Rising Stars: Meet Al Bettis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Al Bettis. 

Hi Al, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Al Bettis, and I am a singer-songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. I’ll share a bit of my musical origin story, as it is a little unorthodox. The morning of July 17th, 2008, I woke up to a relaxing day. It was my 30th birthday and I had taken a week off work to just unwind. I remember sitting on my couch and wondering what I would do for the day, and I suddenly had a thought. My mind went to an old guitar that I purchased from a coworker a few years back. It was sitting in a corner of my basement covered in dust and cobwebs. I had taken a few lessons but never had the time or commitment to stick it out. I pulled it out of the case and grabbed a tuner that was stuffed next to some guitar picks. I do not remember much else about that day, other than the fact that I created my very first song using about two chords that I learned years back. I was onto something that would take me on a path I had never imagined.

When I was a child, I loved music. My aunt would encourage me to dance and sing all the time. Often my friends and I would have make-believe concerts in my grandmother’s den. I would have my friends sit on the couch while I hid behind the door. They were the audience, the floor was the stage, and I would not come out of hiding until they cheered and yelled “Coming to the stage, Al Bettis!.” I would come from behind the door with my hand to my mouth as if I had a microphone while singing something from Michael Jackson or New Edition. I was about 6 or 7 years old at the time.

During my elementary school years, my school had a talent show. I wanted to sing. I was practicing a song and I wanted a family member who was visiting my grandmother to hear it. I figured I had a good audience of two to work the nervousness out. I went up to my relative and asked if she would like to hear the song. She responded, “I don’t like to hear kids sing”. I remember feeling hurt and rejected. I did not want to feel that again, so I decided not to perform in the talent show. Sometime after that, I remember hearing friends laugh and joke about my voice being so high pitched, it did not get deeper like a lot of my male friends. I completely stopped singing. It was over 20 years later before I ever tried to sing again.

In my late 20’s I started expressing myself again. This time it was through poetry and spoken word. I was on a spiritual journey and the studying I was doing ignited my writing. I found myself writing constantly. At one point I felt my poetry style starting to shift. I was now including choruses or introducing singing parts to my poems. It was starting to feel a lot like music. As I was praying one day I sarcastically said, “How can I write music when I can’t play an instrument?”. Fast forward to my 30th birthday. My sarcastic prayer was answered. I grabbed that old guitar, and the rest is history.

I never could have imagined the journey music would take me on. It brought me some of my greatest highs (large stages and radio airplay). It took me through some of my greatest battles (crippling stage fright and self-doubt). It helped me process important moments in life (my mother’s death, divorce, becoming a parent, and others) and turn them into lyrics for others to connect with. One show turned into many, and supporters kept finding me. My solo act turned into a full band with super talented musicians. In time I moved from performing in small basements to performing on TV and opening for legends like Dionne Warwick and Michael McDonald. I am not entirely sure about how I got here. I just know that the little 6-year-old me who was hiding behind the door smiles so big when he hears the words “Coming to the stage, Al Bettis!”.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, it’s been a bit of both, but I believe it’s supposed to be that way. The road is smooth enough to encourage you to keep moving forward and challenging enough to push you to your next level.

Stage fright and self-doubt was and continues to be one of my most challenging struggles with my musical journey. I remember when I first started making music my hands would tremble and shake whenever I performed in front of people. I could barely make it through a performance. Learning to be comfortable in what I bring to a show is slowly becoming my strength. Knowing that there is only one Al Bettis, so I just need to be him.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is something that is best explained as a unique blend of jazz, soul, and folk with songwriting fueled by the human journey through love. It is this blend that I believe sets me apart from others. It is something that happens organically and because of that, it sits right in the heart of the listener.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on life and love and I haven’t been performing as often as I’d like. However, soon you can expect an album and some music videos from me. I’m currently working on a song called “Fly” and I have plans on releasing it this fall.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Connect with me on social media platforms like Instagram @albettismusic and also check out albettis.com to contact me and my team.

Contact Info:

• Website: albettis.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/albettismusic
• Facebook: facebook.com/albettis
• Youtube: youtube.com/albettis | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jARSz0M50Ik

Image Credits
Willie T Blue
Patrick Slater
Jen Prouty