleveland, OH. The tribute will be a reflection on the career of Janis Joplin and her impact on rock and roll. Susan Tedeschi, Lucinda Williams, Nona Hendryx, Guy Clark, Ray Benson and more are also featured.
JULY 2009: Bill Frisell Honored As Guitarist Of The Year & Other Rosebud Artists Score In Downbeat's 57th Annual Critics Poll
Bill Frisell was just honored for the eighth time in twelve years as Guitarist of the Year in Downbeat magazine's 57th Annual Critics Poll (August 2009 issue). Bill is also named the #6 overall Jazz Artist of the Year, his collaborative album with Jim Hall, Hemispheres, is the #4 Jazz Album of the Year and his Trio is ranked among the top Jazz Groups of the Year. Several frequent/recent Frisell collaborators were also honored: Joe Lovano was ranked #1 for Tenor Sax; also placing high were Sam Yahel (Organ), Jim Hall (Guitar), Brian Blade (Drums), Paul Motian (Drums), Jenny Scheinman (Violin) and #1 for Violin - Rising Star, Eyvind Kang (Violin - Rising Star) and Lee Townsend (Producer - Rising Star), who is also Bill's manager.
Other Rosebud Artists also scored top ten rankings in the poll including Marcia Ball in the category of Blues Artist - Rising Star, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews for Trombone - Rising Star, and Bettye LaVette as one of the top Blues Artists.
Congratulations to all!
JULY 2009: Bettye LaVette "No One More Soulful" per CNN
In a feature review of Bettye LaVette's A Change Is Gonna Come Sessions on CNN.com, Peter Grumbine (Current.com) praises Bettye, stating that of "living singers who are actively releasing music now, there is no one more soulful than Bettye LaVette." He continues, "Bettye actually makes great music because of her obstacles - she has a fire in her belly and a passion that was never squashed over the years... You hear it and feel it in everything she sings." Check out the clip here - at about the 6:00 minute mark for Bettye's portion.
JUNE 2009: Rosebud Artists Nominated For Living Blues Awards - Vote
Living Blues Magazine has honored Bettye LaVette, Marcia Ball, and Charlie Musselwhite with nominations in their Annual Reader's Poll. Bettye LaVette is honored with two nominations: Best Live Performer and Most Outstanding Blues Singer. Marcia Ball and Charlie Musselwhite are nominated in categories both won for the last two years straight: Most Outstanding Musician, Keyboard and Harmonica, respectively. Marcia is also nominated for Blues Artist of the Year (Female). You can cast your vote at - livingblues.com - by clicking on 2009 LIVING BLUES AWARDS VOTE HERE! All ballots must be received by July 5, 2009.
MAY 2009: Bettye LaVette To Perform On CBS' The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson June 24, 2009, New Digital EP release June 16
Bettye LaVette will return to CBS June 24, 2009 as the featured performer on The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson. She will be performing "A Change Is Gonna Come," the classic Sam Cooke anthem. The song is featured on a six-song digital only EP, A Change Is Gonna Come Sessions, available exclusively on iTunes via Anti Records beginning June 16. In January, Bettye performed the song with Jon Bon Jovi at President Obama's pre-inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. In her most recent appearance on CBS, Bettye was featured at the Kennedy Center Honors performing "Love Reign O'er Me" in a tribute to The Who. Having recently returned from performing in Canada, Europe and Brazil, Bettye's upcoming schedule includes prestigious festivals and headline shows worldwide throughout the coming year. please see tour dates>>
MAY 2009: Bettye LaVette's Digital EP "A Change Is Gonna Come Sessions" Out June 16, 2009
Bettye LaVette is releasing a six-song digital only EP, A Change Is Gonna Come Sessions, exclusively on iTunes viaAnti Records on June 16, 2009. The title track is a version of the classic Sam Cooke anthem. A mix of standards and soul classics from Bettye's 1970s stage and nightclub repertoire rounds out the set, including songs by Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn, Bill Withers and Jimmy Reed. This release follows significant milestones for Bettye. In April she was a featured performer with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for the David Lynch Foundation's Transcendental Meditation benefit at Radio City Music Hall. In January she performed "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi at President Obama's pre-inaugural celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. In December Bettye was featured at the Kennedy Center Honors performing "Love Reign O'er Me" in a tribute to The Who. Bettye's performance schedule includes prestigious festivals across the US, Canada, Europe and Brazil in coming months.
MAY 2009: Rosebud Artists Everywhere At New Orleans Jazz Fest
Booker T. made his debut performance at Jazz Fest with the Drive-By Truckers, who are the backing band on his current hit CD. In addition to playing the Festival itself, they performed for a television taping the night before the Festival opened. Joining Booker and the Truckers for the taping were Bettye LaVette, whose last album also featured backing by the Truckers, and the ever-present Trombone Shorty and Ben Ellman of Galactic who is producing a new CD for Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue....(read full story)
APRIL 2009: Bettye LaVette Appears With Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr And More At Radio City Music Hall
Bettye LaVette scored yet another triumph in a year of great milestones for her. Bettye was chosen to perform as part of the David Lynch Foundation's Transcendental Meditation benefit at Radio City Music Hall on April 4. Bettye sang two songs with Moby - "Natural Blues" and "As Close As I'll Get To Heaven" before joining the finale where she shared the mic with Paul McCartney on "Cosmically Conscious". The all star cast also included Sheryl Crow, Donovan, Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder as well as appearances by Jerry Seinfeld and Howard Stern. All this follows on the heels of Bettye's Kennedy Center Honors performance in tribute to The Who in December and her performance with Jon Bon Jovi at President Obama's pre-inaugural celebration in January. Bettye continues a busy live performance schedule through the summer and beyond.
FEBRUARY 2009: Bettye LaVette's Moving Story Featured On SoulfulDetroit.com
An extensive history of Bettye LaVette is featured on the website SoulfulDetroit.com. The story details Bettye's beginnings as a performer in the 1960's through her present day success. After one of music history's longest waits, things just seem to be getting better and better for Bettye. December saw her perform at the The Kennedy Center Honors, broadcast on CBS, where she gave a stunning performance of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" in tribute to the band. In January she was a featured performer in the Inauguration celebration We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial, broadcast by HBO. Bettye joined with Jon Bon Jovi for a stirring version of "A Change Is Gonna Come". Now watch Bettye in her Tonight Show debut on March 3rd, where she will be performing "I Still Wanna Be Your Baby (Take Me Like I Am)," from her Grammy nominated CD The Scene Of The Crime.
FEBRUARY 2009: Bettye LaVette Makes Tonight Show Debut March 3rd
Bettye Lavette continues to build her profile on national TV as she makes her debut performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 3rd, 2009. Bettye was recently featured at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial, the opening event for the Presidential Inaugural on January 18, 2009, broadcast on HBO. She delivered a stirring rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. Just weeks earlier she had stunned the Kennedy Center audience and viewers at home with a standout performance of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" at The Kennedy Center Honors, broadcast on CBS. According to Who guitarist Pete Townshend, "My favorite moment was when Bettye LaVette sang a very fine version of 'Love Reign O'er Me' at the Gala and Barbra Streisand turned to ask me if I really wrote it." Catch Bettye on The Tonight Show and on tour...
JANUARY 2009: Bettye LaVette Featured At Pre-Inauguration Concert
Bettye LaVette was featured at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial, the opening event for the Presidential Inaugural on January 18, 2009. She delivered a stirring rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. The event was presented by HBO. Bettye's performance can be seen here with the full show available here. See pictures from the event here and here.
This follows close on the heels of Bettye's stunning performance at the The Kennedy Center Honors which aired on the CBS network on December 30 and can be seen here.
SEPTEMBER 2010:
