John Bettis
Encyclopedia
John Bettis is an American lyricist
who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He was originally part of the band Spectrum, which also featured Richard
and Karen Carpenter
. He provided the lyrics for many hit songs for The Carpenters
' ("Top of the World
", "Only Yesterday
", "Goodbye to Love
" and "Yesterday Once More
"), and later for other famous artists such as Madonna
("Crazy for You
"), Michael Jackson
("Human Nature
"), The Pointer Sisters ("Slow Hand") Diana Ross
("When You Tell Me That You Love Me
"), Jennifer Warnes
("Nights Are Forever
"), Peabo Bryson
("Can You Stop the Rain
"), George Strait
("Heartland"), Ronnie Milsap
("Only One Love in My Life
"), and Barbara Mandrell
("One Of A Kind Pair Of Fools"). Bettis also co-wrote "One Moment in Time
", the 1988 Summer Olympics
anthem performed by Whitney Houston
, and the theme song to the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains
, "As Long As We Got Each Other."
He was born in Long Beach, California
, the son of Wayne Douglas and Nellie Jane (House) Bettis, and attended California State University
.
Bettis has had Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for "Promise Me You'll Remember", as Best Original Song for his work on Godfather III. Other nominations include: Grammy nominations for "Can You Stop The Rain" - Best R&B Song; "One Moment In Time" - Best Song, Film & TV (Theme, 1988 Olympics). John received two Emmy Award
s: "Where There is Hope" and "One Moment In Time
" and received Emmy nominations for "Swept Away" - Best Music & Lyrics and "As Long As We Got Each Other" - Best Music & Lyrics. He was also nominated for Nashville Songwriters Association http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ Song of the Year and Music City Song of the Year.
In theatre, John has provided lyrics for the musicals Lunch (tour 1994); Svengali (1992); The Last Session
(L.A. Drama critics Award, Best Musical Score 1998); Say Goodnight (1999); Pure Country (1992) and most recently Josephine (2011).
As of mid-2008, Bettis has nearly 800 song credits in the ASCAP database.
, the son of Wayne Douglas and Nellie Jane (House) Bettis, and attended California State University
.
While raised in Southern California, his family’s roots are in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. John was introduced to country music at a very early age. Bettis began singing and playing trumpet when he was eight. In high school, he took up the guitar.
At age 16, he auditioned and landed the lead role in a high-school production of Carousel
where he first discovered the craft of songwriting. Shortly after, Bettis and his understudy formed a folk duo and began performing and touring on the folk circuit, opening for acts like Hoyt Axton
, Ian & Sylvia
and The Dillards
.
While attending California State University
in Long Beach
, John was writing songs for his college choir when he met fellow student Richard Carpenter
and his sister Karen
. The three of them formed a band called Spectrum in 1966. In order to make money for equipment, John and Richard formed a duo with John on banjo and Richard on piano and regularly performed a golden oldies set at Disneyland.
in 1969. Their debut Offering contained 11 songs co-written by Bettis but was not a commercial success. At the request of label owner Herb Alpert
, the team recorded “Close to You
”, a Bacharach
/David
composition, in 1970 which became the Carpenters first hit with the Bettis/Carpenter-penned “Goodbye to Love
” and “Yesterday Once More
” finding equal success in 1972 and 1973.
During this time, Bettis was spending half the year in Nashville, Tennessee
slowly getting acquainted with the songwriting community. After hearing the Carpenter/Bettis song “Top of the World
”, country star Lynn Anderson recorded the song earning Bettis his first success in country music.
While the Carpenters rose to fame with co-written hits like “Only Yesterday
,” “I Need to Be in Love
” and their own version of “Top of the World,” Bettis continued working in Nashville. In 1978, Ronnie Milsap
had a number one hit with Bettis’ co-written "Only One Love in My Life
".
In 1981, The Pointer Sisters peaked at number two for three weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as number 7 on the R&B chart with “Slow Hand
”, written by John Bettis and Michael Clark, with Conway Twitty
making it a number one hit on ’’Billboard’s’’ Hot Country Singles Chart the following year. Clark and Bettis also co-wrote Juice Newton
's “Heart of the Night” and Donna Summer’s
“The Woman in Me
”.
In 1983, Bettis gained his biggest achievement with “Human Nature
”, a ballad penned for Michael Jackson’s
multi-platinum album ’’Thriller’’
. Originally a throwaway lyric and melody snippet composed by Toto’s
Steve Porcaro
, the entire song was later written in its entirety by Bettis and Porcaro in two days. ‘’Thriller’’ became the best selling record of all time, and “Human Nature” has since been recorded by Boyz II Men
, Miles Davis
, John Mayer
, George Howard
and David Benoit
. It has also been sampled
by SWV
, Ne-Yo
, 2Pac, Lil Wayne
, Nas
and Chris Brown. That same year, Barbara Mandrell’s
“One of a Kind Pair of Fools” reached number one on the country charts.
In 1985, Bettis accepted an assignment in Hollywood to write a song for the soundtrack of the film Vision Quest
. The end result was “Crazy for You
” a song not originally written for, but recorded by Madonna
. Perhaps Bettis’ best-known commissioned work is “As Long As We Got Each Other”, co-written with long-time collaborator Steve Dorff
as the theme song to the hit ABC Network
television sitcom Growing Pains
.
In 1988, he co-wrote “One Moment in Time
” with Albert Hammond
which was recorded by Whitney Houston
as the theme for the Summer Olympics
.
John Bettis continued developing an eclectic catalog into in the 1990s. 1991’s “Can You Stop the Rain
” topped the R&B charts in 1991 for Peabo Bryson
. “If You Go Away” was a top 20 hit in 1992 for New Kids on the Block
, and “ "Heartland”, from the soundtrack to the film Pure Country
, was a number one hit for George Strait
.
(L.A. Drama critics Award, Best Musical Score 1998); Say Goodnight (1999); Pure Country (1992) and most recently Josephine (2011).
s: "Where There is Hope" and "One Moment In Time
" and received Emmy nominations for "Swept Away" - Best Music & Lyrics and "As Long As We Got Each Other" - Best Music & Lyrics. He was also nominated for Nashville Songwriters Association http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ Song of the Year and Music City Song of the Year.
In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame
as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
with his family where he has resided since 1996.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
who has co-written many famous popular songs over the years. In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
He was originally part of the band Spectrum, which also featured Richard
Richard Carpenter (musician)
Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
and Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
. He provided the lyrics for many hit songs for The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
' ("Top of the World
Top of the World (The Carpenters song)
"Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single...
", "Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday (song)
"Only Yesterday" is a song recorded by The Carpenters in 1975. It was released on March 14, 1975, and was the Carpenters' last top-ten single in the United States. Composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the easy listening...
", "Goodbye to Love
Goodbye to Love
"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballads to have a fuzz guitar solo.Upon...
" and "Yesterday Once More
Yesterday Once More (song)
"Yesterday Once More", written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, is a hit song by The Carpenters from their 1973 album Now & Then. Composed in the key of E, "Yesterday Once More" preceded an "Oldies Medley" on the album, consisting of nine songs from the 1960s. At the end of the song a...
"), and later for other famous artists such as Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
("Crazy for You
Crazy for You (song)
"Crazy for You" is a song by American singer Madonna for the 1985 film Vision Quest. It was released on March 2, 1985, by Geffen Records as the first single from the soundtrack album of the film, and later included on the ballads compilation Something to Remember...
"), Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
("Human Nature
Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)
"Human Nature" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written and composed by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the fifth single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller . Initially, Porcaro had recorded a rough demo of the song on a...
"), The Pointer Sisters ("Slow Hand") Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
("When You Tell Me That You Love Me
When You Tell Me That You Love Me
"When You Tell Me That You Love Me" is a 1991 song released as a single by American soul singer Diana Ross. The song was subsequently covered by various artists....
"), Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as...
("Nights Are Forever
Nights Are Forever (Jennifer Warnes song)
"Nights Are Forever" is a 1983 song from the Warner Bros. motion picture Twilight Zone: The Movie, starring Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Vic Morrow and Scatman Crothers. It was composed by Jerry Goldsmith and sung by Jennifer Warnes. Lyrics were written by John Bettis...
"), Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
("Can You Stop the Rain
Can You Stop the Rain
"Can You Stop the Rain" is the title of a number-one R&B single by Peabo Bryson. The song spent two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number fifty-two on the Hot 100.-See also:*List of number-one R&B singles of 1991...
"), George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
("Heartland"), Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
("Only One Love in My Life
Only One Love in My Life (song)
""Only One Love in My Life" is the title track from Ronnie Milsap's 1978 album. "Only One Love in My Life" was written by R.C. Bannon and John Bettis and would be Ronnie Milsap's tenth number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for three weeks and spent a total of 11 weeks...
"), and Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
("One Of A Kind Pair Of Fools"). Bettis also co-wrote "One Moment in Time
One Moment in Time
"One Moment in Time" is an Emmy Award winning song written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea.-History:...
", the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
anthem performed by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, and the theme song to the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains
Growing Pains
Growing Pains is an American television sitcom about an affluent family, residing in Huntington, New York, with a working mother and a stay-at-home psychiatrist father raising three children together, which aired on ABC from September 24, 1985 to April 25, 1992.-Synopsis:The show's premise is based...
, "As Long As We Got Each Other."
He was born in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, the son of Wayne Douglas and Nellie Jane (House) Bettis, and attended California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
.
Bettis has had Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for "Promise Me You'll Remember", as Best Original Song for his work on Godfather III. Other nominations include: Grammy nominations for "Can You Stop The Rain" - Best R&B Song; "One Moment In Time" - Best Song, Film & TV (Theme, 1988 Olympics). John received two Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s: "Where There is Hope" and "One Moment In Time
One Moment in Time
"One Moment in Time" is an Emmy Award winning song written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea.-History:...
" and received Emmy nominations for "Swept Away" - Best Music & Lyrics and "As Long As We Got Each Other" - Best Music & Lyrics. He was also nominated for Nashville Songwriters Association http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ Song of the Year and Music City Song of the Year.
In theatre, John has provided lyrics for the musicals Lunch (tour 1994); Svengali (1992); The Last Session
The Last Session
The Last Session is an off-Broadway musical about a singer/songwriter who has decided to commit suicide to end his battle with AIDS, but only after one last recording session in the studio.-Overview:...
(L.A. Drama critics Award, Best Musical Score 1998); Say Goodnight (1999); Pure Country (1992) and most recently Josephine (2011).
As of mid-2008, Bettis has nearly 800 song credits in the ASCAP database.
Early Life
John Bettis was born in Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, the son of Wayne Douglas and Nellie Jane (House) Bettis, and attended California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
.
While raised in Southern California, his family’s roots are in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. John was introduced to country music at a very early age. Bettis began singing and playing trumpet when he was eight. In high school, he took up the guitar.
At age 16, he auditioned and landed the lead role in a high-school production of Carousel
Carousel (musical)
Carousel is the second stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II . The work premiered in 1945 and was adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play Liliom, transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline...
where he first discovered the craft of songwriting. Shortly after, Bettis and his understudy formed a folk duo and began performing and touring on the folk circuit, opening for acts like Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Axton
Hoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
, Ian & Sylvia
Ian and Sylvia
Ian & Sylvia were a Canadian folk and country music duo which consisted of Ian and Sylvia Tyson, née Fricker. They began performing together in 1959, married in 1964, and divorced and stopped performing together in 1975.-Early lives:...
and The Dillards
The Dillards
The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, consisting of Douglas Flint "Doug" Dillard The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, consisting of Douglas Flint "Doug" Dillard The Dillards are an American bluegrass band from Salem, Missouri, consisting of...
.
While attending California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, John was writing songs for his college choir when he met fellow student Richard Carpenter
Richard Carpenter
Richard Carpenter may refer to:* Richard Carpenter , American musician and composer, formerly one half of the Carpenters* Richard Carpenter , British screenwriter and actor...
and his sister Karen
Karen Carpenter
Karen Anne Carpenter was an American singer and drummer. She and her brother, Richard, formed the 1970s duo The Carpenters. She was a drummer of exceptional skill, but she is best remembered for her vocal performances of idealistic romantic ballads of true love...
. The three of them formed a band called Spectrum in 1966. In order to make money for equipment, John and Richard formed a duo with John on banjo and Richard on piano and regularly performed a golden oldies set at Disneyland.
Songwriting Career
Richard and Karen Carpenter signed a contract with A&M RecordsA&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
in 1969. Their debut Offering contained 11 songs co-written by Bettis but was not a commercial success. At the request of label owner Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
, the team recorded “Close to You
(They Long to Be) Close to You
" Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
”, a Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
/David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
composition, in 1970 which became the Carpenters first hit with the Bettis/Carpenter-penned “Goodbye to Love
Goodbye to Love
"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballads to have a fuzz guitar solo.Upon...
” and “Yesterday Once More
Yesterday Once More (song)
"Yesterday Once More", written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, is a hit song by The Carpenters from their 1973 album Now & Then. Composed in the key of E, "Yesterday Once More" preceded an "Oldies Medley" on the album, consisting of nine songs from the 1960s. At the end of the song a...
” finding equal success in 1972 and 1973.
During this time, Bettis was spending half the year in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
slowly getting acquainted with the songwriting community. After hearing the Carpenter/Bettis song “Top of the World
Top of the World (The Carpenters song)
"Top of the World" is the name of a 1972 song by The Carpenters. Originally recorded for and released on the duo's 1972 studio album A Song for You, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in late 1973, becoming the duo's second U.S. number-one single...
”, country star Lynn Anderson recorded the song earning Bettis his first success in country music.
While the Carpenters rose to fame with co-written hits like “Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday (song)
"Only Yesterday" is a song recorded by The Carpenters in 1975. It was released on March 14, 1975, and was the Carpenters' last top-ten single in the United States. Composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, it peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the easy listening...
,” “I Need to Be in Love
I Need to Be in Love
"I Need to Be in Love" is a song written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released as a single on May 21, 1976. It was featured on the "A Kind of Hush" album, which was released on June 11 of the same year. The single featured a version without the piano lead-in and starts immediately...
” and their own version of “Top of the World,” Bettis continued working in Nashville. In 1978, Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
had a number one hit with Bettis’ co-written "Only One Love in My Life
Only One Love in My Life (song)
""Only One Love in My Life" is the title track from Ronnie Milsap's 1978 album. "Only One Love in My Life" was written by R.C. Bannon and John Bettis and would be Ronnie Milsap's tenth number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for three weeks and spent a total of 11 weeks...
".
In 1981, The Pointer Sisters peaked at number two for three weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 as well as number 7 on the R&B chart with “Slow Hand
Slow Hand
Slow Hand is a ballad written by John Bettis and Michael Clark and recorded by the Pointer Sisters. It was first released in the spring of 1981 as the advance single for Black & White.-Background/ Impact:...
”, written by John Bettis and Michael Clark, with Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty , born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, was an American country music artist. He also had success in early rock and roll, R&B, and pop music. He held the record for the most number one singles of any act with 55 No. 1 Billboard country hits until George Strait broke the record in 2006...
making it a number one hit on ’’Billboard’s’’ Hot Country Singles Chart the following year. Clark and Bettis also co-wrote Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
's “Heart of the Night” and Donna Summer’s
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
“The Woman in Me
The Woman in Me (Donna Summer song)
"The Woman in Me" is the third and final single from Donna Summer's self-titled 1982 album. This lush slow jam returned Donna to the top forty and became a sizable hit on the adult contemporary , pop and R&B charts in the U.S. During the course of the song, Summer alternates between her soft...
”.
In 1983, Bettis gained his biggest achievement with “Human Nature
Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)
"Human Nature" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written and composed by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the fifth single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller . Initially, Porcaro had recorded a rough demo of the song on a...
”, a ballad penned for Michael Jackson’s
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
multi-platinum album ’’Thriller’’
Thriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
. Originally a throwaway lyric and melody snippet composed by Toto’s
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
Steve Porcaro
Steve Porcaro
Steven Maxwell "Steve" Porcaro is an American keyboardist and composer, who was an original member of the rock/pop band Toto....
, the entire song was later written in its entirety by Bettis and Porcaro in two days. ‘’Thriller’’ became the best selling record of all time, and “Human Nature” has since been recorded by Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, George Howard
George Howard
George Howard may refer to:*George Howard , governor of Maryland, 1831–1833*George Howard , American smooth jazz saxophonist, known for his R&B sound...
and David Benoit
David Benoit
David Benoit, is an American jazz fusion/smooth jazz pianist, composer and producer from Los Angeles, California. He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards...
. It has also been sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, 2Pac, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
and Chris Brown. That same year, Barbara Mandrell’s
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
“One of a Kind Pair of Fools” reached number one on the country charts.
In 1985, Bettis accepted an assignment in Hollywood to write a song for the soundtrack of the film Vision Quest
Vision Quest
Vision Quest is a 1985 coming of age drama film starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino, and Ronny Cox. It is based on Terry Davis' novel of the same name. In some countries, it was released as Crazy for You to market on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song...
. The end result was “Crazy for You
Crazy for You (song)
"Crazy for You" is a song by American singer Madonna for the 1985 film Vision Quest. It was released on March 2, 1985, by Geffen Records as the first single from the soundtrack album of the film, and later included on the ballads compilation Something to Remember...
” a song not originally written for, but recorded by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. Perhaps Bettis’ best-known commissioned work is “As Long As We Got Each Other”, co-written with long-time collaborator Steve Dorff
Steve Dorff
Steve Dorff is an American songwriter and composer whose work is mainly in the field of country music.Dorff has written several songs for other artists, including "Hypnotize the Moon" and "My Heart Will Never Know" for Clay Walker, "The Man in Love with You" and "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait,...
as the theme song to the hit ABC Network
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television sitcom Growing Pains
Growing Pains
Growing Pains is an American television sitcom about an affluent family, residing in Huntington, New York, with a working mother and a stay-at-home psychiatrist father raising three children together, which aired on ABC from September 24, 1985 to April 25, 1992.-Synopsis:The show's premise is based...
.
In 1988, he co-wrote “One Moment in Time
One Moment in Time
"One Moment in Time" is an Emmy Award winning song written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea.-History:...
” with Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond OBE is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from Gibraltar.-Birth and early success:Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and there he grew...
which was recorded by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
as the theme for the Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
.
John Bettis continued developing an eclectic catalog into in the 1990s. 1991’s “Can You Stop the Rain
Can You Stop the Rain
"Can You Stop the Rain" is the title of a number-one R&B single by Peabo Bryson. The song spent two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number fifty-two on the Hot 100.-See also:*List of number-one R&B singles of 1991...
” topped the R&B charts in 1991 for Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
. “If You Go Away” was a top 20 hit in 1992 for New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
, and “ "Heartland”, from the soundtrack to the film Pure Country
Pure Country
The album Pure Country is the soundtrack to the movie Pure Country, and all songs are sung by George Strait. It was released in 1992 by MCA Records. It is Strait's most commercially successful album, having sold over six million copies.-Content:...
, was a number one hit for George Strait
George Strait
George Harvey Strait is an American country music singer, actor, and music producer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional...
.
Theater
John has provided lyrics for the musicals Lunch (tour 1994); Svengali (1992); The Last SessionThe Last Session
The Last Session is an off-Broadway musical about a singer/songwriter who has decided to commit suicide to end his battle with AIDS, but only after one last recording session in the studio.-Overview:...
(L.A. Drama critics Award, Best Musical Score 1998); Say Goodnight (1999); Pure Country (1992) and most recently Josephine (2011).
Awards
Bettis has had Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for "Promise Me You'll Remember", as Best Original Song for his work on Godfather III. Other nominations include: Grammy nominations for "Can You Stop The Rain" - Best R&B Song; "One Moment In Time" - Best Song, Film & TV (Theme, 1988 Olympics). John received two Emmy AwardEmmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
s: "Where There is Hope" and "One Moment In Time
One Moment in Time
"One Moment in Time" is an Emmy Award winning song written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea.-History:...
" and received Emmy nominations for "Swept Away" - Best Music & Lyrics and "As Long As We Got Each Other" - Best Music & Lyrics. He was also nominated for Nashville Songwriters Association http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/ Song of the Year and Music City Song of the Year.
In 2011, John was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
.
Personal Life
John Bettis currently lives in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
with his family where he has resided since 1996.