Keter Betts

William Thomas "Keter" Betts was an American jazz double bassist.

Early life and education

Born in Port Chester, New York, he was nicknamed "Keter", a short form of the word mosquito. He graduated from Port Chester High School in 1946, where he played drums, tympani, tuba, glockenspiel, and bass fiddle.

Career

Many better-known musicians, such as Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Nat Adderley, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd and others, recognizing Betts's talent, invited him to perform with them professionally. He was a member of Earl Bostic's R&B band from April 1949 to August 1951. Accompanied Dinah Washington/December 1951 to October 1956. He later became a member of the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1957. In 1962, he was instrumental in introducing the bossa nova style to American audiences via their Jazz Samba recording. He worked with Bobby Timmons and recorded an album in 1964 before joining Ella Fitzgerald as an accompanist in October of that year. He toured with Fitzgerald as a bassist for many years after. He left Fitzgerald's band and worked with Roberta Flack, Joe Williams, Johnny Hartman, Kenny Burrell, Herbie Mann, Billy Eckstine, and Chris Connor. He rejoined Fitzgerald in December 1971 and remained with her until her retirement.

Personal life

A widowed father of five children, Betts resided in the Washington, D.C., area for more than a half century. He died of a heart attack at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, in August 2005.

Selected discography

As LeaderBass, Buddies & Blues Bass, Buddies, Blues & Beauty Too Live at the East Coast Jazz Festival
With Clifford BrownJam Session with Maynard Ferguson and Clark Terry
With Charlie ByrdBlues for Night People Byrd's Word! Byrd in the Wind Mr. Guitar The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd Charlie Byrd at the Village Vanguard Blues Sonata Jazz Samba with Stan GetzLatin Impressions Bossa Nova Pelos Passaros Once More! Charlie Byrd's Bossa Nova Byrd at the Gate Byrd Song
With Ella FitzgeraldElla in Hamburg Ella Loves Cole Ella in London Montreux '75 Montreux '77 (Ella Fitzgerald album) Digital III at Montreux A Perfect Match (Ella Fitzgerald album) Jazz at the Philharmonic – Yoyogi National Stadium, Tokyo 1983: Return to Happiness
With Tommy Flanagan

With Etta Jones