Film Buff Friday: Betty - They Say I'm Different

Betty: They Say I'm Different

Before Beyoncé, Madonna and Prince - there was Betty Davis

"Astonishing and tantalising" - The Wire

Arriving on DVD on January 17th via MVD Entertainment Group

Funk Queen Betty Davis changed the landscape for female artists in America. She "was the first..." as former husband Miles Davis said. "Madonna before Madonna, Prince before Prince". 

An aspiring songwriter from a small steel town, Betty arrived on the 70's scene to break boundaries for women with her daring personality, iconic fashion and outrageous funk music. She befriended Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone, wrote songs for the Chambers Brothers and the Commodores, and married Miles - startlingly turning him from jazz to funk on the album she named "Bitches Brew". 

She then, despite being banned and boycotted, went on to become the first black woman to perform, write and manage herself. Betty was a feminist pioneer, inspiring and intimidating in a manner like no woman before. Then suddenly - she vanished. 

Creatively blending documentary and animation, Betty - They Say I'm Different traces the path of Betty's life, how she grew from humble upbringings to become a fully self-realized black female pioneer the world failed to understand or appreciate. 

After years of trying, the elusive Betty, forever the free-spirited Black Power Goddess, finally allowed the filmmakers to creatively tell her story based on their conversations.

Bonus Materials

- Director Interview: Phil Cox on the making of Betty - They Say I'm Different

- Interview Extract with Betty Davis  

So Big..."Tower Of Power" Turns 48!

That's One Huge Tower!
Tower of Power

Tower of Power Celebrates 48th Anniversary in 2016 Doing What They Do Best: Playing their Brand of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock to Sold-Out Crowds Around the World

Like Towers? This one is huge!
 

Since their formation in 1968, Tower of Power have been recording and touring, playing hundreds of shows annually and releasing 18 studio albums, seven live albums, six compilations and three DVDs. Additionally, Tower of Power has recorded with hundreds of artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with the band’s musical DNA. The legendary group, known for its unique blend of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Rock, plan to celebrate their 48th anniversary in 2016 doing what they love: performing for their fans. With new generations of fans discovering their timeless music, Tower of Power have never been busier or more in demand. "As we push the envelope globally, our audiences are getting bigger and bigger and younger and younger,” said Emilio Castillo, bandleader for Tower of Power. “What a blessing to see this younger generation seeking out this type of music and also to see so many up and coming Tower of Power ‘clone’ bands endeavoring to play our music." About Tower of Power: Since 1968, Tower of Power has been delivering its unique brand of “Oakland style” music and maintaining a class of its own. Leader and founding member Emilio Castillo labeled the group’s sound as “Urban Soul Music.” Over the years, Tower of Power has performed with some of music’s biggest names including Elton John, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Huey Lewis, Little Feat, Dionne Warwick, David Sanborn, Paula Abdul, Aaron Neville, Aerosmith, Michael Bolton, Billy Preston, Rod Stewart, Toto, and more. Tower of Power’s rhythm section lays down a groove like no other band. The horn driven sound is unique from writing and arranging to mixing and performing. The group’s collection of hits includes “You’re Still A Young Man,” “So Very Hard To Go,” “Soul With a Capital S,” “Soul Vaccination,” “What Is Hip?” Each year, Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing sold out shows all over the world. Tower of Power Tour Dates: Dec 19, 2015 Gent, Belgium Handelsbeurs Dec 20, 2015 The Hague, NL Paard van Troje Dec 30, 2015 New York, NY BB King's Dec 31, 2015 Hartford, CT Infinity Hall New Year's Eve Show Jan 8-13, 2016 Oakland, CA Yoshi's at Jack London Square Jan 15, 2016 Agora Hills, CA The Canyon Club Jan 21-24, 2016 Seattle, WA Jazz Alley Jan 26, 2016 Bremerton, WA The Admiral Theater Jan 30, 2016 Grand Ronde, OR Spirit Mountain Casino Feb 6, 2016 Stateline NV Harrah's Tahoe South Shore Room Feb 12-14, 2016 Las Vegas, NV South Point Hotel & Casino April 19, 2016 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere April 22, 2016 Collingswood, NJ Collingswood Scottish Rite Theater April 23, 2016 Glenside, PA The Keswick Theater April 26, 2016 Moscow, ID Kibbe Events Center - University of Idaho May 21, 2016 Cancun, Mexico Oasis Arena at the Grand Oasis Hotel & Resort