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"Betty Davis was a force of nature," says Grammy award-winning music historian Rob Bowman. "A flamboyant funk diva who wrote and arranged her own material, she was renowned for her aggressive sexuality in performance and for a voice that could shred shrapnel."
Skimpily dressed for the stage, she was beautiful with a striking afro. But she was also too raw, too controversial for the 1970s. Radio stations boycotted her songs; her record label dropped her; she became the first Black woman to perform, write and manage herself. Then she disappeared.
Join us on Sunday, June 7, noon, at the Revue Cinema for a documentary and discussion about the incomparable Queen of Funk. We will be screening the 2017 documentary Betty -- They Say I Am Different, directed by Phil Cox, who spent years trying to find and persuade Davis to make the film.
We're thrilled to have Rob Bowman back to share his expertise in our Q&A. What may have led to Davis's abandoning her music career? What was her impact? Married to jazz legend Miles Davis for a tumultuous year, she certainly had a big influence on him -- from the clothes he wore to the music he played.
This screening and discussion is part of Back Lane Studios' Extraordinary Women Series, presented in partnership with The Revue.
Here's what critics wrote about the documentary:
The New York Time: “Betty Davis was a raw funk pioneer. Her decades of silence are over…”
The New Yorker : “A beautiful impressionistic meditation on Betty Davis’s career.”
Watch the trailer here: https://vimeo.com/236119504?fl=pl&fe=ti
Davis passed away from cancer in 2022, but fortunately Cox managed to connect with her and created this documentary. It blends animation, archival footage and documentary techniques to create a sensitive portrait.
Please note this Extraordinary Women event starts at noon.
Tickets are by donation ($16 suggested) on Eventbrite or at the door.
Ticket link: https://bls-bettydavis.eventbrite.com