[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1780-E1781]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING WILLIAM THOMAS ``KETER'' BETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Conyers and I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life and achievements of one of the great artistic voices 
of our time, William Thomas ``Keter'' Betts of Silver Spring, Maryland. 
A legend in the world of jazz for over 50 years, Keter was not only a 
bassist of incomparable talent, but an original artist, devoted 
teacher, and wonderful friend. He passed away in Maryland on August 6, 
2005 at the age of 77.
  Keter Betts was born in 1928 in Port Chester, New York. He discovered 
music as a child when one day, while running an errand for his

[[Page E1781]]

mother, he encountered a parade and was so fascinated by the music that 
he followed it all over town. It was not long before he began 
practicing on a small drum, and eventually moved on to playing on a 
full set. However, in his late teens he tired of carrying his drum set 
up and down the stairs of his apartment building, so in 1946 he 
switched to bass.
  When he was only 19, Keter landed his first professional gig, playing 
for thirteen weeks in Washington, DC with saxophonist Carmen Leggio. He 
toured the country from 1949 through 1956, working with jazz singer 
Dinah Washington during the latter five years of the tour. Keter than 
teamed up with Charlie Byrd and Woody Herman to tour Europe and South 
America, before joining Ella Fitzgerald for a short tour that was the 
beginning of the twenty-four-year working partnership the two would 
share.
  Over the years Keter played with many more jazz greats, such as Count 
Basie, Cannonball Adderly, Nat Adderly, Stan Getz, Kenny Burrell and 
Louis Bellson, playing venues all over the world. He was a member of 
the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Big Band and was inducted into the 
Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame. And after playing on 
more than 100 recordings, Keter finally released his first solo album, 
Bass, Buddies & Blues in 1998, and soon followed it up with Bass, 
Buddies, Blues Beauty Too.
  In addition to performing, Keter was a longtime instructor of music 
at Howard University in Washington, DC beginning in 1963. He also 
impacted his community as an educator through his commitment to 
instructing young people through various programs such as the 
Washington Performing Arts Society's Concerts in Schools and Prince 
George's County's Arts Alive.
  Keter Betts is widely considered to be the most accomplished and 
highly respected bassist in jazz history. Keter's life and music 
impacted countless members of younger generations not only because of 
the excellence and originality he brought to his art, but because of 
his incredible wisdom, his insight, and his firm belief that every 
artist must strive to be unique and find his or her true voice.
  Today Keter's family and friends will come together to celebrate his 
impact not only on the world of jazz, but on the innumerable lives he 
touched and artistic journeys he inspired. On behalf of the 9th 
Congressional District of California and the 14th Congressional 
District of Michigan, we salute and thank Keter Betts for his 
invaluable contributions to jazz music, our country and our world.

                          ____________________