Bettye Swann
Encyclopedia
Bettye Swann is an American
soul music
singer, best known for her 1967 hit
song
"Make Me Yours
".
, one of 14 children, and moved to Los Angeles
, California
in 1963. Although some sources state that she was in a vocal group known as The Fawns who recorded
for Money Records in 1964, she has refuted this, saying that she sang with a trio in Arcadia by that name.
In 1964 she started a solo
singing career, as Bettye Swann, at the prompting of local DJ Al Scott, who became her manager. After a minor hit with the self-penned "Don’t Wait Too Long," her big breakthrough came with "Make Me Yours
", which topped the Billboard R&B charts in July 1967
, and also made #21 on the Billboard Hot 100
. In 1968 she split with Scott, moved to Georgia, won a new contract with Capitol Records
and had another hit with "Don’t Touch Me" (#14 R&B, #38 Hot 100).
In 1972 she transferred to Atlantic Records
, and had a couple of minor hits with "Victim of a Foolish Heart" (later revived by Joss Stone
), and Merle Haggard
’s "Today I Started Loving You Again." She continued to record until the mid 1970s, but with little commercial success. Her last public performance as Bettye Swann was in 1980, the year her husband and manager, George Barton, died.
As Betty Barton, she then worked in the education sector in the Las Vegas
, Nevada
area, and became a Jehovah's Witness. She is now retired and, according to a 2005 interview, suffers from a degenerative spinal condition. After leaving Money records she lived for a short time in Athens, Georgia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer, best known for her 1967 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Make Me Yours
Make Me Yours
"Make Me Yours" is a 1967 song written by Bettye Swann and produced by Arthur Wright,"Make Me Yours" is a 1967 song written by Bettye Swann and produced by Arthur Wright,...
".
Career
She grew up in Arcadia, LouisianaArcadia, Louisiana
Arcadia is a town in and the parish seat of Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,041 at the 2000 census....
, one of 14 children, and moved to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1963. Although some sources state that she was in a vocal group known as The Fawns who recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
for Money Records in 1964, she has refuted this, saying that she sang with a trio in Arcadia by that name.
In 1964 she started a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
singing career, as Bettye Swann, at the prompting of local DJ Al Scott, who became her manager. After a minor hit with the self-penned "Don’t Wait Too Long," her big breakthrough came with "Make Me Yours
Make Me Yours
"Make Me Yours" is a 1967 song written by Bettye Swann and produced by Arthur Wright,"Make Me Yours" is a 1967 song written by Bettye Swann and produced by Arthur Wright,...
", which topped the Billboard R&B charts in July 1967
R&B number-one hits of 1967 (USA)
These are the Billboard magazine R&B singles chart number one hits of 1967:See also: 1967 in music, List of number-one R&B hits...
, and also made #21 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. In 1968 she split with Scott, moved to Georgia, won a new contract with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and had another hit with "Don’t Touch Me" (#14 R&B, #38 Hot 100).
In 1972 she transferred to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and had a couple of minor hits with "Victim of a Foolish Heart" (later revived by Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
), and Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
’s "Today I Started Loving You Again." She continued to record until the mid 1970s, but with little commercial success. Her last public performance as Bettye Swann was in 1980, the year her husband and manager, George Barton, died.
As Betty Barton, she then worked in the education sector in the Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
area, and became a Jehovah's Witness. She is now retired and, according to a 2005 interview, suffers from a degenerative spinal condition. After leaving Money records she lived for a short time in Athens, Georgia
Albums
- 1967: Make Me Yours (Money)
- 1968: The Soul View Now (Capitol) - R&B #48
- 1969: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me (Capitol)
- 1990: Sweet Dreams (Capitol)
- 2001: The Money Recordings (Kent)
- 2004: Bettye Swann (Astralwerks/Honest Jons)
Singles
- 1965: "Don't Wait Too Long" - R&B #27
- 1967: "Fall In Love With Me" - US #67, R&B #36
- 1967: "Make Me YoursMake Me Yours"Make Me Yours" is a 1967 song written by Bettye Swann and produced by Arthur Wright,"Make Me Yours" is a 1967 song written by Bettye Swann and produced by Arthur Wright,...
" - US #21, R&B #1 - 1969: "Don't Touch Me" - US #38, R&B #14
- 1972: "Victim Of A Foolish Heart" - US #63, R&B #16
- 1973: "Today I Started Loving You Again" - US #46
External links
- 2005 interview with Bettye Swann, by Jarret Keane
- [ Profile of Bettye Swann on AMG]
- Biography