Etta james biography video theodore roosevelt

American blues singer (1938–2012)

Not figure up be confused with Etta Jones.

Musical artist

Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), crush professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songster. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's famed R&B clubs, collectively unseen as the Chitlin' Circuit, divulge the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.^[1] She sang in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and typography, and gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower" (1955), "At Last" (1960), "Something's Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "Tell Mama", and "I'd In or by comparison Go Blind" (both 1967).^[2] She faced a number of actual problems, including heroin addiction, stony physical abuse, and incarceration, formerly making a musical comeback personal the late 1980s with honourableness album Seven Year Itch (1988).^[3]

James's deep and earthy voice assay considered to have bridged glory gap between R&B and teeter and roll.

She won several Grammy Awards for her albums (2005 - Best Traditional Disconsolate Album for Blues to influence Bone; 2004 - Best Recent Blues Album for Let's Roll; and 1995 - Best Whistles Vocal Performance, Female for Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday) and 17 Blues Music Laurels. She was inducted into greatness Rock and Roll Hall mention Fame in 1993, the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Blues Hall model Fame in 2001.^[4] She very received the Grammy Lifetime Attainment Award in 2003.^[5]Rolling Stone organ ranked James number 22 flinch its 2008 list of high-mindedness "100 Greatest Singers of Cry out Time"; she was also close number 62 in its link up with of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".^[6][7]Billboard magazine's 2015 list of the "35 Pre-eminent R&B Artists Of All Time" also included James, whose "gutsy, take-no-prisoner vocals colorfully interpreted all from blues and R&B/soul manage rock n’roll, jazz and gospel."^[8] The Rock and Roll Appearance of Fame named her "one of the greatest voices ransack her century" and "forever rank matriarch of blues."^[9]

Life and career

1938–1959: Childhood and career beginnings

Jamesetta Hawkyns was born on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Dorothy Hawkins, who was 14 at the time.

Even supposing her father has never antediluvian identified,^[10] James speculated that she was the daughter of tube player Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, whom she met briefly subtract 1987.^[11] Her mother was oft absent from their apartment call a halt Watts, conducting relationships with a variety of men, and James lived ordain a series of foster parents, most notably "Sarge" and "Mama" Lu.

James referred to mother as "the Mystery Lady".^[10] James was raised by relations and friends during her schooldays, and she began regularly crowd a Baptist church while misrepresent the care of her grandparents.^[12]

James received her first professional articulate training at the age countless five from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at grandeur St.

Paul Baptist Church hassle South-Central Los Angeles. She became a soloist in the chorus despite her young age celebrated performed with them on within walking distance radio stations. She quickly gained attention for having a acid voice for a child. Hines often punched her in representation chest while she sang preserve force her voice to receive from her gut.^[13][12]

Sarge, like rectitude musical director for the set, was also abusive.

During blotto poker games at home, significant would awaken James in position early morning hours and energy her with beatings to lodge for his friends. The weight of her foster father forcing her to sing under these humiliating circumstances caused her run into have difficulties with singing double demand throughout her career.^[14]

In 1950, Mama Lu died, and James's biological mother took her harmonious the Fillmore district of San Francisco.^[15] Within a couple annotation years, she began listening seat doo-wop and was inspired house form a girl group, rectitude Creolettes (so named for rendering members' light-skinned complexions).

At illustriousness age of 14, she decrease musician Johnny Otis. Stories innovation how they met vary. Row Otis's version, she came end his hotel after one carryon his performances in the be elastic and persuaded him to check her.

Another gag was that Otis spotted nobleness Creolettes performing at a Los Angeles nightclub and sought funding them to record his "answer song" to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie". Otis took the Creolettes under his branch and helped them sign verge on Modern Records, at which name they changed their name confront Peaches.^[16] At this time Artificer also gave James her mistreat name, transposing "Jamesetta" (her accepted first name) into "Etta James."^{[citation needed]} In 1954, James factual and was credited as co-author for "The Wallflower" (a fame change to the aforementioned vent, "Work with Me, Annie"), which was released in early 1955.

The original title of decency song was actually "Roll business partner Me, Henry", but it abstruse been changed to avoid authoritarianism at the time (roll implying sexual activity). In February 1955, the song reached number single on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Tracks chart.^[17] Its go well also gave the Peaches disentangle opening spot on Little Richard's national tour.^[18]

While James was method tour with Richard, pop cantor Georgia Gibbs recorded a repel of her song and free it under the again-altered inscription "Dance With Me, Henry." People became a crossover hit, movement number one on the Billboard Hot 100, which angered Book.

After leaving the Peaches, Apostle had another R&B hit do better than "Good Rockin' Daddy" but struggled with follow-ups. When her problem with Modern came up on the way to renewal in 1960, she pure a contract with Chess Archives instead, with which she would go on to become companionship of the label's earliest stars.^[5] Around this time, she became involved in a relationship pertain to the singer Harvey Fuqua, leadership founder of the doo-wop course group the Moonglows.

Musician Bobby River toured with James for take cover 20 years. He wrote divagate James had her first lower single when she was 15 years old and went solid with B.B. King when she was 16. James believed think it over King's hit single "Sweet Sixteen" was about her.^[19] In precisely 1955, she and an ambitious singer, the 19-year-old Elvis Presley, then recording for Sun Studios and an avid fan asset King's, shared a bill hold up a large club just hard to find Memphis.^{[citation needed]} In her experiences, she noted how impressed she was with the young singer's manners.

She also recalled in spite of that happy he made her profuse years later when she misinterpret out that it was Presley who had moved her finale friend Jackie Wilson from natty substandard convalescent home to dexterous more appropriate facility and, despite the fact that she put it, paid the sum of the expenses.

Presley died neat as a pin year later. Wilson went blame to live for another wedge years in the care inside Presley found for him.

1960–1978: Chess and Warner Bros. years

Dueting with Harvey Fuqua, James true for Argo Records (later renamed Cadet Records), a label implanted by Chess. Her first mark down singles with Fuqua were "If I Can't Have You" concentrate on "Spoonful".

Her first solo hit was the doo-wop–styled rhythm-and-blues song "All I Could Do Was Cry", which was a number R&B hit.^[20] Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess envisioned James monkey a classic ballad stylist who had potential to cross be contaminated by to the pop charts extract soon surrounded the singer touch violins and other string instruments.^[20] The first string-laden ballad Saint recorded was "My Dearest Darling" in May 1960, which interdicted in the top five incessantly the R&B chart.

James chant background vocals for her labelmate Chuck Berry on his "Back in the U.S.A."^[21][22]

Her debut publication, At Last!, was released play a part late 1960 and was conspicuous for its varied selection ceremony music, from jazz standards constitute blues to doo-wop and drumming and blues (R&B).^[23] The stamp album included the future classics "I Just Want to Make Affection to You" and "A Respected Kind of Love".

In inappropriate 1961, James released what was to become her signature tune, "At Last", a Glenn Author tune, which reached number one on the R&B chart spreadsheet number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though the put in writing was not as successful bring in expected, her rendition has metamorphose the best-known version of probity song.^[21] James followed this occur to "Trust in Me", which besides included string instruments.^[20] Later consider it same year (1960), James floating a second studio album, The Second Time Around.

The photo album took the same direction thanks to her first, covering jazz bid pop standards and with obligations on many of the songs. It produced two hit singles, "Fool That I Am" with "Don't Cry Baby".^[24]

James started kit gospel elements in her medicine the following year, releasing "Something's Got a Hold on Me", which peaked at number brace on the R&B chart swallow was a Top 40 come through hit.

That success was hurry followed by "Stop the Wedding", which reached number six farsightedness the R&B chart and further had gospel elements.^[21] In 1963, she had another major sell more cheaply with "Pushover" and released glory live album Etta James Rocks the House, recorded at illustriousness New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee.^[20] After a couple stare years of minor hits, James's career started to suffer aft 1965.

After a period assault isolation, she returned to tape in 1967 and reemerged get the gist more gutsy R&B numbers offer to her recording at character legendary FAME Studios in Bully Shoals, Alabama. These sessions her comeback hit "Tell Mama", co-written by Clarence Carter, which reached number ten on greatness R&B chart and number xxiii for pop.

An album state under oath the same name was likewise released that year and deception her take on Otis Redding's "Security".^[25] The B-side of "Tell Mama" was "I'd Rather Walk into Blind", which became a doldrums classic and has been transcribed by many other artists. Delete her autobiography, Rage to Survive, she wrote that she heard the song outlined by tea break friend Ellington "Fugi" Jordan what because she visited him in prison.^[26] According to her account, she wrote the rest of representation song with Jordan but oblige tax reasons gave her songwriting credit to her partner chimp the time, Billy Foster.

Following this success, James became play down in-demand concert performer, though she never again reached the peak of her early to mid-1960s success. Her records continued bare chart in the R&B Put pen to paper 40 in the early Seventies, with singles such as "Losers Weepers" (1970) and "I Figure a Love" (1972). Though Apostle continued to record for Brome, she was devastated by integrity death of record executive Author Chess in 1969.

James ventured into rock and funk fumble the release of her self-titled album in 1973, with fabrication from the famed rock grower Gabriel Mekler, who had spurious with Steppenwolf and Janis Vocalizer. Joplin had admired James vital had covered "Tell Mama" hold your attention concert. James' 1973 album, exhibiting a mixture of musical styles, was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[25] The album did party produce any major hits, even, and neither did the consolidation album, Come a Little Closer, in 1974, though, like '73's Etta James before it, dignity album was also critically acclaimed.^{[citation needed]}

In 1975, James opened keep quiet for comedian Richard Pryor sought-after the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles.^[27]

James continued to record usher Chess (now owned by Style Platinum Records), releasing one additional album in 1976, Etta Not bad Betta Than Evvah! Her 1978 album Deep in the Night, produced by Jerry Wexler recognize the value of Warner Bros., incorporated more rock-based music in her repertoire.^[20] Dump same year, James was rectitude opening act for the Gushing Stones and performed at dignity Montreux Jazz Festival.

Following that brief success, however, she undone Chess Records and did yell record for another ten adulthood while she struggled with pharmaceutical addiction and alcoholism.

1982–1998: Elongated performances and return to recording

Amid her hiatus from recording, Crook still performed on occasion brush-off the early and mid-1980s, with two guest appearances at Beholden Dead concerts in December 1982.^[28] and was a guest thorough knowledge John Mayall's Blues Breakers 1982 reunion show in New Pullover.

In 1984, she contacted Painter Wolper and asked to discharge duty in the opening ceremony drug the 1984 Summer Olympics, consider which she sang "When character Saints Go Marching In".^[29] Comport yourself 1987, she performed "Rock take Roll Music" with Chuck Drupelet in the documentary film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll.^[30]

In 1989, she signed with Island Papers and with them released blue blood the gentry albums Seven Year Itch tell Stickin' to My Guns, both of which were produced stomachturning Barry Beckett and recorded to hand FAME Studios.^[25] Also in 1989 James was filmed in put in order concert at the Wiltern Transient in Los Angeles with Joe Walsh and Albert Collins particular the film Jazzvisions: Jump integrity Blues Away.

Many of picture backing musicians were top-flight lineup from Los Angeles: Rick Rosas (bass), Michael Huey (drums), Absentminded Sanford (Hammond B3 organ), Rest Noble (piano) and Josh Sklair, James' longtime guitar player.

James participated with the rap songstress Def Jef on the aerate "Droppin' Rhymes on Drums", which mixed James's jazz vocals critical remark hip-hop.

In 1992, she authentic the album The Right Time, produced by Jerry Wexler dilemma Elektra Records. She was inducted into the Rock and Stagger Hall of Fame in 1993.^[17][9]

James signed with Private Music Rolls museum in 1993 and recorded top-notch Billie Holiday tribute album, Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday.

The album set a bias of incorporating more jazz dash in James's music.^[20] The tome won James her first Grammy Award, for Best Jazz Obvious Performance, Female, in 1994. Find guilty 1995, her autobiography, Rage toady to Survive, co-written with David Hotelier, was published. Also in 1995, she recorded the album Time After Time.

A Christmas manual, 12 Songs of Christmas, was released in 1998.^[20]

By the mid-1990s, James's earlier music—by now accounted classic—was being used in commercials, including "I Just Wanna Manufacture Love to You", for observations. After an excerpt of dump song was featured in graceful Diet Coke advertising campaign house the UK, the song restore charted, reaching the top truss on the UK charts play a role 1996.^[17]

By 1998, with the liberation of Life, Love & blue blood the gentry Blues, James had added since backing musicians her own posterity, Donto and Sametto, on drums and bass, respectively.^[31] They were part of her touring assemblage.

She continued recording for Unofficial Music, which released the dejection album Matriarch of the Blues in 2000, on which she returned to her R&B bloodline.

2001–2011: Later years and legacy

In 2001, she was inducted jamming the Blues Hall of Decorum and the Rockabilly Hall admire Fame, the latter for recede contributions to the developments nominate both rock and roll boss rockabilly.

In 2003, she common a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Confer. On her 2004 release, Blue Gardenia, she returned to adroit jazz style. Her final textbook for Private Music, Let's Roll, released in 2005, won justness Grammy Award for Best Modern Blues Album.^[32]

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her number 62 on its list of justness 100 Greatest Artists of Deteriorate Time.^[33]

James performed at the apex jazz festivals in the fake, such as the Montreux Ruffle Festival in 1977, 1989, 1990 and 1993.^[34] She performed cardinal times at the legendary Town Jazz Festival and five historical at the San Francisco Addition Festival.^[35] She performed at honesty Playboy Jazz Festival in 1990, 1997, 2004, and 2007.^[36] She performed six times at description North Sea Jazz Festival, fragment 1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993.^[37] She performed bundle up the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2006 beginning 2009 (prior 2012 credit - after date of death).

She also often performed at consign summer arts festivals throughout rectitude United States.

In 2008, Felon was portrayed by singer Beyoncé in the film Cadillac Records, a fictional account of Bromegrass Records, James's label for 18 years, about how label architect and producer Leonard Chess helped the careers of James extremity others.^[38] The film included "At Last," performed by Beyoncé.

Beyoncé was invited to perform excellence song at Barack Obama's initiation ball. In the following weeks James publicly complained that Beyoncé was “singing my song,” however later added that her censorious remarks were meant to live received as a joke attend to stemmed from personal hurt go bad not having been invited allude to the sing the song yourselves for the Obama inauguration.^[39] Attempt was later reported that Alzheimers disease and "drug-induced dementia" challenging contributed to her negative comments about Knowles.^[40]

In April 2009, shake-up the age of 71, Apostle made her final television form, performing "At Last" on rectitude program Dancing with the Stars.

In May 2009, she traditional the Soul/Blues Female Artist racket the Year award from leadership Blues Foundation, the ninth tightly she won that award. She carried on touring but coarse 2010 had to cancel distract dates because of her by degrees failing health; by this period she was suffering from disorder and leukemia. In November 2011, James released her final photo album, The Dreamer, to critical plaudits.

She announced her retirement have doubts about the time of its release.^[41]

James' enduring relevance was affirmed get 2011 when the Swedish DJ Avicii achieved substantial chart go well with the song "Levels", which samples her 1962 song "Something's Got a Hold on Me". The same sample was softhearted by the east coast doorknocker Flo Rida in his 2011 hit single "Good Feeling".

Both artists issued statements of sympathy upon James's death.^[42] James' conniving classic music again charted puzzle out these 21st-century re-interpretations.

Style tube influence

James possessed the vocal redeploy of a contralto.^[43] Her melodious style changed during the universally of her career.

At illustriousness beginning of her recording vocation, in the mid-1950s, James was marketed as an R&B bear doo-wop singer.^[20] After signing arrange a deal Chess Records in 1960, Outlaw broke through as a unwritten pop-styled singer, covering jazz station pop music standards on bare debut album, At Last!^[44] James's voice deepened and coarsened, step on it her musical style in composite later years into the genres of soul and jazz.^[20]

James was once considered one of rendering most overlooked blues and R&B musicians in the music story of the United States.

Noisy was not until the at 1990s, when she began reaction major industry awards from loftiness Grammys and the Blues Instigate, that she received wide cognizance. In more recent years,^[when?] she has been hailed as straight pioneer who helped bridge integrity gap between rhythm and suggestive and rock and roll station thereby contributed significantly to Inhabitant musical history.^[45] James has phoney a wide variety of musicians, including, notably, Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Janis Joplin, Brandy, Fair Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Beth Playwright, Hayley Williams of Paramore^[46] ahead Brent Smith of Shinedown^[47] slightly well as British artists Justness Rolling Stones,^[48]Elkie Brooks,^[49]Paloma Faith,^[50]Joss Stone,^[51]Rita Ora, Amy Winehouse, and Adele,^[52] and the Belgian singer Dani Klein.

In particular, her sticker "Something's Got a Hold arranged Me" has been recognized vibrate many ways. Brussels music abuse Vaya Con Dios covered goodness song on their 1990 baby book Night Owls. Another version, finalize by Christina Aguilera, was riposte the 2010 film Burlesque. Lovely Lights sampled the song confine "Finally Moving", followed by Avicii's dance hit "Levels", and improve in Flo Rida's single "Good Feeling".

British blues band Chickenhearted Shack recorded Etta James’ 1967 single "I'd Rather Go Blind", which ended up becoming further successful for the band, keep Christine McVie singing lead vocals.^[53] The single was successful too little that it garnered Christine McVie the Top Female Singer overseer the Melody Maker's Reader's Opt in 1969.^[54]

Personal life

Religion

Through her spread, Dorothy, James was introduced figure up the Nation of Islam.

Dorothy attended occasional meetings at Tackle of Islam Temple No. 27 in Los Angeles, and would return to her daughter bump relay the teachings.^[55] Under birth care of her grandparents, nevertheless, James was raised Baptist.^[12]

In bake adult years, James and orderly friend began attending a NOI Temple in Atlanta, where she found comfort in the reprimand of Minister Louis X nearby the sense of "racial pride".

She took on the fame Jamesetta X and later linked Malcolm X’s Temple in Harlem, where she remained a participator for about a decade.^[56] Hold down was in Harlem that Book became friends with young fighter Cassius Clay, who later became famous boxing legend Muhammad Ali.^[57] However, she confessed she didn't strictly follow their beliefs, adjacent reflecting that it was "something of a fad" and goodness "radical, the 'in' thing bolster do" at the time.

She continued to consume pork captain wear non-conservative clothing during need membership.^[55]

Marriage and children

James was wed to Artis Mills from 1969 until her death in 2012.^[58][59]

James had two sons, Donto Book and Sametto James, born have it in mind different fathers.^[60] Both of counterpart sons became musicians and finally performed professionally with their mother; Donto played drums at Montreux in 1993, and Sametto assumed bass guitar circa 2003, mid other performances and tours.^[61]

Legal in arrears and drug addiction

By the mid-1960s, James suffered from a awareness use disorder to heroin.

She bounced checks, forged prescriptions extract stole from her friends take on finance her addiction.^[62] James was arrested in 1966 for verbal skill bad checks. She was be on probation and ordered put aside pay a $500 fine.^[63] Rip open 1969, she spent 10 date in jail for violating probation.^[58]

James encountered a string of authorized problems during the early Decade due to her heroin craving.

She was continuously in spell out of rehabilitation centers, containing the Tarzana Treatment Centers, require Los Angeles, California. Her old man Artis Mills accepted responsibility what because they were both arrested compel heroin possession, and served skilful 10-year prison sentence.^[64] He was released from prison in 1981.

In 1973, James was pinch for possession of heroin.^[65] Make money on 1974, James was sentenced tend drug treatment instead of service time in prison. During that period, she became addicted come into contact with methadone and would mix disintegrate doses with heroin.^[58] She was in the Tarzana Psychiatric Retreat for 17 months, starting use the age of 36, take precedence went through a great jerk at the start of illtreatment.

In her 1995 autobiography Rage to Survive, she said ditch the time she spent have as a feature the hospital changed her urbanity. After leaving treatment, however, cross substance abuse continued, particularly astern she developed a relationship involve a man who was too using drugs.

In 2010, Saint received treatment for a province on painkillers.^[66]

Illness and death

James was hospitalized in January 2010 forbear treat an infection caused past as a consequence o MRSA, a bacterium resistant contempt many antibiotics.

During her hospitalisation, her son Donto revealed come to the public that she challenging been previously diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2008.^[40]

James was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2011. The illness became terminal, skull her husband Artis Mills was appointed sole conservator of character James estate and to watch over her medical care.^[67] She epileptic fit on January 20, 2012, assume age 73, at Riverside Accord Hospital in Riverside, California.^[68][69] Repulse death came three days fend for that of Johnny Otis, representation man who had discovered give something the thumbs down in the 1950s.

Thirty-six epoch after her death, her sideman Red Holloway also died.^[70]

Her entombment was presided over by high-mindedness Reverend Al Sharpton and took place at Greater Bethany General public Church in Gardena, California, echelon days after her death. Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera gave musical tributes.^[71] She was underground at Inglewood Park Cemetery crumble Los Angeles County, California.

Discography

Main article: Etta James discography

Studio albums

Awards

Since 1989 (notably rather late deceive her career, after nearly xxx years of prior recording), Book has received over 30 glory and recognitions from eight puzzle organizations, including the Rock captain Roll Hall of Fame champion Museum^[72] and the National Institution of Recording Arts and Sciences which organizes the Grammys.^[73]

In 1989, the newly formed Rhythm remarkable Blues Foundation included James thump their first Pioneer Awards guard artists whose "lifelong contributions imitate been instrumental in the process of Rhythm & Blues music".^[45] The following year, 1990, she received an NAACP Image Jackpot, which is given for "outstanding achievements and performances of get out of color in the arts;"^[74] it was an award she cherished as it "was bud from my own people".^[75] Make out 2020, James was inducted give somebody the use of the National Rhythm & Megrims Hall of Fame.

Grammys

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually get by without the National Academy of Tape Arts and Sciences. James has received six Grammy Awards. Spurn first was in 1995, just as she was awarded Best Frippery Vocal Performance for the jotter Mystery Lady, which consisted embodiment covers of Billie Holiday songs.^[79] Two other albums have as well won awards, Let's Roll (Best Contemporary Blues Album) in 2003, and Blues to the Bone (Best Traditional Blues Album) encompass 2004.

Two of her mistimed songs have been given Grammy Hall of Fame Awards storage space "qualitative or historical significance": "At Last", in 1999,^[80] and "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" in 2008.^[81] In 2003, she was given the Grammy Natural life Achievement Award.^[82][83]

Blues Foundation

The members dead weight the Blues Foundation, a notforprofit organization set up in City, Tennessee, to foster the redolent and its heritage,^[84] have downhearted James for a Blues Medicine Award nearly every year thanks to its founding in 1980; very last she received some form adherent Blues Female Artist of authority Year award 14 times on account of 1989, continuously from 1999 run into 2007.^[85] Her albums Life, Devotion, & the Blues (1999), Burnin' Down the House (2003), opinion Let's Roll (2004) were awarded Soul/Blues Album of the Year,^[85] and in 2001 she was inducted into the Blues Passage of Fame.^[79]

Books

• Rage To Survive: Picture Etta James Story (2003) gross David Ritz with Etta Apostle ISBN 9780306812620
• American Legends: The Life ransack Etta James (2014) by River River Editors, ISBN 9781505670493

References