Betty Gray Davis (née Mabry; July 26, 1944 — February 9, 2022), was an Amer… Read Full Bio ↴Betty Gray Davis (née Mabry; July 26, 1944 — February 9, 2022), was an American cult funk-rock and soul singer-songwriter, producer, model and fashion icon. She was known for her harsh, erotic and raw funky vocals, controversial sexually-oriented lyrics and performance style, and for being the second wife of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. She's also regarded by many as the "Queen of Funk."
Davis was born as Betty Mabry in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Mabry's debut was as a songwriter, with The Chambers Brothers's Uptown (1967, Columbia). When Betty turned sixteen, she moved to New York and met several musicians including Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone. She met Miles Davis in 1967 and married him in 1968. As he stated in his autobiography, in addition to creating turmoil in his personal life, his wife helped him to explore music by introducing him to psychedelic rock guitarist Hendrix and funk innovator Stone. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, though seemingly no credible documentation, to support the idea that Miles Davis named his masterpiece jazz-fusion album Bitches Brew after Betty.
After the breakup of her marriage, Davis moved to London to pursue her modelling career. She wrote music - a passion since childhood - while in the U.K. and returned to the U.S. with the intention of recording songs with Santana and The Commodores. When those projects didn't work out, she organised a group of talented West Coast funk musicians and recorded the songs under her own name.
Her first album, Betty Davis, was released in 1973 and her band included members of Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station, The Pointer Sisters, Tower of Power, and Neil Schon who came from Santana, but went on to form Journey. Davis released two more studio albums: They Say I'm Different (1974) and Nasty Gal (1975). Her backing band, Funkhouse,consisted of her cousin, Larry Johnson on bass, Fred Mills on keyboards, double-platinum artist Carlton Morales on guitar, and Nikki Neal on drums. None of the three albums was a commercial success, and Davis's 1976 album Is It Love or Desire remained unreleased until 2009.
Davis remained a cult figure as a singer, due in part to her open sexual attitude, which was controversial for the time and remains so thirty years later. Some of her shows were boycotted and her songs not played on the radio due to pressure by religious groups. With the passage of time her records have become highly regarded by collectors of soul and funk music. Davis eventually stopped making music and returned to the city where she had attended high school, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She continues to live there as a recluse from the music industry.
Material from a 1979 recording session,which was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, where Kevan Tynes attended, and Alfonse Mouson was the drummer, with Carlton Morales on guitar, and Davis's 1979 material was eventually used for two further albums: Hangin' Out in Hollywood (1995) and Crashin' from Passion (1996). A greatest hits album, Anti Love: the Best of Betty Davis, was released in 2000.
Davis was born as Betty Mabry in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Mabry's debut was as a songwriter, with The Chambers Brothers's Uptown (1967, Columbia). When Betty turned sixteen, she moved to New York and met several musicians including Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone. She met Miles Davis in 1967 and married him in 1968. As he stated in his autobiography, in addition to creating turmoil in his personal life, his wife helped him to explore music by introducing him to psychedelic rock guitarist Hendrix and funk innovator Stone. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, though seemingly no credible documentation, to support the idea that Miles Davis named his masterpiece jazz-fusion album Bitches Brew after Betty.
After the breakup of her marriage, Davis moved to London to pursue her modelling career. She wrote music - a passion since childhood - while in the U.K. and returned to the U.S. with the intention of recording songs with Santana and The Commodores. When those projects didn't work out, she organised a group of talented West Coast funk musicians and recorded the songs under her own name.
Her first album, Betty Davis, was released in 1973 and her band included members of Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station, The Pointer Sisters, Tower of Power, and Neil Schon who came from Santana, but went on to form Journey. Davis released two more studio albums: They Say I'm Different (1974) and Nasty Gal (1975). Her backing band, Funkhouse,consisted of her cousin, Larry Johnson on bass, Fred Mills on keyboards, double-platinum artist Carlton Morales on guitar, and Nikki Neal on drums. None of the three albums was a commercial success, and Davis's 1976 album Is It Love or Desire remained unreleased until 2009.
Davis remained a cult figure as a singer, due in part to her open sexual attitude, which was controversial for the time and remains so thirty years later. Some of her shows were boycotted and her songs not played on the radio due to pressure by religious groups. With the passage of time her records have become highly regarded by collectors of soul and funk music. Davis eventually stopped making music and returned to the city where she had attended high school, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She continues to live there as a recluse from the music industry.
Material from a 1979 recording session,which was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Hollywood, where Kevan Tynes attended, and Alfonse Mouson was the drummer, with Carlton Morales on guitar, and Davis's 1979 material was eventually used for two further albums: Hangin' Out in Hollywood (1995) and Crashin' from Passion (1996). A greatest hits album, Anti Love: the Best of Betty Davis, was released in 2000.
Walking Up the Road
Betty Davis Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Walking Up the Road' by these artists:
Mahalia Barnes & The Soul Mates feat. Joe Bonamassa Further on up the road someone's gonna hurt you like…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Betty Davis:
01.If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up I said if I'm in luck I just might get…
03-betty_davis_-_anti_love_song No I don’t wanna love you Cause I know how you…
70's Blues I woke up this mornin′ I was feelin' so bad I didn′t…
Anti Love Song No I don't want to love you cause I know how…
Anti-Love Song No I don't want to love you cause I know how…
Bottom Of The Barrel Hey man Let′s get low man Whatcha mean, low man? (Get on…
Don't Call Her No Tramp You can call her trendy And superficial An elegant hustler B…
Down Home Girl I was born in a little shack Down in Mississippi I was…
F.U.N.K F.U.N.K. Funk funk y'all funk Ow help me nigga now help me…
F.U.N.K. F.U.N.K. Funk funk y'all funk Ow help me nigga now help me I…
Feeling She wants to feel something She wants to feel anything She…
Gettin' Kicked Off Havin' Fun [VERSE ONE:] [Betty]: Are you a rocker? A finger-popper…
He Was a Big Freak He was a big freak! I used to beat him with…
I Will Take That Ride Hey Hey Stranger I hear that they call you the lone…
I'm Ready Willing & Able If you want my love Come on and get it ′Cause it's…
If I I said if I'm in luck I just might get…
Let's Get Personal You said a little lie I'm not eased and all Well, take…
Nasty Gal I'm gonna run it down to y'all Tell them anything you…
Ooh Yea Gonna get funky soon... Do you want it? (Ooh yea yeah) Do y…
Politician Man Sing it just like that, with the gum in your…
Shoo-B-Doop and Cop Him Gals, He’s a fine fine thang (Ain’t he fine?) Lord knows, …
Shut Off the Light Just shut off the light Ooh let the good times roll…
Stars Starve You Know Oh Yeah! Come on make this thing swing now! I said, they…
Steppin In Her I. Miller Shoes Steppin' high in I. Miller shoes! She could've bee…
Steppin' in Her I. Miller Shoes Steppin' high in her I miller shoes She could've been anyth…
Talkin Trash Talk trash to me I'll keep you hot and dry Talk…
The Lone Ranger Hey Hey Stranger I hear that they call you the lone…
They Say I'm Different they say m different .... mi great grat grand…
This Is It! This is it funk y'all This is it right here This is…
Walkin Up The Road tonight I wish I had someone to love me tomorrow who's…
Whorey Angel I hurt inside every time she leaves me (A man should…
You & I I'm just a child trying to be a woman And you Ah…
You Take Me for Granted You take me, you hurt me You take me, you hurt…
Your Mama Wants Ya Back Can ya hear your mama calling? Your mama wants ya back Can…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@ChandraNYC
Rest in Power, Queen!! 🖤💔🖤
@moforisingmusic
July 26, 1945 - February 9, 2022. Thank you for sharing your incredible talent with us, Betty. A true pioneer light years ahead of your time. We weren't worthy. Rest in peace, dear soul. Fly on... 💜
@garycasperjones9112
Yeah ! Your sound is amazing !!!
@easythename2769
This is the early blueprint for Rufus and Chaka Khan - "You Got The Love"or am I just hearing this wrong she's got that fire of funk that can't be contained
@jasbigj
HOW THE FUNK HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE???
@DrannonMoore00
Unfortunately Betty Davis never received the recognition she deserved. Although she dated Jimi Hendrix and was married to Miles Davis (hence her last name) she never saw stardom herself. That's why you can't find videos of her anywhere... Being a huge fan of funk, she is one of my favorite musicians of all time. If I could find her today I would marry her and be her slave even though she's older than my grandma lol.
@leonholt6075
Jason Jordan I Feel Ya!!
@luisaseabra5205
It's called patriarchy.
@Apollo_Blaze
She did not get much radio play in those days, (due to lyrics) so most people did not hear of her...A shame...she is incredible
@chrisreed3022
'cos she is a woman. https://www.artsy.net/artwork/guerrilla-girls-the-advantages-of-being-a-woman-artist