Bettye grew up in Detroit, where she was discovered by Johnnie Mae Matthews, a Detroit record producer. In 1962, aged 16, she recorded a single, 'My Man - He's a Lovin' Man' with Matthews, which became a national hit after Atlantic Records bought distribution rights. This led to a tour with rhythm and blues musicians Clyde McPhatter, Ben E King, Barbara Lynn and then newcomer Otis Redding and then a stint touring with James Brown. Her next single was 'Let Me Down Easy', which has become her theme song.
She would cut numerous other singles for various labels, without an album contract.
An album to be titled Child of the Seventies was produced in 1972, but it was shelved and was not released until 2000. Despite drawing enthusiastic live crowds across the country, LaVette continued to be rebuffed by labels. She spent six years on Broadway and toured with the musical Bubbling Brown Sugar opposite Cab Calloway.
During the disco era, she managed a small hit with the ironically titled 'Doin' the Best That I Can'.
In 1982 Motown finally offered her a contract to fill the void left by the departing Diana Ross, and LaVette recorded Tell Me a Lie, with the single 'Right in the Middle (of Falling in Love)' which was a modest hit. Still her career languished, though she found steady work on the European festival circuit.
In 1999, Gilles Petard, a French soul collector, discovered the masters of Child of the Seventies. He licensed the album from Atlantic and released it on his Art and Soul label as Souvenirs (2000). (Child of the Seventies was reissued by Rhino Handmade in 2006 with additional tracks.) This led to a LaVette revival which has so far included a live album and two brand new albums, including 2005's I've Got My Own Hell to Raise, an album whose title is taken from the lyrics of the Fiona Apple hit 'Sleep to Dream', which is covered on the album. Other notable songwriters on the album were Sinead O'Connor, Lucinda Williams, Joan Armatrading and Dolly Parton. The album was released by ANTI- Records and produced by Joe Henry.
