Today we are commemorating the life of Funk legend Betty Davis (1944-2022). Known for her pioneering music style, she gained the title “Godmother of Funk”. Most of Betty Davis’ music was recorded between 1964 and 1975, but her impact has endured. She has inspired generations of musicians from Prince and Madonna to Erykah Badu.
Born as Betty Gray Mabry in North Carolina, Davis was a mainstay in the 1960s New York music scene with tracks such as “Game is My Middle Name” and “Anti Love Song”. Despite the fact that none of her albums achieved commercial success, Davis cultivated a loyal following. Recent interest in her work has led to a 2017 documentary film, ‘Betty: They Say I’m Different’. She was recently featured in Questlove’s Oscar-nominated 2021 documentary ‘Summer of Soul’.
This Trailblazing Queen of Funk broke new ground in the music industry with her grit, talent and style. Her work continues to influence artists to this day. We honor you Queen, rest well.
Links to Learn More:
Betty Davis – Wikipedia
Betty Davis, funk pioneer and fashion icon, dies at 77 – NPR
Questlove’s “Summer of Soul” earns Oscar nomination for Best Documentary – Yahoo News