Bets Pott - The Heart And Soul Of Dr. Bob

BETS POTT: The Heart and Soul of Dr. Bob In certain circles, she has at least one thing in common with Elvis, Madonna, Prince and Ringo – you only need one name to identify her: Bets. She was born Elizabeth Westbrook Conner in 1957. A child of the Midwest, a true all-American girl, Bets Pott grew up to be a legendary, ground-breaking woman of rock in the Intermountain West, holding her own in and eventually conquering the male-dominated, testosterone charged world of bar bands and recording studios. She always kept her sense of humor and her good attitude. No one who ever worked with Pott in music does not respect her or like her. And that in itself is a monumental accomplishment considering how easily egos are bruised and toes are stepped on in the entertainment industry. She was raised in Glencoe, Illinois; Roswell, Georgia; and Dallas, Texas; by an adoring mother and a father who grew up in Elvis’ tiny hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. By time Jeffrey D. Howrey met her in the late 1970s she was a sorority girl at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Not exactly burning up the dean’s list academically speaking, Conner was admittedly attending college primarily for two reasons: to enjoy the social life and to meet a future rich husband (doctor or lawyer preferred). Understandably, her parents were horrified when she announced in 1979 that she had decided to drop out of college and go with Howrey and his Barney Fife Band (soon rechristened Utah Zoomers) to New York City to seek fame and fortune. The rest, as they say, is history (click on “History of Dr. Bob” for more info). Suffice it to say that a three-decade career in music and recording ensued and tens of thousands of people have been entertained by the awesome talents of one amazing female vocalist and bass player. The highlights of her career are too numerous to mention. She is blazing musical trails today in Portland, Oregon, with her new band, Skyhouse, whose repertoire includes ska-inflected versions of several Howrey – penned Dr. Bob originals.