Bettye LaVette on David Letterman Thursday Night!

Her comeback in 1998, with her concert at New York's prestigeous Columbia University started the ball rolling again (in some people's opinion), others say it was her astonishing performance at the Poretta Music Festival that brought her back.  Whatever it was, things are HAPPENING for the Detroit soul diva.

The reviews from jaded critics all over the world about LaVette's stage performances are astounding.  They haven't talked about ANY singer like this since the emergence of Aretha Franklin.  One critic, after attending both Bettye's show and Chaka Kahn's at Monterey Jazz Fest said: "Miss Kahn could take lessons from Miss LaVette."

At the Chicago Blues Festival, she blew young blues singer, Shemeekia Copeland away, prompting one critic to relate: "Miss LaVette was the surprise hit of the entire festival." 

A couple of weeks ago, I saw her in Brooklyn at Prospect Park.  Brooklyn is the toughest crowd in the nation.  At the end of her show, Bettye received a PROLONGED standing ovation.

Watch her tomorrow night, July 28, 2005,  on the Letterman Show and see what the shouting is all about.