Betty LaVette

Bettye LaVette has been performing her brand of deep soul music for almost 50 years. Unfortunately, despite recording such standout tracks as Let Me Down Easy and Your Turn To Cry, she was virtually ignored for most of that time. But the last few years have finally seen Bettye find her audience, beginning with 2005's I've Got My Own Hell To Raise, produced by Joe Henry and released on the Anti- Label. Now, after recording an album with the Drive-By Truckers, Betty returns with 'Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook', where the veteran singer takes on songs written by The Beatles, Elton John, Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton. As Marty Duda found out when he spoke to Betty, the idea for the album came about after she was asked to sing The Who's Love Reign O'er Me at a prestigious Kennedy Center Honors show.