[Dixielandjazz] Dixielandjazz Digest, Vol 48, Issue 66_Betty Owens: Jazz Me Blues Gal

[ALOHArose at aol.com]

Betty Owens: A reminiscence
In 1949, my folks returning to the Midwest from New Orleans brought me a 
batch of 78s, which I think were on the Roulette label.  It was the music of the 
Dukes of Dixieland, and all the records were enthusiastically signed by Frank 
and Freddie Assunto. I was only 13, but old enough to appreciate the gift, and 
played them constantly, familiarizing myself with every note. I particularly 
enjoyed the occasional cut that featured a female vocalist, especially a number 
called Jazz Me Blues, where she belted out with great confidence and a 
musical appeal which suggested the styling and authority of a full blown jazz 
singer. More than fifty years later, I found out that unnamed singer was Betty 
Owens, and most importantly, that she was only about 16 when she recorded Jazz Me 
Blues.
In the meantime, some previously distant family members were opening a 
restaurant in New Orleans, and between that event and the lure of the music, some 
three years later it was determined that I should attend college in New Orleans, 
where friends and family could keep a watchful eye on me.  Believe me, those 
fun lovin New Orleans folk KNOW how to keep an eye. Once in the Crescent City, 
my days were schizophrenically divided between week days in a 'finishing 
school' atmosphere which insisted on a male ESCORT for female students traveling 
anywhere on campus after dark, and weekends in the French Quarter recklessly 
pursuing in all manner of excitement, people, food and music.
The courtyard behind Dottie Rieger's at 920 Chartres was my weekend home; the 
Famous Door and the Dukes mandated a visit every weekend, as did Preservation 
Hall, the Monteleone Hotel and Sam Butera, not to mention all the swank 
lounges where Cuba Libras flowed and hot Cuban sounds dominated.
At the Famous Door, I always wondered about the vocalist who belted out Jazz 
Me Blues, but she remained unnamed and well under the radar. I never knew her 
to appear with the Dukes during that period, but she was never forgotten. 
Later, in different Northern cities, I'd pick up vinyl recordings of the Dukes 
that never duplicated that original thrill, probably because the Dudes available 
on vinyl were not the Assuntos! I figured it was personnel changes.
It took about 50 years and 50 musical genres before I got back to the Dukes, 
with the internet reporting the travails of the Original Dukes and their 
identity problems. This led me to downloading their photos from the 50s and joining 
this list.  Finally, an Amazon item written by Angie Assunto Soulas, revealed 
that vocalist's name, Betty Owens, and the fact that the singer who 
mesmerized me at 13 years of age was herself only about 16 years old at the time of the 
recording.   Betty married Freddie Assunto, and Angela is their daughter.  So 
after holding her in my heart for many years, I finally regained my Jazz Me 
Blues gal. Another reason to love the internet. It also confirms  our 
proclivity for riffs as set down by originals like Bunny and Betty. May she rest in 
peace. NOLA too
After the internet reported her heart attack in the early 2000s, I was 
fortunate to get an address in Metarie for Betty, and immediately wrote her of my 
affection, enthusiasm and admiration. 
If I'd known early on that someone with Betty's chops was so near my own age, 
it surely would have fed my desire to be a vocalist. As it was, the music 
imprinted me for life, for such is the influence of the music we hear early on.
As someone asked me during my teen age musical yearning that was launched by 
Betty...and Sassy and Billie and Nellie...
"Can you sing?"
To which i replied "No, but i'm sure i can put a song over"