This day (January 20, 2012), in Riverside, California, died Jamesetta Hawkins a.k.a. Etta James,an American singer.
Tracklist :
1 . Something’S Got A Hold On Me
2 . w/ Chuck Berry – Rock N’ Roll Music
3 . w/ Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan & B.B. King – Take My Hand (1987)
4 . w/ B.B. King Stevie Ray Vaughan – Midnight Hour
5 . Tell Mama & I’D Rather Go Blind (1989)
6 . At Last
7 . w/ Grateful Dead – Hard To Handle (1982)
Tracklist :
At Last . I’d Rather Go Blind . I Just Want to Make Love to You . Something’s Got A Hold On Me . Stormy Weather . A Sunday Kind of Love . Trust in Me . My Dearest Darling . Tell Mama . All I Could Do Was Cry .
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, grows up under unconventional circumstances.
Her stage name, suggested by her aunt Cosetta, reverses her first name to “Etta,” and adds her husband’s last name, James.
Etta’s mother, Dorothy, gives birth to her at just 14 years old and never discloses the identity of her father, though Etta believes him to be a white pool player known as Minnesota Fats.
Unable to raise her, Dorothy leaves Etta in the care of Lula and Jesse Rogers, who become her adoptive parents.
By age five, Etta captivates audiences with her voice at church, where even Hollywood celebrities come to listen.
Her vocal coach, Professor Hines, teaches her to sing from her diaphragm, though his harsh methods leave a mark.
Despite her early success, her adoptive father attempts to exploit her talent, forcing her to perform at night and beating her if she refuses.
Following the death of Lula, Etta moves back with her biological mother in San Francisco, where she abandons music, joins a gang, and adopts a rebellious lifestyle.
Discovering Blues and Doo-Wop
Etta rediscovers her love for music, inspired by legends like Billie Holiday and Ray Charles.
At 12, she forms a trio called The Creolettes, named for their light skin tones.
At 14, she meets Johnny Otis, who is blown away by her voice and renames the group The Peaches, dubbing her “Miss Peaches.”
Under Otis’s guidance, Etta records “Roll with Me Henry,” later retitled “The Wallflower” to avoid controversy over its suggestive lyrics.
The song becomes a hit on R&B charts, but a white pop singer, Georgia Gibbs, records a sanitized version called “Dance with Me Henry,” reaping the financial rewards while Etta sees none.
This experience motivates Etta to learn more about the business side of the music industry.
Life on the Road and Early Success
Etta dyes her hair platinum blonde in homage to Joyce Bryant and begins performing in clubs, though she earns little due to a lack of knowledge about royalties.
As The Peaches disband, Etta embarks on a solo career, touring with notable acts like Sam Cooke and Ruth Brown while enduring racism in the Jim Crow South.
She records “All I Could Do Was Cry,” a hit that climbs R&B and pop charts, yet Chess Records absorbs most of her earnings.
In 1960, Etta releases her debut album, *At Last*, featuring the now-iconic title track, which cements her place in music history.
Struggles and Resilience
Etta’s life takes a darker turn as she becomes addicted to heroin, leading to weight loss, arrests, and rehab stints.
She adopts the name Jamesetta X during her involvement with the Nation of Islam and meets figures like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.
Despite personal struggles, Etta continues to release music, including hits like “Tell Mama” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.”
Her plans to collaborate with Otis Redding are tragically cut short by his untimely death.
After the death of Leonard Chess, Etta’s financial and personal troubles deepen, yet she perseveres.
Career Renaissance
In the 1970s, Etta signs with Warner Brothers Records and reinvents her career with albums like *Etta Is Better Than Ever*.
She tours with the Rolling Stones and performs at the Montreux Jazz Festival, earning accolades despite ongoing struggles with addiction.
A vision of the devil on a dance floor prompts Etta to quit drugs, leading to a period of sobriety and creative resurgence in the 1980s.
Her album *Seven Year Itch* earns Grammy nominations, and she receives long-overdue royalties after MCA acquires Chess Records’ catalog.
A Lasting Legacy
In 1994, Etta honors Billie Holiday with the Grammy-winning jazz album *Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday*.
She undergoes gastric bypass surgery in 2003, losing over 200 pounds, and earns a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Her timeless hit “At Last” is inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and her contributions to music earn her the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Though portrayed by Beyoncé in *Cadillac Records*, Etta expresses mixed feelings about the portrayal and her iconic song’s performance at Barack Obama’s inauguration.
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and leukemia, Etta continues performing until her health deteriorates.
She passes away on January 20, 2012, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most soulful and resilient artists in music history.
Photo
shelmac