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Sweet Betty

Sweet Betty Belts out the Blues

Born in Duluth, GA, just northeast of Atlanta, Betty Echols Journey grew up listening to gospel music. (Her mother's singing in church influenced her.) Aspiring to become a singer herself, Sweet Betty began singing at parties at her friends' homes. In the mid 1980's, Sweet Betty was introduced to legendary saxophonist, Grady "Fats" Jackson. Jackson was so impressed with Sweet Betty's vocals that he began bringing her with him to his performances. It was through Jackson that Sweet Betty met former Muddy Waters guitarist, "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin. Bob Margolin and his band, upon passing thought the southern region of the United States in the early 1990's would regularly perform with Jackson and Sweet Betty in such places as Jackson Station nightclub in Hodges, South Carolina and Blind Willie's or Blues Harbor in Atlanta, GA. In 1993, Jackson and Sweet Betty's music collaboration would land them a cameo apperance in the movie Simple Twist of Fate, starring Steve Martin. Upon the untimely death of Jackson on January 17, 1994, the future of Sweet Betty's singing career appeared uncertain until Bob Margolin invited her to sing on his 1997 release Up and In. You can hear Sweet Betty's vocal work on the laid-back sax driven Grady "Fats" Jackson tune, Coffee Break. Sweet Betty's popularity continues to grow as evidenced by her demand from European audiences. Her resume includes past performances in Greece, Italy, France, and Switzerland. In July and November 2000, Sweet Betty traveled to Europe again and performed with other such noted blues artists as Magic Slim, Kenny Neal and John Primer. Closer to home, you can often find Sweet Betty performing with Lil' Joey's Jumpin' Jive or long time Georgia musicians and friends, Roy Lee Johnson and Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, both former guitarists with the legendary Atlanta blues pianist, Piano Red.

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