With the recent success of the film Dreamgirls and the budding musical careers of such arists as John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae, it would seem as though a soul revival is on the rise. With that in mind, Bettye LaVette is in the middle of a revival of her own, as the '60's soul star continues to release music after more than forty years in the business. LaVette brings her vocal talents to the State Theatre tonight.

The singer stops through Happy Valley in promotion of her most recent album, 2005's critically acclaimed I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. The variety of songs on the album demonstrates how truly versatile LaVette is-she aptly covers tunes written by artists as eclectic as Sinead O'Connor, Roseanne Cash, Fiona Apple and Lucinda Williams.

"She's one of the best soul singers of our time," Joe Apfelbaum, programming manager at the State Theatre, said. "Since she signed with the ANTI-label, the same label as Tom Waits and a lot of other really cool artists, she put out a great record and now she's finally being appreciated for how great she is."

LaVette's career spans several decades. LaVette got her big break in the fall of 1962, when she recorded her first single for the record label Northern. The song, titled "My Man-He's a Loving Man," resulted in a Top 10 hit on the R&B charts. She recorded what is widely regarded as her signature song, "Let Me Down Easy," three years later. The single reached No. 20 on the R&B charts.

"I'm definitely going to go," said Gina Rusnak (freshman-division of undergraduate studies). "I heard she's extremely talented and that she has a great voice."

Tickets for the show cost $23.75, and can be purchased at the State Theatre and on the venue's Web site.