The Great Lady of Soul: Bettye LaVette

Bettye LaVette received universal praise for her outstanding rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” in a duet with Jon Bon Jovi on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the Inaugural Celebration on January 18th. This marks the second time in the past two months she has been in the capitol making an unforgettable impression with anyone lucky enough to have the chance to hear her. The first was at the Kennedy Center Honors when she amazed the audience with her own very unique version of the Who's "Love Reign O'er Me." Not many people can say that they song for two presidents in six weeks (George W. Bush at the Kennedy Center Honors and Barack Obama at the Inaugural Celebration). And like me, most of you probably never even heard of Bettye LaVette. And I like to think of myself as well versed in music.

Bettye LaVette stole the show at the Kennedy Center Honors. She gave the powerhouse performance of the evening when she sang her unparalleled version of “Love Reign O’er Me” as part of the Who tribute. She wasn't the biggest name on stage, but her performance provided the evening's most spectacular moment. She was so phenomenal. The room was pin-drop silent when she sang. "The Kennedy Center Honors was the most exciting thing I have every done in my life, because there were so many of my favorite politicians there," says Bettye. "And this year has been the greatest year of my life. Who would have ever imagined both Barack and I going to the White House?” said Ms. LaVette.

Of singing for then President Obama, Ms LaVette said: "In the middle of the song I turned and looked and Obama was on the stage, the whole group of them, and my eyes were just fixed on him for a moment. I was singing the line 'I always believed that a change would come,' and just as I turned, our eyes locked and he was mouthing the words along."

Utne Reader had the best headline of the event: "Bettye LaVette and the Soul of Barack Obama." And even the sports world took notice. Roger Craig, former NFL running back for the San Francisco 49ers confessed to the San Francisco Chronicle: "Oh…when Bon Jovi and Bettye LaVette sang Sam Cooke's stirring civil-rights song, 'A Change Is Gonna Come,' on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday? I cried like a baby."

Bettye LaVette did not disappoint. Revered for her ability to take other's compositions and make them her own, LaVette performed brilliantly. Ms. LaVette, the reigning "Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year," is once again nominated in that category for the Blues Foundation's 2009 Blues Music Awards.

Ms. LaVette has been on a roll since her 2005 release on Anti- Records, My Own Hell to Raise which brought her back into the national spotlight, 43 years after her first single "My Man is a Loving Man," was released in 1962 when she was a teen. This roll only gathered more strength and critical acclaim when Anti- issued her second CD for the label in 2007, the Grammy nominated, The Scene of the Crime.

A partial list of musical performers at the Inaugural Celebration includes, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Heather Hedley, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Usher Raymond IV, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2 and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jack Black, Steve Carrell, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Laura Linney and Denzel Washington.

- "LaVette... isn't just an engaging performer, she's a musical force of nature, a hurricane in heels that whips up a fiery mix of soul, jazz, country and blues." -The Houston Chronicle.

Beyonce & Jay-Z Married?

Power couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, reportedly got married last night at his New York Penthouse. They wanted it to be a really private affair – close friends and family, a source close to the couple told People magazine. News of the reported wedding comes after days of speculation following reports, which surfaced on Tuesday, that Jay-Z and Beyonce had taken out a marriage license in Scarsdale, New York. The couple reportedly followed their private ceremony with a star-studded reception that included former Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, close friends actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband Coldplay singer Chris Martin, and Oscar winner Forest Whitaker among others. Beyonce’s family, parents Matthew and Tina Knowles, and sister Solange, and Jay-Z's close friends were there.

Jay-Z's favorite man on the turntables, DJ Cassidy, was at the reception spinning, according to the source. "Cassidy mentioned a week ago that he was really excited for the Jay-Z and Beyonce's wedding party to happen," the source said. Speculation of the couple was marrying reached a new high as a host of media including four live trucks were stationed outside Jay-Z’s Tribeca building in preparation for coverage of the suspected wedding. More than three dozen reporters and paparazzi were outside with the numbers growing. Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams hid behind an umbrella when they arrived while Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin were mobbed by paparazzi on the scene. A fight broke out between paparazzi as Beyonce's father arrived and dozens of them surrounded the vehicle he was being carried in. Solange, arrived shortly after her father, dressed in a white dress. A SUV believed to be carrying Forest Whitaker also turned up. The rooftop penthouse, owned by Jay-Z was adorned in flowers and tented scaffolding. A Maybach luxury vehicle arrived at the location shortly before 7 PM and drove past as it was mobbed by paparazzi. Jay-Z reportedly owns one of the super high-priced cars.

It is believed the couple chose this date 04-04 because the number four has particular significance to the couple. Both Jay-Z and Beyonce were born on the 4th - Jay Z was born on December 4, 1969, while Beyonce was born September 4, 1981. The couple have been "dating" for six years, though they have never publicly acknowledged they are together. It was a big week for the hip-hop mogul. On Thursday, concert promoter Live Nation Inc. said it was in talks with Jay-Z over a potential business deal. The Los Angeles-based company stopped short of confirming reports that the deal would give Live Nation a stake in virtually every aspect of Jay-Z's career and land him a potential windfall in excess of $100 million.
A person familiar with the negotiations between Live Nation and Jay-Z told The Associated Press that the proposed 10-year deal was worth about $150 million and would cover three albums. Live Nation is currently producing a tour with Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige.