Keter Betts
| Keter Betts | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Thomas Betts |
| Born |
July 22, 1928 Port Chester, New York |
| Died | August 6, 2005 (aged 77) Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass |
| Associated acts | Charlie Byrd, Tommy Flanagan, Ella Fitzgerald |
William Thomas "Keter" Betts (July 22, 1928 – August 6, 2005) was an American jazz double bassist. Born 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 and others), 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.
A widowed father of five children, Betts resided in the Washington, DC, area for more than a half century. He died at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, in August 2005.
With Clifford Brown
With Charlie Byrd
With Ella Fitzgerald
With Tommy Flanagan
With Sam Jones
With Junior Mance
With Helen Merrill
With Bobby Timmons
With Louie Bellson
With Johnny Frigo, Herb Ellis and Lou Carter
...
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