Dear Bob,

A short note of thanks as this year comes to a close for recognizing Bettye LaVette back in your June 1 column.

You wrote everything that I know to be true of Bettye and the album, just as if you’d been walking in my shoes for the previous 18 months  — from the time I invited her on the Kennedy Center Honors in the Fall of 2008 (after seeing her on YouTube. . .  seriously, no joke), through the conceiving and recording of the album and up until its release in late May.

You completely understood her talent, her journey, and what the album meant for people who still love to buy CDs.

I must write that your acknowledgement of the album was the single biggest blessing to come her way following its release.  All of the television appearances that I arranged for her, the interviews, the profiles — they were all facilitated by your acknowledgement of her so early on.

I thank you for your curiosity and intelligence — and for boosting Bettye’s trajectory towards being recognized more widely by her peers and audiences around the country.

Sincerely and Happy New Year,

Michael Stevens
Producer
Kennedy Center Honors
Interpretations: the British Rock Songbook