NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (Phi Dan 5001)
January 2, 2018 - I received a sad phone call from a reporter at ABC-TV News here in Los Angeles who wanted to know about a woman who was killed in Santa Ana in the early hours of yesterday morning. My long time friend, Betty Willis, was murdered in a suspected robbery gone bad. Most people don't know who Betty was and those that do only know that she worked many years at the Santa Ana Postal Service. Back in 1980 when I began my career there and I met her, I soon discovered her interesting musical past in the 1960's as she never mentioned any of it to anyone and she was amazed that someone 20 years younger than she was would know of her Los Angeles based records.
In the early 1960's Betty began singing at various clubs in Santa Ana, California and throughout Orange County. In 1962, she recorded a duet with Ray Lockhart as Betty & Ray on Rendezvous Records entitled 'You're Too Much' b/w 'Turn Your Love Lights On' and followed it up with a solo single entitled, 'Take Your Heart' b/w 'Someday You'll Need My Love' also in 1962. She also issued two singles with the label as the lead vocalist of a studio group of singers credited as the INSTANTS on a song entitled, 'Gravy Train'. She occasionally sang at various clubs with Santa Ana neighbor, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers and they eventually recorded a duet for Moonglow Records entitled, 'My Tears Will Go Away' which was never released. Betty eventually hooked up with 'Wrecking Crew' pianist, Leon Russell, who produced her next record on Phil Spector's Philles Records subsidiary, Phi-Dan Records. Betty rehearsed two songs at Leon's home before they were recorded in December 1964 at Hollywood's Gold Star Studio. The tunes were 'Act Naturally', her debut Phi-Dan single from February 1965 and 'If I Had A Hammer' planned as a follow-up which never transpired. Previously, Betty recorded with simple rhythm sections, however when she arrived at the session she was in complete awe at seeing seventeen musicians including a French horn. She couldn't believe that the Blossoms, who were seen weekly on ABC-TV's, 'Shindig!' were singing background for her and commented on how beautiful and bright Darlene Love's smile was. Leon included an uninspiring two minute jam session on the B-side of 'Act Naturally' in order to discourage DJ's from splitting the airtime away from the intended plug side. 'Act Naturally' may have been a country & western song but Betty tore it apart left, right, up and down turning it into something much more exciting. Unfortunately, the Beatles also recorded a version and DJ's were going to play anything by the Beatles before they played a record by an unknown singer named Betty Willis.
Betty recorded one single on the Mojo label in 1968 entitled, 'Ain't Gonna Do You No Good' b/w 'Gone With The Wind (Is My Love)' which had been also recorded in 1967 by Rita & The Tiaras. Probably the most elusive recording by Betty was a tune composed by Willie Hutchison and Marc Gordon under the title, 'That Same Old Smile'. Producer Steve Benson purchased the unissued finished backing track which included a guide vocal by Hutchison along with a female backing group and on June 27, 1966 Betty laid down her lead vocal at Nashville West Studios in Hollywood. Benson eventually purchased the master tape of Betty's Mojo recording, 'Gone With The Wind (Is My Love)' and in late 1968 pressed it as the B-side to 'That Same Old Smile' on his Summit Records label based in Santa Ana, California. Only a handful of discs have survived and are still in his possession.
It has been written that Betty Willis was the voice of Rachel & the Revolvers produced by Brian Wilson which is NOT true. Betty Willis and Brian Wilson never crossed paths. It has also been claimed that Alonzo Willis of The Alley Cats and session singer and later a member of The Honey Cone, Carolyn Willis were related to Betty which are both also NOT true.
Betty Willis eventually left the music business and worked many years at the U.S. Postal Service in Santa Ana as a mail clerk before retiring.
A few years ago, I met with Betty and brought copies of most of her original 45's and a CD with the music and presented them to her. We sat in my car and listened to the music. Not more than 30 seconds into one of her old recordings, I turned to see Betty staring straight ahead with tears streaming down her face. I told her that people the world over pay big bucks for original copies of her old records and told her to share her musical history with her grandchild. After we laughed and reminisced for a couple of hours, we hugged and I went on my way.
Betty Willis leaves behind a daughter and grandchild.
Anthony Reichardt - Santa Ana, CA
For an update on the life and tragic death of Betty Willis, click on the following links:
- josephfenity.com/betty
- lamag.com/citythinkblog/killing-betty-willis-why-has-the-soul-singers-murderer-not-been-prosecuted-exclusive
3:30
9:15
2:50
2:14
