Betty Mabry Davis Background Born in Durham NC

Betty Mabry Davis

Background • Born in Durham, NC, grew up outside of Pittsburg • Influenced by her mother and grandmother’s record collection which included Muddy Waters, B. B. King, and John Lee Hooker. • Left for New York City at 16

Early New York Life • Studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology • Waited tables at Café Figaro • Signed with Wilhelmina models • Chamber Brothers Uptown https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-IE 6 o 7 lk 0 Ec

Relationship with Davis Met Davis in 1967 Married a year later Married for a year She claims it was his temper, he claims it was her immaturity • Affair with Jimi Hendrix • With Miles through his style change (both musically and aesthetically) • •

Influence on Miles music • Her style was rock-oriented and progressive • Introduced Miles to Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix • Wrote two songs about her, Madmoiselle Mabry and Backseat Betty

First Album Betty Davis • Self titled album released in 1973 • Style based on funk grooves, bluesy guitar riffs, gritty percussion, and Betty’s raunchy lyrics and vocal sass • All songs written by Davis • Album criticized for suggestive lyrics and sexual attitude • Rereleased in 2007 by Light in the Attic Records

Devon Wilson, Miles Davis, Betty Davis and Jimi Hendrix’s funeral https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=R 5 HM 5 fmp. Mb. U

Music Career • Unlike most other female funk singers of the time, she wrote, composed and arranged her own music • Recorded 5 studio albums between 1973 and 1979 • Never achieved commercial success • Raunchy style didn’t appeal to the main stream • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=bgmc 6 -L 81 b. E • Greg Errico on drums (sly), Larry Graham on bass (sly/graham central station), Herschel Kennedy on organ (Graham central station), Doug Rodrigues on guitar (santana)

Wrong Time? • “She crafted her own brand of liberated black womanhood that people are still trying to understand get to today” • “She was too black for rock and too hard for soul”Ricky Vincent • “She was early man, no one could deal with it” Greg Errico • Precursor to Prince and Madonna’s sexual style

Influence • Resurgence of respect for Davis • Influenced Outkast, Prince, Erykah, Badu, Rick James, The Roots, etc. • Music frequently Sampled https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Vpj 7 HT 74 L_4 https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=B 59 Gk. OAin. K 0