Keter Betts

Infobox musical artist
Name = Keter Betts

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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = William Thomas Betts
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Born = July 25,1928
Died = August 6, 2005
Origin = Port Chester, New York, USA
Instrument = Double bass
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Genre = Jazz
Occupation = Double bassist
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Keter Betts (July 25,1928–August 6, 2005) was an American jazz double bassist. Born William Thomas Betts in Port Chester, New York, he was nicknamed "Keter", a short form of the word "mosquito".

Many better-known musicians (Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Nat Adderley, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd, etc.), recognizing Keter's talent, invited him to perform with them professionally. Early in Keter's career he had played with Earl Bostic's R&B band. In 1962, together with Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd, he was instrumental in introducing the bossa nova style to American audiences via their Jazz Samba recording. In the mid-1960s, Keter began a nearly quarter-century relationship as a bassist with Ella Fitzgerald.

Keter Betts resided in the Washington, DC, area for more than a half century. He died at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland.

elected Discography

*"The Floating Jazz Festival Trio" (1995)
* Charlie Byrd: "Blues for Night People" (1957)
* Ella Fitzgerald: "Montreux ’77" (1977)
* Tommy Flanagan: "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" (1978)
* Junior Mance: "Blue Mance" (1994)

External links

* [http://www.visionaryproject.com/NVLPmemberTier/visionariesT1/VisionaryPages/BettsKeter/index.asp Keter Betts biography and video interview excerpts by The National Visionary Leadership Project]