Artist

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 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 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 Capitol Records in 1968. Bettye's Capitol recordings were produced by Wayne Schuler; and drew on both Soul and Country Music repertoire. She scored a hit in 1969 with a version of Jeannie Seely's “Don't Touch Me”, and even recorded a duet with Country Music superstar 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 . After Capitol, Bettye had singles released on Fame and 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 Joss Stone) and a cover of Merle Haggard's “Today I Started Loving You Again” (1973). Swann retired from performing in 1980, after the passing her of Husband & Manager George Barton (3). In 2013 she made a one-off appearance at the UK's Cleethorps Rare Soul Weekender. Sister of Wiley Champion