A deep funk and soul singer, as one of the first Black women to get recognition for writing, arranging and producing her own albums, she influenced and pioneered music, song writing and fashion during her iconic time – and since.
Born in North Carolina, in the U.S., she was well known for her controversially sexual lyrics and performance style, and as having been Miles Davis’s second wife.
She attended New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and later became a model, working with designers and appearing in magazines like Seventeen and Glamour.
Described as the 'Godmother of Funk', the first song she wrote, at the age of 12, was called ‘I’m Going to Bake That Cake of Love’. She later became friendly with fashion designer Stephen Burrows, plus musicians including Jimi Hendrix, Hugh Masekela and Sly Stone, whilst also working as a model in Seventeen, Ebony and Glamour.
Blazing a trail with her raw brand of funk and sexual lyrics, she went on to influence stars including Prince - who wrote about her influence on him - and Madonna. She later spent a year in Japan, spending time with silent monks.
In 1980, when her father died, she lived with her mother in Homestead, Pennsylvania. Struggling to overcome her father's death, and subsequent mental illness, she accepted that it was the end of her career, and lived a quiet life.
Tributes have been paid by stars including US rocker Lenny Kravitz, wrote on social media: ‘#BettyDavis 07/26/1945 - 02/09/2022 This lady was hip before hip was hip. Her musical and fashion expression had no boundaries, and she influenced the likes of Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix. ‘Nuff said. Rest in paradise, Queen.’
Primal Scream bass player Simone Butler also paid tribute on Twitter saying: ‘damn, Betty Davis was incredible. Pure fire breathing raw soul. Immense talent, rest easy.’
In 2017, a documentary was released entitled Betty: They Say I'm Different and the live action/animated TV series Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus ended its 2018 season with an episode focusing on Davis' controversial career. Her music also featured in television series including Orange Is the New Black.
She was 77.
