Bette White began performing traditional ballads in Baltimore area folk clubs in 1964. In 1966 she formed Captain Bette’s Wiz Bang, a blues band, with her husband and lead guitarist George Sadtler. Seen at 15 Below… Bette returned to solo performing in 1968. She was known for her unique and powerful song writing, and her accomplished guitar playing.
White performed as a solo artist at some of the areas local music festivals which featured some of the top names in Baltimore’s progressive and folk music scenes. Appearing at the York Folk Festival (1969), Trinity Church benefit on November 28, 1969 with Michael Hunt, Greg Kihn, Warmth, and others… the Shady News benefit on September 19, 1970 with Howdy Duty, Procreation, Rasputin, and Exit; The Corpus Christi Church Benefit Concert on February 21, 1971 with Grin, Aubrey Circle, Howdy Duty, Michael Hunt, Aux, 91, Will White, and Tim LeBrun. She also performed at Community College of Baltimore, Coffee Grounds, Seed of Discovery Coffee House, Harford Community College, Sanity Inn at St. Bartholomew’s on Edmondson Avenue, Western Md. College, and at the Universal Joint in 1971. White opened for recording artist Jaime Brockett at the Church of the Redemption on Charles Street in 1969.
In the early ‘70s, Bette White released an album of her original material in the U.K., backed by the British recording group the Strawbs.
Bette White – photos courtesy of Jack Heyrman
