Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

Betty Davis combined the fashion sense of David Bowie, and the flair of Miles Davis, her husband for a year. In time for Christmas parties everywhere Light In the Attic Records are releasing two of her lost albums.

"If Betty were singing today she be something like Madonna, something like Prince, only as a woman. She was the beginning of all that when she was singing as Betty Davis."

Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe, Miles: The Autobiography

Betty Davis - musician, model and muse

It’s said that Betty was responsible for turning Miles Davis to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone and providing the spark that led to his musical re-invention on In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew – not bad for a girl from Pittsburgh.

Originally working as a model tin the 1960’s, Betty gained entrance into hipster musical circles very early on. Her first writing credit, "Uptown" by the Chambers Brothers, came in 1967, before she'd turned 20. One year later, she met Miles Davis in New York, and they were married by the end of summer 1968.

Though their marriage didn't survive the end of the decade (Miles described her as "too young and wild" for him in his autobiography), Betty was tremendously influential on Miles, introducing him to psychedelic rock and even influencing his wardrobe – out went his suits and in came an injection of hip.

Light in The Attic records have just released two of Betty's long lost albums - nasy Gal (1975) and Is It Love or Desire (1976) - click here to buy.

After their divorce in 1969, Betty devoted herself full-time to music. She wrote all her own songs and produced all but one of her five albums. Her first record, Betty Davis, was released in 1973. It had impressive lyrics and funky grooves on songs such as "Anti Love Song," as well as an impressive list of musicians: Davis released two more studio albums, They Say I'm Different (1974) and Nasty Gal (1975).

Sadly, none of the three albums were commercial successes as radio steered clear of her unconventional music, judging it too hard for black stations and too black for white ones.  Davis eventually stopped making music and returned to Pennsylvania. Sadly like many icons ahead of their time - Betty vanished from the scene, a rumored victim of a drug overdose. Perhaps now time has caught up with her and she can have that well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

www.myspace.com/bettymabrydavis

Kerry Olsen

Source & Photo Credit: Light In The Attic Records

TAGS: betty davis music light in the attic records miles davies funk soul