DESCRIPTION:
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED - (Mojo 102) Out of Los Angeles, this obscure powerhouse of a record from 1968 is the last of six singles that Miss Willis would issue on three different labels in her six year recording career.
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' and followed it up with a solo single entitled, 'Take Your Heart' also in 1962 and also two singles with the label as the lead vocalist of a studio group of singers credited as the INSTANTS. She occasionally sang with Santa Ana, neighbor, Bill Medley (who eventually became the lower voice of The Righteous Brothers) at various local clubs. While The Righteous Brothers were signed to Moonglow records, Betty and Bill Medley recorded a duet with one of Bill's songs entitled, 'My Tears Will Go Away' which was never released. Betty eventually hooked up with Wrecking Crew pianist, Leon Russell who would produce her next record on the Philles Records subsidiary, Phi-Dan. Betty remembered rehearsing two songs with Leon at his home before they were recorded in 1965 at Hollywood's Gold Star Studio. The tunes were a song made a hit by country & western artist, Buck Owens entitled 'Act Naturally' which would be issued as Betty's debut Phi-Dan single release and the often recorded, 'If I Had A Hammer' which was planned as a follow-up but ultimately was never released as a single. Betty remembered arriving at the recording date and being in awe at seeing all of the musicians including a french horn. She couldn't believe that The Blossoms were singing background for her and commented on how beautiful and bright Darlene Love's smile was. Just as Spector was known to do, Leon included an uninspiring two minute jam session by 'The Wrecking Crew' on the B-side to 'Act Naturally' in order to discourage DJ's from splitting the airtime away from the intended plug side. While 'Act Naturally' may have been a country & western song, Betty Willis tore it apart left, right, up and down and turned it into something much more exciting. Unfortunately for Betty, The Beatles had recorded a version as well and DJ's were going to play anything by The Beatles before they played a record by some unknown singer by the name of Betty Willis.
Betty recorded one final single on the Mojo label in 1967 entitled, 'Aint Gonna Do You No Good' b/w 'Gone With The Wind (Is My Love)' which had been also recorded in 1966 by Rita & The Tiaras on Dore records. The A-side of the disc was written and produced by Jackie Avery & John Farris. Both original 45's of Betty's and Rita & The Tiaras versions of the tune have exchanged hands for handsome sums of cash on internet auction sites.
It has been written that Betty Willis was the voice of Rachel & the Revolvers on the rare Dot single 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 California as a mail clerk before retiring. She currently lives in southern California with her daughter and grandchild.