Betty Davis, the Queen of Funk, passed away at the age of 77 on February 9th. She was widely recognized as the ex-wife of singer Miles Davis. According to Amie Downs, communications director for Allegheny County, where Betty Davis resided, she died of natural causes.
Unfortunately, additional information on the topic has not yet been disclosed. Betty’s friend Danielle Maggio confirmed her passing. Connie Portis, a lifetime companion of Davis, also issued a statement stating:
“I regret to inform you of the loss of Betty Davis, a multitalented music influencer, pioneer rock star, singer, composer, and fashion icon,” I say.
Betty Davis has no known surviving relatives, and details concerning her memorial have not yet been disclosed. Portis further stated that Davis was a treasured member of her Homestead, Pennsylvania, neighborhood as well as the international network of friends and fans.
Betty Davis was a controversial artist for a variety of reasons, yet she had a significant following base. When the public and prominent individuals learned of her death, they paid tribute on social media:
Ancestors and early life of Betty
Since her birth on July 16, 1944, she became well-known for her controversial s*xual lyrics and performative style. She grew up in Durham, North Carolina, and spent her summers listening to B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, and others on her grandmother’s farm in Reidsville, North Carolina.
Betty went to New York City at the age of 16 and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She contacted the Cellar, a trendy uptown club that once drew a broad and creative crowd of models, design students, actresses, and singers. She interacted with everyone and listened to music in the Cellar.
Her career’s beginnings and progression
Davis met Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone in New York, and her musical career began when Lou Courtney recorded her debut single, The Cellar. She later composed Uptown for the 1967 platinum-selling album by the Chambers Brothers.
In 1964, she recorded Get Ready for Betty and a duet with Roy Arlington for DCP International and released I’ll Be There as a single for Safice. Betty collaborated with Hugh Masekela on numerous Columbia Records recordings until 1968.
Davis recorded several demos at Columbia’s 52nd Street Studios. While Miles Davis attempted to use them to secure an album contract for Betty, they were saved and released in 2016 as part of the compilation The Columbia Years, 1968-1969.
By her acquaintance with Miles Davis, Betty rose to popularity. The pair began dating in the beginning of 1968 and wed the following year. Betty influenced Miles by introducing him to the most recent fashion and music trends.
But, in his memoirs, Miles claimed Betty was too immature and irresponsible, and he accused her of having an affair with Jimi Hendrix. In 1969, Miles filed for divorce after Betty denied the charges.
Following her 1971 divorce from Miles, Betty relocated to London to pursue a modeling career. She devoted a year to songwriting with the purpose of recording them with Santana. She did record her songs with a few West Coast funk acts, however.
1973 saw the publication of the singer’s debut album, Betty Davis, followed by two studio albums, They Say I’m Different and Nasty Gal. Sadly, none of the three albums garnered a favorable response.
Despite her controversial s*xual lyrics and performance style, she remained popular. Due to her s*xually violent stage behavior, she was prohibited from appearing on television despite her fame in Europe.
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