Etta James, The Legendary Blues Singer Remembered

Etta James, the legendary singer whose voice knew no bounds and whose life was lived beyond the limitations life presented, has died according to her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. She was 73. James died early today at Riverside Community Hospital in California from an incurable leukemia diagnosis, but suffered from other bouts of illnesses such as dementia, hepatitis C, and a blood infection, sepsis. Her husband, Artis Mills, and sons, Sametto and Donto were at her side as she met her demise. "This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world," De Leon said. "She was a true original who could sing it all---her music defied category. Early Life Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles on January 25, 1938 to 14-year-old Dorothy Hawkins - Etta was on the jazz scene with her teen mother by age 5. According to James’1995 autobiography, “Rage to Survive”, her mother who repeatedly changed the story of Etta's paternity finally definitively identified her father one day while watching television. Hawkins pointed out the white pool shark Minnesota Fats, whose real name was Rudolf Wanderone, Jr. “I looked at his eyes, looked at his nose, looked at the way he turned his head, and I knew for once Dorothy wasn’t lying,” James wrote. “I could feel the man’s blood running through my veins.” She met him once when she tracked him down at a Nashville hotel where he lived and asked if he indeed was her father. "I don't remember everything. I wish I did, but I don't," he said. He died in 1996. Her Music Her inescapable talent she held in infantile had Etta singing with her teen mom at late night juke joints and singing gospel on Sundays at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in South Central Los Angeles. At 14, she moved to San Francisco and formed the Creolettes with two other girls. Johnny Otis would later bring the trio to Hollywood after hearing the girls’ impromptu audition. Otis, who died three days ago, renamed the group ‘Peaches’ as an ode to Etta’s nickname and inverted James’ name, hence Etta James which she continued to use. “The Wallflower” by the Peaches went to No. 1 on the R&B charts which was renamed from “Roll With Me, Henry” to gain airplay. The follow up, “Good Rockin’ Daddy”, hit No. 6. Soon after, James decided to change her look and was known as one of the first Black women to dye her hair platinum blonde. “I wanted to be rare, I wanted to be noticed, I wanted to be glamorous,” she wrote in her autobiography. “I wanted to be exotic as a Cotton Club chorus girl, and I wanted to be obvious as the most flamboyant hooker on the street.” When the trio went their separate ways, James kept recording with Modern Records. In 1960, after signing with Chess Records, she recorded a pair of chart-climbing duets with then-boyfriend Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows. On her own, she scored her biggest hits with the label, including “Trust In ME”, “Something’s Got A Hold On Me”, “Sunday Kind of Love”, “At Last” and “All I Could Do Was Cry.” “At Last” was a defining song for Etta that shot her into legendary status, forever. The sweet melody full of blithe and enchantment echoing love through the many belted-out harmonies brought forth distinctiveness in a way that only Etta could sing. Her Legacy "Etta James was a pioneer. Her ever-changing sound has influenced rock and roll, rhythm and blues, pop, soul and jazz artists, marking her place as one of the most important female artists of our time," said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Terry Stewart. "From Janis Joplin to Joss Stone, an incredible number of performers owe their debts to her. There is no mistaking the voice of Etta James, and it will live forever." In 1967, she cut one of the most highly regarded soul albums of all time, "Tell Mama," an earthy fusion of rock and gospel music featuring blistering horn arrangements, funky rhythms, and a churchy chorus. A song from the album, "Security," was a top 40 single in 1968. James’ career suffered when the British invasion took over the pop charts and she began fighting some personal demons. She entered rehab in the 1970’s for her drug problem, but re-established herself with live performances and an album produced by noted R&B mastermind Jerry Wexler. Following another stint in rehab, this time at the Betty Ford Clinic, she made a comeback album, "Seven Year Itch," in 1988. "I took back my life," James said. After kicking her drug addiction, she struggled with her weight and often performed from a wheelchair as she got older and heavier. In the early 2000’s, she had gastric-bypass surgery, losing nearly 200 pounds. The winner of four Grammys and a 1993 inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, James was portrayed in the 2008 movie “Cadillac Records” by Beyonce Knowles. Christina Aguilera, Estelle, Bonnie Raitt all cite James as a major influence. Etta James' At Last "There's a lot going on in Etta James's voice," Bonnie Raitt once told Rolling Stone, which ranked James 22nd on its list of the 100 Best Singers of All Time. "A lot of pain, a lot of life but, most of all, a lot of strength. She can be so raucous and down one song, and then break your heart with her subtlety and finesse the next. As raw as Etta is, there's a great intelligence and wisdom in her singing." We couldn’t agree more. Thank you for the lifetime of music Mrs. Etta James. http://youtu.be/zwxM--iDH2c

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