Red Betty founder Yahz pulled the band together in New York in the late '90s. Songwriter Yahz contributes vocals, while guitarist Chris Swope also contributes his songwriting talent on occasion. Rounding out the group are Mat DeVeau on drums and Nicholas D'Amato on bass. Individual members, who settled into place after a shakeup in the original lineup, hail from diverse locations and backgrounds. DeVeau was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and his musical background includes numerous genres. D'Amato's experience covers numerous styles, too, among them swing, country, and jazz. Swope, a native of Kansas City, MO, put in time with various musical groups across the Midwest region of the U.S. Before the current lineup took shape, the Yahz-led Red Betty put out Sister Rubber Limbs in 1998. John Ashton, the Psychedelic Furs' guitarist, appeared on the recording and performed production duties on the ten-track pop/rock album. Also featured on the debut were drummer Chad LaRue, bassist WhyNot Jansveld, and guitarist Michael DiLalla. With one recording under their belt, the band set out to play New York City nightspots, including the Mercury Lounge, Brownies, and CBGB. A nice boost came when www.MP3.com selected the band for its Retail Music Program, which selected a Red Betty single to play in stores across the U.S. In 2000, with its membership updated, the band put out the album Swim. The release consists of five tunes. ~ Linda Seida