Betty Davis was a pioneering singer known as the “Queen of Funk,” as well as jazz legend Miles Davis’ (1926–1991) second wife.
- Died: February 9, 2022 (Who else died on February 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Homestead, Pennsylvania at the age of 77.
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Musical career
Davis first recorded under her maiden name, Betty Mabry, with singles including “The Cellar” and “Get Ready for Betty.” In 1968, she married Miles Davis. Though it was a short marriage – they were divorced after a year – she was influential on the development of his career. Davis introduced her husband to Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) and Sly Stone, a move that sparked the musical experimentation that marked the next phase of his career. She updated his fashion and suggested he name his upcoming album “Bitches Brew” – he did, and it became a great classic. In the years after her divorce, Davis continued her musical career under her married name, releasing her debut album, “Betty Davis,” in 1973. It’s now considered an influential classic, though Davis struggled for recognition at the time. Her stylistic mix of hard rock and funk grooves, as well as her sexually suggestive lyrics and stage performances, made her music a hard sell to the mainstream. Davis had minor R&B hits with 1973’s “If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up” and 1975’s “Shut Off the Lights,” but her songs proved more influential than popular. She released just three albums in the 1970s, leaving her music to be discovered by new generations of musicians including Prince (1958–2016), who cited her as an influence.
Notable quote
“I started writing music when I was 12 years old. I used to drive the neighbors crazy, because I would be singing from my mother’s kitchen all the time. I would put music to lyrics that I wrote. It’s a gift.” —from a 2018 interview for the Washington Post
Tributes to Betty Davis
Full obituary: USA Today
