Along Came Betty is a jazz standard composed by Benny Golson for Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. It was written in the late 1950s and first recorded in 1958 on the hard bop album Moanin’, featuring an all-star Philadelphia-era lineup: Art Blakey on drums, Lee Morgan on trumpet, Benny Golson on tenor sax, Jymie Merritt on bass, and Bobby Timmons on piano. The tune’s title came from Golson’s girlfriend at the time, and its memorable melody with a sophisticated 32-bar AABA form invites rich improvisation. Over the years it has become a favorite among saxophonists, guitarists and pianists, and has been covered and reinterpreted by many artists, including later versions with updated ensembles.
