[February 23, 2023 Publisher's Note: We are happy to report that it appears that Bettye Swann is alive, according to several social media posts from people who know her. We are grateful for the news!]
(February 22, 2023) Early today various outlets reported on the passing of the great Bettye Swann¸ the singer who charmed the world with the smash hit “Make Me Yours” in 1967, most stating that she had died on January 25 at age 78 after living for nearly a decade with a spinal illness. However, over the course of the day, some other social media postings indicated that she was alive. We certainly hope for the latter, but the news gave us a moment to pause and pay tribute to the iconic singer.
[February 23, 2023 Publisher's Note: We are happy to report that it appears that Bettye Swann is alive, according to several social media posts from people who know her. We are grateful for the news!]
(February 22, 2023) Early today various outlets reported on the passing of the great Bettye Swann¸ the singer who charmed the world with the smash hit “Make Me Yours” in 1967, most stating that she had died on January 25 at age 78 after living for nearly a decade with a spinal illness. However, over the course of the day, some other social media postings indicated that she was alive. We certainly hope for the latter, but the news gave us a moment to pause and pay tribute to the iconic singer.
The Louisiana-board Swann first hit America’s attention in 1964, when she landed the minor hit “Don’t Wait Too Long.” But it was three years later that her career went to the next level when she shot to the top of the Soul charts with the Motown-influenced “Make Me Yours.”
The ascent of that song won for Swann a contract with major label Capitol Records (the first of several label changes), and over the next five years she landed hits with a pair of covers, “Don’t Touch Me,” and the Merle Haggard country classic “Today I Started Loving You Again.”
The hits dried up by the end of the 1970s and Swann retired from performing to become a teacher in Nevada. However, her brief recording career has continued to be revered by soul music fans around the world, and by the next generation of artists, with her bigger hits being sampled regularly.
Take a listen to “Make Me Yours” below. We're praying that Ms. Swann is still with us.