Bettie Ross |
 Bettie Ross is a composer, a keyboardist for others, and a keyboardist of her own musical compositions. As a behind-the-scenes music technician, she has earned over 150 Gold and Platinum albums, including two Gold Records for performing on pipe organ.
Musical Training The recipient of a European musical education that enabled her to fully read and write music by the age of 12, Bettie became a professional church organist at age 14. By 17 she was playing in neighborhood rock bands and working gigs throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County. She went on to major in music at California State University at Northridge with an emphasis in pipe organ performance. One of her favorite times at CSUN was playing Hammond B3 organ in various drama productions. One such production was the politically controversial “Marat Sade” which was performed when the college re-opened after the governor had briefly closed all California colleges due to student rioting. After college, Bettie continued her musical education. Among many other teachers and areas of expertise, Bettie studied songwriting with LAWIM’s own Harriet Schock and went on to teach Harriet’s beginning class. Keyboardist Bettie toured the U.S. and Canada playing piano and Mellotron with the Bellamy Brothers, the hit-making country/country-rock act. At that time, the Bellamys were riding high on their huge #1 hit, the crossover country-rock tune, “Let Your Love Flow.” For Bettie, the most memorable part of the tour was being the first woman conductor, ever, at the Tokyo Music Festival—live on TV to 10 million viewers. Next, Bettie toured with Melissa Manchester playing piano and electric piano. This included performing on the “Johnny Carson Tonight Show” with the Doc Severinsen NBC Orchestra.
When Pres. Ronald Reagan passed away in 2004, Bettie was called on to perform on pipe organ and piano for the broadcasted memorial service at the President’s personal church, Bel Air Presbyterian. Just a mention here: Bettie has performed for years in various incarnations of rock bands and all-girl bands, including her own 80’s rock band Vogue 2000 with partner, diva Raven Kane. Currently you can hear Bettie’s piano playing on the full-length documentary, “The Brothers Warner,” as well as on albums and live performances of various young emerging LA rock and classical artists. Music Preparation Since 1995, Bettie’s “day job” has been doing music preparation work or copy work, mainly working with arranger David Campbell. She has worked on the following films: “Dream Girls,” “City of Angels,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Hope Floats,” “Spider Man II,” “Rent,” “North Country,” “Things We Lost in the Fire” and many others. For TV she has done music prep on such shows as “American Idol” and the theme for “Good Morning America,” among others. She’s also done music prep on over 150 Gold and Platinum-selling albums. The list includes albums by Aerosmith, Alanis Morissette, Art Garfunkel, Avril Lavigne, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, Brooks & Dunn, Chicago, Eric Clapton, Faith Hill, Dixie Chicks, Green Day, Heart, Jon Bon Jovi, Juanes, Julio Iglesias, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Maria Carey, Paul McCartney, Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson, and Wilson Phillips. Lately Bettie has done music prep on projects by Josh Groban, We Are The Fallen, Adam Lambert, Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab For Cutie, Ray LaMontagne, Tommy Torres, Uncle Kracker, Maroon 5, Montgomery Gentry, Radiohead, Takako Matsu, The Fray, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Paolo Spoladore (Don Pa). One very new type of music prep job for Bettie has been working on the upcoming musical of “Spider-Man” for Broadway, written by Bono and the Edge of U2 fame. Composer But what is Bettie’s true love? Composing! “I love to compose – and I especially love to compose for film,” says Bettie with a smile. In 2009 she wrote and recorded the score for the feature film, “Nina and the Mystery of the Secret Room,” starring Kelly LeBrock, Thaao Penghlis and Erin Cahill. The indie film is slated for a 2010 release and is being distributed by a Warner Bros. subsidiary. Check out: http://www.myspace.com/bettierossfilmmusic. She also wrote the music for the Dramalogue award-winning one-woman stage show by Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson), “In Search of Fellini.” Hear a few clips at http://www.bettieross.com/stage.htm Another outlet for her composing talents is her underscore for videos being put forth by a new alternative energy company, Origin Oil. Bettie is now ”the sound of Origin Oil.” Check out www.originoil.com An electronic piece that Bettie wrote and recorded, “Catalina Tide Pool,” is now part of the 60x60 Project’s 2007-08 Pacific Rim Mix. You can hear this piece by scrolling down at: http://www.bettieross.com/artist.htm
Beginning in 1996, Bettie has been a part of Celestial Navigations, a story-telling group with a long history. Bettie has composed and recorded with them, playing synthesizer or piano, on three albums. She has also done numerous concerts with the group. Solo Artist A few years ago Bettie released a brilliant album, “A Magical Time of Year,” consisting of solo piano music that she composed. She entered this album in the largest independent music contest in the world, the 2009 “Just Plain Folks” awards contest—and she won first place in two categories: Best Solo Piano Album and Best Solo Piano Song. At the awards ceremony in Nashville when Bettie received her 1st place awards, she was delighted. “It feels fantastic to be recognized for this!” LAWIM And last but not least, Bettie is a former member of the Board of Directors of LAWIM. The first LAWIM Soirées were held in her Hollywood Hills home in the early 1990s. Perhaps it would be best to close off with a quote from the cheerful lady herself: “I consider that I am fortunate to be busy at the profession that I love. It’s hard work, but there is nothing else that I would rather do.” Well said. And so say we all! LINKS Website: http://www.bettieross.com Reverb Nation site: http://www.reverbnation.com/bettieross MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/bettieross MySpace for Film Music: http://www.myspace.com/bettierossfilmmusic Facebook Band: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bettie-Ross/55232196936 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bettieross YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BRoss3011 IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1710242 Sibelius page (where Bettie’s sheet music can vew viewed and/or purchased): http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/index.php?sm=stores.home&stid=508 CD Baby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bettieross |
In the last few years, Bettie has put her pipe organ training to good use, and on two occasions she has received Gold records for her recorded performances. These performances were on three stunning tracks on the 2006 Meat Loaf album, “Bat Out of Hell III”, and later on four beautiful songs for Faith Hill’s freshly-arranged 2008 Christmas album, “Joy to the World.” You can hear these clips and more at 
In 2008 Bettie was commissioned by the Cabar Feidh Pipe Band to create a new arrangement of the old classic, “Amazing Grace” for bagpipe band and symphony orchestra. Bettie’s arrangement has been performed by the California Philharmonic Orchestra at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles, the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, and the Arboretum in Arcadia, Calif.
