Bettye

Surely, it must just be baby boomer-driven nostalgia for an old-fashioned genre that's behind this renewed interest in Bettye LaVette or that led Robert Plant to choose her to open for him during his summer tour.

Art Levine: Amid Dreary Concert Season, Bettye LaVette's Triumphant Return Art Levine 2010

I married everybody but cousin Bettye Sue and none of them took, maybe her and me shoulda hooked up, since I never had no young uns anyhow.

The Times They are a'Changin' 2005

With Barbra Streisand seated next to Peter Townshend in the box seats, draped with the medals of the country's highest cultural award, they watched as the announcer said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Bettye LaVette."

Art Levine: Amid Dreary Concert Season, Bettye LaVette's Triumphant Return Art Levine 2010

Then came Bettye LaVette , who spoke about reading Jet magazine as a young woman and dreaming of moving to Harlem to play at the Apollo.

In the Hamptons, Showtime for the Apollo Marshall Heyman 2011

After nearly 50 years in show business, touring behind Interpretations, her stunning take on British rock classics and the best-selling album of her life, Bettye LaVette still brings the pain to every performance.

Art Levine: Amid Dreary Concert Season, Bettye LaVette's Triumphant Return Art Levine 2010

At that, the crowd whooped and hollered for her, but maybe also for themselves, cheering for every buried dream in their own lives that they're holding onto against the longest odds, knowing that if Bettye LaVette could persevere, perhaps they could, too.

Art Levine: Amid Dreary Concert Season, Bettye LaVette's Triumphant Return Art Levine 2010

Southern Soul Goddess Bettye LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi sang a stunning rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come” — with LaVette's Memphis horn-like voice, sweet and squalling, and Bon Jovi's noting for me, (for the first time) an odd, Sam Cooke-ish influence (more on Sam later).

Archive 2009-01-01 2009

But that seemingly simple declaration doesn't explain the ineffable alchemy at work when Bettye LaVette takes a song, even one that's been immortalized on pop radio for decades, and turns it into a Bettye LaVette song that hits you in ways that you can't expect.

Art Levine: Amid Dreary Concert Season, Bettye LaVette's Triumphant Return Art Levine 2010

Southern Soul Goddess Bettye LaVette and Jon Bon Jovi sang a stunning rendition of “A Change Is Gonna Come” — with LaVette's Memphis horn-like voice, sweet and squalling, and Bon Jovi's noting for me, (for the first time) an odd, Sam Cooke-ish influence (more on Sam later).

Every Voice Lifted And Singing 2009

She had been preparing her entire life for the chance to show the world just what she could do, and she was more than ready to seize the moment when the show's producers gave Bettye LaVette her shot.

Art Levine: Amid Dreary Concert Season, Bettye LaVette's Triumphant Return Art Levine 2010