She grew up in Arcadia, Louisiana, one of 14 children, and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1963. Although some sources state that she was in a vocal group known as The Fawns who recorded for Money Records in 1964, she has refuted this, saying that she sang with a trio in Arcadia by that name. In 1964 she started a solo singing career, as Bettye Swann, at the prompting of local DJ Al Scott, who became her manager.

Read more about Bettye Swann on Last.fm.

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