A Woman Like Me Read online

  “Ball of Confusion,” 101

  Ballard, Hank, 106

  Bar-Kays, 95

  Barksdale, Chuck, 61

  Barnes, Ortheia, 129

  Basie, Count, 86, 153–54, 223

  Beatles, 135, 185, 233

  Beauty, and race, 10

  “Before I Even Knew Your Name (I Needed You),” 168

  “Before the Money Came,” 225–27

  “Behind Closed Doors,” 132, 135

  Bell, Al, 162

  Bell, Thom, 137–38

  Benjamin, Benny, 50

  Benton, Brook, 68, 202

  Berklee College of Music, 165

  Berlin, Irving, 97

  “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” 30

  Big Maybelle, 26, 56, 141

  Big Wheel (record label), 85

  Billington, Scott, 211

  Black Bottom (Detroit entertainment district), 20–27. See also Motown Records

  Black Panthers, 93

  “Blackbird,” 233

  Bland, Bobby “Blue,” 15, 97, 135, 136–37, 215

  Blue Express (record label), 208–11

  Blues Estafette, 205

  Blues Foundation (Memphis), 215

  Blues & Soul (magazine), 187

  Bolic Sounds (studio), 119–20

  Bon Jovi, Jon, 231

  Book-Cadillac Hotel (Detroit), 175, 176, 177

  Booker T and the MG’s, 30

  Bradford, Janie, 233

  Bradford, Sister (schoolteacher), 12

  Bridges, Alicia, 156, 157

  Broadnax, Morris, 82, 85, 138

  “Broken Hearted Melody,” 68

  Brown, James, 63–64, 92

  Brown, Johnny, 182

  Brown, Maxine, 32

  Brown, Ruth, 25, 27

  Bubbling Brown Sugar (stage show), 147–48, 149–54, 155, 156, 160, 161, 162, 163–64, 182

  Buckingham, Steve, 156, 157–58, 166–67, 168, 177–78, 222

  Buie, Buddy, 156–57

  Burke, Solomon, 27, 43, 125–28, 129, 219

  Bush, George H. W., 197

  Butler, Jerry, 32

  “Bye Bye Baby,” 24

  Café Carlyle (New York), 234–35

  Calla Records, 59, 73, 77, 106, 137

  Calloway, Cab, 150, 151–54, 163–64

  Cameron, G. C., 137, 234

  “Candy,” 56

  Capitols, 97

  Card, Mary, 182, 183–84

  Carter, Clarence, 105

  Chandler, Gene, 133–35, 217

  “Change Is Gonna Come, A,” 231

  Change Is Gonna Come Sessions (LaVette), 231

  Channing, Carol, 151

  Charles, Ray, 27, 43, 87–88, 126, 136, 185

  Child of the Seventies (LaVette), 110–14, 205–6

  Chit Chat Lounge (Detroit), 80

  “Choices,” 229

  “Christmas Song, The,” 198

  Christy, June, 88, 135

  Clinton, Bill, 197

  Clinton, George, 100–101

  “Cloud Nine,” 101

  Coasters, 13, 27

  Coats, Randall James (BLV’s grandson), 184, 235

  “Cold Sweat,” 92

  Cole, Nat King, 30, 87

  Coles, Charles “Honi,” 150–52

  Columbia Records, 68, 109, 131–32

  “Come and Get These Memories,” 43

  Como, Perry, 58

  Contours, 30, 188, 198

  Cooder, Ry, 218, 219

  Cooke, Sam, 202, 231

  “Cool Jerk,” 97

  Cooley, Mike, 223

  Copacabana, 150

  Cosby, Clarence, 43

  Cosby, Hank, 43, 82, 92

  Cotton Club, 151

  Cray, Robert, 208, 210, 213

  Creason, Sammy, 104

  Criterion Studios, 104

  Cryner, Bobbie, 220

  Curtis, King, 76, 94

  Daltrey, Roger, 230

  Dameron, Tadd, 96

  “Dance with Me, Henry,” 13

  “Danger, Heartbreak Dead Ahead,” 189

  Darin, Bobby, 15, 58

  David (New York drug dealer), 141–43

  Davis, Bette, 235

  Davis, Clive, 168

  Davis, Don, 37

  de Mille, Agnes, 151

  Dees, Sam, 168

  Dells, 60, 61

  Desmond, Johnny, 2

  Detroit riots (1967), 93

  Diamonettes, 24

  Dickinson, Jim, 103, 104

  Diddley, Bo, 15

  Dixie Flyers, 104

  Dixie Hummingbirds, 6

  Dixon, Luther, 58–59, 76

  “Do You Love Me,” 30

  “Do Your Duty,” 106

  Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), 121–22

  “Doin’ the Best That I Can,” 155–56, 157

  Domino, Fats, 15

  “Don’t Go to Strangers,” 21

  “Don’t Knock My Love,” 110

  “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” 233

  “Don’t Make Me Over,” 53

  Dorff, Steve, 168

  Drayton, Leslie, 119

  Drifters, 14, 27, 43, 53

  Drive-By Truckers, 223–27

  Drugs: and “high life,” 142; in high school, 20; and recording sessions, 104, 120, 121, 122; and success in business, 134, 135; undermining of performers by, 56–57, 189, 196

  D-Town (record label), 95–96

  “Duke of Earl,” 134

  Dunbar, Ron, 132

  Dunham, Katherine, 176

  Dushon, Jean, 149

  Early, Marrie, 33–36, 42, 69–70, 92, 132–33, 173–74, 200–202

  Earth, Wind & Fire, 132

  Ed Sullivan Show, The, 60

  Edwards, Dennis, 101, 188

  Edwards, Esther Gordy, 99, 115

  Edwards, George, 99

  Ellington, Adolph, 131

  Ellington, Duke, 153, 154

  Epic Records, 132, 135

  Ernesta, Mother (schoolteacher), 11–13, 16

  Ertegun, Ahmet, 53, 97–98, 109, 110, 112, 122–23, 147

  Evans, Dale, 31

  Fabulous Playboys, 37

  Fair, Yvonne, 63, 64

  Falcons, 37

  FAME (label/studios), 104, 224–27

  Fears, Clifford, 176–77

  “Fingertips,” 43

  Fitzgerald, Ella, 86, 88

  Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, 6

  Five Dollars, 41

  “5” Royales, 40

  Flame (Detroit club), 20

  Floyd, Eddie, 37

  “For Your Love,” 120

  Ford, Dee Dee, 55, 56, 59–60, 70

  “Fortune Teller,” 111

  Four Seasons, 30

  Four Tops, 49, 150, 188

  Foxx, Charlie, 58

  Foxx, Inez, 58

  Foxx, Redd, 32, 65, 202

  Franklin, Aretha, 44, 45–46, 57, 67–69, 82, 91–92, 103–4, 106, 109, 131, 138, 191, 227, 230, 232

  Franklin, Reverend C. L. (Aretha’s father), 45, 99

  Franklin, Carolyn, 68

  Franklin, Cecil, 68

  Franklin, Erma, 57, 68

  Freeland, David, 235

  Freeman, Charlie, 103, 104

  Fun Company, The, 146

  Funkadelic, 101

  Funk Brothers, 50, 95

  “Funky Broadway,” 92

  Fuqua, Harvey, 40, 121


  Gamble, Kenneth, 109–10, 131, 138, 162

  “Games People Play,” 106

  Gardner, Don, 55, 60, 70, 74, 76, 147, 237

  Gardner, Eric, 233

  Garland, Judy, 88

  Gaye, Marvin, 1, 30, 36–37, 40, 43, 60–61, 64, 65, 73, 81, 85, 92, 97, 99–100, 109, 116, 120–21, 176, 196, 232

  Gaynor, Gloria, 155

  Geller, Arnie, 156–57

  Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (stage show), 151

  Gentry, Bobbie, 105

  “Georgia on My Mind,” 87, 136

  Gershwin, George, 232

  “Get Away,” 97

  “Ghetto Child,” 137

  Gillespie, Dizzy, 97

  “Giving Up,” 161

  Gladys Knight & the Pips, 92

  “God Bless the Child,” 150

  Goddard, John, 214

  Godin, David, 187

  “Good Rockin’ Daddy,” 13

  Gordy, Anna, 40, 81, 99–100

  Gordy, Berry, 21, 26, 40, 49, 60, 81, 82, 83–84, 96, 115, 116, 131, 150, 167, 170, 182, 186–87, 188, 233, 234

  Gordy, Esther. See Edwards, Esther Gordy

  Gordy, Gwen, 40, 99

  Gordy, Loucye, 99

  Gordy, Ray, 83–84

  Gospel Truth, The (stage show), 181–84

  “Got to Give It Up,” 176

  Grammy Awards, 138, 176, 208, 219, 221–22, 227

  Grand Ole Opry, 7

  Grass, Randall, 203–4, 207–8

  Graystone Ballroom, 21, 22, 23, 24, 135, 194

  Green, Al, 129, 137

  “Green Onions,” 30

  Greenberg, Florence, 58, 59

  Greenberg, Jerry, 112, 123

  Griffin, Herman, 49, 50, 51

  Groupie/singers, 63–65, 66

  Hall, Rick, 104, 227

  Hammond, John, 91

  Hampton, Lionel, 86, 87

  Hankerson, Barry, 176

  Hanks, Mike, 95–96, 97

  “Happiness Will Only Cost You One Thin Dime,” 59

  Harlem Renaissance, 149

  “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” 103

  Harrison, George, 233

  Haskins, Betty (BLV’s half-sister), 6

  Haskins, Betty Jo. See LaVette, Bettye

  Haskins, Frank James (BLV’s father), 200; and alcohol, 5, 8–9, 10, 29–30; business of, 5–6, 7; courtship of, 6; death of, 5, 14–15, 19, 47; domestic life of, 7–8, 9, 29–30

  Haskins, Pearlina Johnson (BLV’s mother), 74, 93, 117, 146, 175, 184; admiration for McPhatter, 29–30, 31; and alcohol, 5, 6, 8–9, 10, 29–30, 198–99; and BLV’s first pregnancy, 15–16; and BLV’s musical career, 21, 37, 79, 112, 113, 129–30, 198; and BLV’s schooling, 11, 13; business of, 5–6, 7; care for Terrye Mathis, 16, 21, 37–38, 51, 159, 160; courtship of, 6; death of, 200; domestic life of, 7–8, 9, 29–30; health problems of, 199–200; relationship with BLV, 15, 159, 181, 200

  Have a Heart (LaVette), 189–90

  “Have You Tried Jesus,” 177

  Hayes, Isaac, 120

  HBO (Home Box Office), 231

  “He Made a Woman Outta Me,” 105, 218

  “Heart of Gold,” 109, 110

  “Heat Wave,” 43

  Heaven (London disco), 186

  Helen (J’s main hooker), 75, 76

  “Hello Stranger,” 97

  “Hello Sunshine,” 106

  Hendrix, Jimi, 101

  Henley, Don, 224

  Henry, Clarence “Frogman,” 30

  Henry, Joe, 219–20, 221

  Herman, Woody, 97

  Heroes and Legends Banquet, 233–34

  “Hitch Hike,” 36–37, 40

  Hodge, Robert, 185–86, 190, 195–96, 197, 198, 206, 208, 210, 216–17, 235

  Holiday, Billie, 80, 86, 88, 136

  Holland, Brian, 81–82

  Holland, Sharon, 81–82

  Holland-Dozier-Holland (songwriters), 81, 83

  Holliday, Jennifer, 183, 184

  Holloway, Brenda, 188

  Hollowell, Alton (Bart), 37, 49–50, 51–52

  Hollywood Bowl, 233

  Hood, David, 223, 225

  Hood, Patterson, 223, 224–27

  Huff, Leon, 109–10, 131, 138, 162

  Hunter, Janis, 120, 121

  Hyatt Hotels Corporation, 162, 163, 165, 171, 174

  “I Can’t Get Next to You,” 101

  “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” 87

  “I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got,” 220–21, 234

  “I Don’t Want to Suffer,” 46

  “I Found You,” 63

  “I Got a Woman,” 87

  “I Got You (I Feel Good),” 63

  “I Guess We Shouldn’t Talk About That Now,” 224

  “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” 92, 168

  “I Love the Nightlife,” 156

  “I Need Your Lovin’,” 55

  “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” 91, 106

  “(I Wanna) Testify,” 100

  “I Was Made to Love Her,” 82, 92, 189

  “I Will Survive,” 155

  “I Wish You Love,” 88

  “If I Were Your Woman,” 168

  “If You Could See Me Now,” 96–97

  “I’m a Hog for You,” 13

  “I’m Holding On,” 85

  “I’m Just a Fool for You,” 77

  “I’m Ready for Love,” 189

  “(In My) Solitude,” 150

  In the Right Place (Dr. John), 121–22

  “Inner City Blues,” 116

  Institute for Sexual Intercourse, 123–25

  Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook (LaVette), 231–33

  “Is That All There Is,” 154

  “Isn’t It a Pity,” 233

  “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” 61

  “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” 85

  I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise (LaVette), 218–22

  J (aka Mr. Wonderful; pimp), 1–3, 73–77

  Jack (New York restaurant owner and drug dealer), 141–45

  Jackson, Chuck, 32

  Jackson, Deon, 97

  Jackson, Jesse, 197

  Jackson, Millie, 123

  Jackson, Pervis, 228

  Jackson, Walter, 46, 138

  Jackson, Wayne, 104

  Jacksons, 131

  Jamerson, James, 50

  James (BLV’s grandson). See Coats, Randall James

  James, Etta, 13, 21, 26, 57–58, 105, 135, 191, 215

  Jet (magazine), 34, 51, 55

  “Jimmy Mack,” 92, 189

  John, Elton, 224, 227, 233

  John, Little Willie, 22, 32–33, 202

  Johno (pimp), 22

  Johnson, Marv, 188

  Johnson, Pearlina. See Haskins, Pearlina Johnson

  Jones, George, 229

  Jones, Grace, 205

  Jones, Jimmy, 131

  Jones, Willie, 22–23, 26

  “Joy,” 220

  Joy, Jimmy, 44

  “Just One Look,” 67

  “Just Say So,” 220

  Kappus, Mike, 213–14, 215, 218, 233

  Karen (record label), 97–98

  Kaulkin, Andrew, 218–19, 220, 221, 223–24, 227, 231, 233, 235

  Kendricks, Eddie, 188, 196, 232

  Kennedy Center Honors, 229–31

  Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, 101

  Khan, Chaka, 161

  Kiley, Kevin, 206–7, 215–18, 220, 222, 224, 225, 229, 231, 232

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nbsp; King, B. B., 20

  King, Ben E., 30, 31, 53

  King, Martin Luther, Jr., 93

  Kitt, Eartha, 234

  Knight, Gladys, 137, 232

  Knight Beat (Miami club), 32–34

  Knowles, Beyoncé, 230

  Kocian, Frank, 54–55, 59, 76, 84–85

  Kramer and Kramer agency, 169, 170

  Kristofferson, Kris, 104

  Labelle, Patti, 139

  “Lady Marmalade,” 139

  “Last Dance,” 155

  LaVette, Bettye: alcohol as influence on, 5–6, 8–9, 10; and Aretha Franklin, 67–69; attitude toward childhood, 11; attitude toward religion, 2, 93, 126–27, 176, 177, 182, 183, 236; attitude toward sexuality, 13–14, 19, 34–36, 42, 65, 66, 133, 134–35, 144–45, 236; birth of, 6–7; cancelled/delayed recordings of, 110–14, 156–58, 205; charted records of, 30, 60, 105; closeness with sister, 9–10, 159–61; cutting first record, 26–27; and death of father, 14–15, 19, 47; and death of sister, 160, 161, 180; in Detroit clubs, 23–24, 41, 44, 50, 89, 95, 97, 116, 117, 135, 145–47, 185–86, 200; and disco, 155–56, 161; and drugs, 20, 56–57, 65, 66, 67, 68, 122, 134, 135, 142, 145, 184, 196, 235–36; entrée into music business, 20–27; European release of Atlantic material of, 205–6; experience with prostitution, 1–3, 75–77; family life of, 5–10, 29–30, 129–30, 184, 198–200; fear of failure, 135–36; financial difficulties of, 50, 73, 119, 122–23, 214; first album of, 166–70, 175, 177, 188; first boyfriend, 14, 15; first pregnancy and marriage, 15–16, 19; as groupie/singer, 63–65; health problems of, 22; image-consciousness of, 57–58, 193; with independent labels, 187–90, 203–4, 205, 207–11, 218–22, 223–27, 231–33; “investors” in, 41, 185–86; Jim Lewis as mentor of, 79–80, 82–83, 85–90, 94, 150, 179–80, 237; at Kennedy Center, 229–31; learning tap dancing, 147–48, 149–50; leaving Atlantic Records, 53–54, 58, 61; lesbian experiences of, 65–67, 144; loss of virginity of, 13–14; management of career of, 37, 49–51, 54–55, 59, 96–97, 101–3, 114–15, 129, 132, 135, 145–46, 176–77, 190, 195–96, 198, 206, 213–14, 215, 217, 218, 229; marriage to Kiley, 218, 222, 232; marriage to Sadler, 162–65, 166, 171, 173–75, 178–79; mentoring of schoolgirls by, 193–95; move to Los Angeles, 118, 119; move to New York (1964), 51–53; music as vocation of, 17, 21–22, 37–38, 80, 236–37; in music videos, 227–28, 229, 231; musical education of, 85–90, 94, 136–37, 154, 180; in New York clubs, 55–56, 70, 73, 94, 155–56, 234–35; and Northern Soul revival, 187–91; partying with drug dealers, 141–45; political activities of, 196–97; and racism, 165–66; recording sessions of, 26–27, 37, 58–60, 97–98, 103–6, 109, 111–12, 119–20, 132, 155, 157, 168, 177, 189, 209–10, 219–21, 224–27; recording with Marvin Gaye, 121; relationship with Clarence Paul, 1–2, 39–44, 50, 69–70, 74, 82–83, 84–85, 94, 138, 175; relationship with mother, 15, 159, 181, 200; relationships with pimps, 22, 44–45, 67–69, 73–77; schooling of, 11–13, 16–17, 19–20; singing for advertising, 114–15; singing talent of, 12–13, 24; slumps in music career, 49–50, 73, 91, 92, 129–30, 135, 137–39, 181, 184–86, 198; taking stage name, 24; television appearances, 60, 197–98, 231; theatrical engagements, 147–48, 149–54, 161, 162–64, 176–77, 181–84; touring by, 30–34, 126–28, 138, 159–60, 190–91, 205, 215, 235; work at sex clinic, 123–25