Bettye Swann

Best known for her 1967 R&B chart-topper "Make Me Yours," Southern soul chanteuse Bettye Swann was born Betty Jean Champion in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 24, 1944.

Raised in Arcadia, Louisiana; Bettye sung locally with high school friends as The Fawns. She pursue a solo career after relocating to Los Angeles in 1963, and signed with the independent [l=Money Records].

She made the national charts with her first release, 1963's “Don't Wait Too Long”, which – like almost all her Money releases – was self-penned, and arranged by notable West Coast arranger [a=Arthur Wright]. 1967's “Make Me Yours” reached #1 on the R&B chart; later became favorite in both the UK's Northern Soul scene and US Beach Music scene, and has been covered by over a dozen other artists.

Further success followed with “Fall In Love With Me”, but Bettye left Money for [l=Capitol Records] in 1968. Bettye's Capitol recordings were produced by [a=Wayne Schuler]; and drew on both Soul and Country Music repertoire. She scored a hit in 1969 with a version of [a=Jeannie Seely]'s “Don't Touch Me”, and even recorded a duet with Country Music superstar [a=Buck Owens] (though this was shelved by label executives, shocked at the inter-racial pairing). Bettye's Capitol recordings received belated acclaim and wider exposure in 2004 when re-released by [l8895] .

After Capitol, Bettye had singles released on [l=Fame] and [l=Atlantic Records]; releasing records in both Southern Soul mold and smoother Philadelphia-influenced style. She landed hits with “Victim of a Foolish Heart” (1972, later covered by [a=Joss Stone]) and a cover of [a=Merle Haggard]'s “Today I Started Loving You Again” (1973).

Swann retired from performing in 1980, after the passing her of Husband & Manager [a=George Barton (3)]. In 2013 she made a one-off appearance at the UK's Cleethorps Rare Soul Weekender.

Sister of [a=Wiley Champion]