Betty Willis (singer)
Betty Willis | |
---|---|
Birth name | Betty Jane Willis |
Born | Mississippi, United States | March 10, 1941
Origin | Santa Ana, California |
Died | January 1, 2018 Santa Ana, California | (aged 76)
Genres | Soul music, rhythm and blues |
Occupation(s) | Singer, postal worker |
Betty Jane Willis (March 10, 1941 – January 1, 2018) was an American soul singer in the 1960s.
Biography
Born on a farm in Mississippi, Willis moved with her family to Fresno, California, when she was two. In the early 1960s, she moved to Santa Ana and sang in Los Angeles-area nightclubs. Singer Bill Medley, whose career with The Righteous Brothers was just beginning, was told about Willis. Medley and Willis recorded a song together at Gold Star Studios, but it was never released. However, her voice and association with the studio drew notice from producers Phil Spector and Leon Russell, who retooled the country song "Act Naturally" into a rhythm and blues version for Willis in 1965. As part of the duo Betty and Ray, with Ray Lockhart, she also made several other recordings. Her last known recording was in 1968.[1]
According to her daughter, Willis enjoyed a singing career but did not want to be part of the music industry. She also grew frustrated when paperwork was mishandled that scuttled an Africa music tour. She briefly worked in a factory before becoming a postal worker in the 1980s and retired after 37 years.[1]
Personal life
Despite having family in Santa Ana, Willis chose to mostly live on the street in retirement. She slept outside a fabric shop, arriving after the shop closed and leaving before it opened.[1]
Death
Early on January 1, 2018, Willis was assaulted by a
On August 31, 2022, 56 months after the murder of Betty Willis,
The perpetrator was eventually found guilty and sentenced to a term of life without parole on September 29, 2023.[4]
References
- ^ Orange County Register. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ "Homeless man charged with killing former '60s soul singer Betty Jane Willis". CBS News. January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ Fenity, Joseph (August 31, 2022). "EXCLUSIVE: Killing Betty Willis". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ "Homeless man gets life for killing '60s soul singer in Santa Ana". The Orange County Register. September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
External links
- Betty Willis discography at Discogs
- Killing Betty Willis feature at LAMag
- Betty Willis case finally heads to trial video from FOX 11 LA
- Former soul singer killed on New Year’s Day 2018 video from True Crime Daily podcast