Betty Davis, whose gritty, pioneering brand of funk, despite her limited but fierce career, opened doors for generations of artists, died on Wednesday.
She was 77 years old at the time.
“It is with great regret that I convey the news of Betty Davis’ passing, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star, singer, songwriter, and fashion icon,” said a statement on the artist’s website from Davis’ friend Constance Portis.
The second wife of jazz icon Miles Davis was a mainstay in New York’s 1960s music scene, and recorded nearly all of her music between 1964 and 1975, with tracks including Get Ready for Betty.
The artist before her time attained a cult following for her sexually candid lyricism, art that set the tone for legends like Prince and Madonna.
Davis and Miles were only married a year, but she’s widely credited with turning the trumpeter on to the era’s rock, introducing him to artists like Jimi Hendrix and paving the way for his fusion phase that included 1970’s Bitches Brew.
Davis also penned the 1967 song Uptown (to Harlem) for the Chambers Brothers, which has enjoyed a resurgence after it was featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Summer of Soul by Questlove.
Rappers including Ice Cube and Talib Kweli have sampled her work.
Davis’ music wasn’t commercially successful but has inspired artists for decades, with pop futurist Janelle Monae calling her “one of the godmothers of redefining how Black women in music can be viewed.”
“We just grains of sand in her Bettyness,” Erykah Badu has said of Davis.
Share on Facebook «||»
Share on Twitter «||»
Share on Reddit «||»
Share on LinkedIn
Read Related News On TDPel Media
Advertisement
Beloved TikTok Chef Lynn Yamada Davis, Creator of “Cooking With Lynja,” Passes Away at 67 After Inspiring Millions: Influential TikTok Chef Lynn Yamada Davis, 67, Passes Away from Esophageal Cancer Lynn Yamada Davis, a renowned TikTok chef and social media influencer, known for...
Alozie’s Two Lives: Football Prodigy and Cancer Research Trailblazer: Michelle Alozie, a talented defender for the Super Falcons of Nigeria, has found a unique way to balance her passion for professional football with her...
Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ Hits One Billion Streams on Spotify, Solidifying His Position as an Afrobeats Trailblazer: In a momentous announcement filled with excitement, Spotify, the world’s leading online streaming platform, proudly revealed a groundbreaking achievement by Nigerian music powerhouse Rema. His...
European Liver Transplant Trailblazer, Dies at 93, Leaving a Legacy of Life-Saving Surgical Milestones: Trailblazing Surgical Achievements Professor Sir Roy Calne, renowned for leading Europe’s first liver transplant operation in 1968, passed away at 93. His groundbreaking surgeries and...
Renowned Musician Taylor Hawkins Passes Away at Age 50, Leaving Fans in Mourning: …By Larry John for TDPel Media. Taylor Hawkins, a renowned musician and actor, captivated audiences with his talent and vibrant personality. Advertisement Taylor Hawkins Biography:...
Jamie Crick, a radio host, passes away at age 57.: Jamie Crick, a former radio host for Classic FM, passed away at the age of 57. According to Crick’s relatives, he passed away after a...
Mohamed Al Fayed is buried next to his son at the family mausoleum as former Harrods tycoon passes away at age 94: Almost 26 years to the day after Dodi’s death in a car crash with Princess Diana, Mohamed Al Fayed, the former Harrods magnate, passes away...
Irish Grinstead – renowned singer from ’90s R&B group 702 passes away at age 43: Irish Grinstead, a renowned singer from the beloved ’90s R&B group 702, has sadly passed away at the age of 43. The heart-wrenching news was...
Former Yobe State Governor and Senate Veteran Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim Passes Away at Age 75, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Political Leadership: Political Pioneer and Former Governor Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim Passes Away at 75 Yobe State is in mourning as Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, the first...
Paul Alexander, the Man Who Lived Over 70 Years in an Iron Lung, Passes Away Due to Covid-19 at Age 78: Paul Alexander, the remarkable individual who spent over 70 years in an iron lung after being paralyzed by polio, has tragically passed away at the...