Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Musical Interlude: Black Betty (1977)

If you've ever been to a sporting event, be it pro or amateur, chances are you've heard this next track.

"Black Betty"'s recording history extends back many years. In the 70's, a band called Starstruck rose from the ashes of the Lemon Pipers of "Green Tambourine" fame, and recorded "Black Betty". However, it wasn't until another group with the same personnel, Ram Jam, not to be confused with a UK band of the same name, that the song rose up the charts.



The NAACP found the lyrics offensive and sought to, well, ban "Black Betty". It didn't work. Ram Jam ended up a 1-hit wonder as a result of this song.

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