Betty Jane Willis (March 10, 1941 – January 1, 2018) was an American soul singer in the 1960s. Born on a farm in Mississippi, Willis moved with her family to Fresno, California, when she was two.
In the early 1960s, Betty began singing at various clubs in Santa Ana, California and throughout Orange County. In 1962, she recorded a duet with Ray Lockhart as Betty & Ray on Rendezvous Records entitled Turn Your Love Lights On / You're Too Much and followed it up with a solo single entitled, Take Your Heart also in 1962. She also recorded two singles with the label as the lead vocalist of a studio group of singers credited as the The Instants.
She occasionally sang with Santa Ana neighbor, Bill Medley (who eventually became the lower voice of The Righteous Brothers) at various local clubs. While The Righteous Brothers were signed to Moonglow (2) records, Betty and Bill Medley recorded a duet with one of Bill's songs entitled, 'My Tears Will Go Away' which was never released. Betty eventually hooked up with Wrecking Crew pianist, Leon Russell who would produce her next record, a retooled rhythm and blues version of "Act Naturally", on the Philles Records subsidiary, Phi-Dan Records.
Betty recorded one final single on the Mojo Records label in 1967 entitled, Ain't Gonna Do You No Good which had been also recorded in 1966 by Rita & The Tiaras on Dore records. The A-side of the disc was written and produced by Jackie Avery and John Farris.
According to her daughter, Willis enjoyed a singing career but did not want to be part of the music industry. She briefly worked in a factory before becoming a postal worker in the 1980s and retired after 37 years. She became homeless in retirement. Early on January 1, 2018, Willis was assaulted by a man who attempted to rape her. She was hit repeatedly on the head and strangled to death, before police arrived to apprehend her attacker. Willis was 76.
