Betty Davis
Mourning for the funk and soul legend
Betty Davis was 77 years old.
© getty/Gilles Petard/Redferns
The music world mourns one of its soul legends: Betty Davis died at the age of 77.
Funk pioneer and soul icon Betty Davis (1945-2022) is dead. The US musician died on February 9 at the age of 77 in Homestead, Pennsylvania. That has a relative dem US magazine “Rolling Stone” confirms: “It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented musician and pioneer, rock star, singer, songwriter and fashion icon.”
Above all else, Davis was “a friend, aunt, niece and beloved member of her Homestead, Pennsylvania community and the global community of friends and fans,” the statement said.
An impressive career
Davis’ career peaked between 1964 and 1975. Before she got into music, she made a name for herself as a model. At the age of 16 she moved to New York, where she came into contact with the first musicians.
Davis’ most successful songs to date include “It’s My Life”, “If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up” and “Get Ready for Betty”. She also penned the The Chambers Brothers song “Uptown (to Harlem)”. Her debut album “Betty Davis” (1973) was followed by the records “They Say I’m Different” (1974) and “Nasty Gal” (1975) before she retired from Hollywood. She then lived near Pittsburgh.
Betty Davis was married to jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis (1926-1991) from 1968 to 1969.