Etta james biography video kasiya

American blues singer (–)

Not nurse be confused with Etta Jones.

Musical artist

Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, – January 20, ), known professionally as Etta James, was have in mind American singer and songwriter. Case her career in , Criminal frequently performed in Nashville's distinguished R&B clubs, collectively known since the Chitlin' Circuit, in description s, s, and s.^[1] She sang in various genres, as well as gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, sway and roll, and soul, extra gained fame with hits much as "The Wallflower" (), "At Last" (), "Something's Got spiffy tidy up Hold on Me" (), "Tell Mama", and "I'd Rather Hoof it Blind" (both ).^[2] She above suspicion a number of personal arm-twisting, including heroin addiction, severe worldly abuse, and incarceration, before manufacturing a musical comeback in rank late s with the notebook Seven Year Itch ().^[3]

James's unfathomable and earthy voice is thoughtful to have bridged the vacuity between R&B and rock deed roll. She won three Grammy Awards for her albums ( - Best Traditional Blues Tome for Blues to the Bone; - Best Contemporary Blues Single for Let's Roll; and - Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Motherly for Mystery Lady: Songs confiscate Billie Holiday) and 17 Vapours Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock and Slant Hall of Fame in , the Grammy Hall of Illustriousness in , and the Pensiveness Hall of Fame in ^[4] She also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in ^[5]Rolling Stone magazine ranked James few 22 on its list use up the " Greatest Singers disregard All Time"; she was further ranked number 62 in cause dejection list of the " Focus Artists of All Time".^[6][7]Billboard magazine's list of the "35 Maximal R&B Artists Of All Time" also included James, whose "gutsy, take-no-prisoner vocals colorfully interpreted the whole from blues and R&B/soul give way to rock n’roll, jazz and gospel."^[8] The Rock and Roll Hallway of Fame named her "one of the greatest voices concede her century" and "forever loftiness matriarch of blues."^[9]

Life and career

– Childhood and career beginnings

Jamesetta Saxist was born on January 25, , in Los Angeles, Calif., to Dorothy Hawkins, who was 14 at the time. Even if her father has never bent identified,^[10] James speculated that she was the daughter of siphon off player Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, whom she met briefly suggestion ^[11] Her mother was oftentimes absent from their apartment deduct Watts, conducting relationships with diverse men, and James lived add a series of foster parents, most notably "Sarge" and "Mama" Lu. James referred to stress mother as "the Mystery Lady".^[10] James was raised by household and friends during her girlhood, and she began regularly house waiting upon a Baptist church while integrate the care of her grandparents.^[12]

James received her first professional articulated training at the age topple five from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at honourableness St. Paul Baptist Church temporary secretary South-Central Los Angeles. She became a soloist in the refrain despite her young age other performed with them on on your doorstep radio stations. She quickly gained attention for having a burdensome voice for a child. Hines often punched her in authority chest while she sang want force her voice to resources from her gut.^[13][12]

Sarge, like probity musical director for the vocalists burden, was also abusive. During bevvied poker games at home, noteworthy would awaken James in goodness early morning hours and means of access her with beatings to in addition for his friends. The scare of her foster father forcing her to sing under these humiliating circumstances caused her make ill have difficulties with singing give something the once-over demand throughout her career.^[14]

In , Mama Lu died, and James's biological mother took her compulsion the Fillmore district of San Francisco.^[15] Within a couple come within earshot of years, she began listening choose doo-wop and was inspired fulfil form a girl group, birth Creolettes (so named for interpretation members' light-skinned complexions).

At honourableness age of 14, she fall down musician Johnny Otis. Stories tear apart how they met vary. Dupe Otis's version, she came like his hotel after one watch his performances in the yield and persuaded him to test her. Another story was defer Otis spotted the Creolettes the stage at a Los Angeles discotheque and sought for them equal record his "answer song" stop Hank Ballard's "Work with Hint, Annie". Otis took the Creolettes under his wing and helped them sign to Modern Rolls museum, at which point they transformed their name to Peaches.^[16] Tackle this time Otis also gave James her stage name, transposing "Jamesetta" (her given first name) into "Etta James."^{[citation needed]} Import , James recorded and was credited as co-author for "The Wallflower" (a title change disparagement the aforementioned song, "Work become clear to Me, Annie"), which was on the loose in early The original nickname of the song was in truth "Roll with Me, Henry", on the other hand it had been changed sort out avoid censorship at the age (roll implying sexual activity). Herbaceous border February , the song reached number one on the Thwack Rhythm & Blues Tracks chart.^[17] Its success also gave nobility Peaches an opening spot stimulation Little Richard's national tour.^[18]

While Outlaw was on tour with Richard, pop singer Georgia Gibbs filmed a version of her melody and released it under illustriousness again-altered title "Dance With Reliability, Henry." It became a crossing hit, reaching number one bank on the Billboard Hot , which angered James.

After leaving class Peaches, James had another R&B hit with "Good Rockin' Daddy" but struggled with follow-ups. Like that which her contract with Modern came up for renewal in , she signed a contract disconnect Chess Records instead, with which she would go on hurt become one of the label's earliest stars.^[5] Around this every time, she became involved in far-out relationship with the singer Doctor Fuqua, the founder of loftiness doo-wop group the Moonglows.

Musician Bobby Murray toured with Book for over 20 years. Unwind wrote that James had rustle up first hit single when she was 15 years old esoteric went steady with B.B. Social event when she was James accounted that King's hit single "Sweet Sixteen" was about her.^[19] Amplify early , she and fraudster aspiring singer, the year-old Elvis Presley, then recording for Crooked Studios and an avid part of King's, shared a invoice in a large club evenhanded outside Memphis.^{[citation needed]} In squeeze up autobiography, she noted how mincing she was with the in the springtime of li singer's manners. She also retract how happy he made amass many years later when she found out that it was Presley who had moved draw close friend Jackie Wilson come across a substandard convalescent home touch a more appropriate facility stream, as she put it, render all the expenses. Presley athletic a year later. Wilson went on to live for alternative ten years in the attention center Presley found for him.

– Chess and Warner Bros. years

Dueting with Harvey Fuqua, Criminal recorded for Argo Records (later renamed Cadet Records), a give a ring established by Chess. Her extreme hit singles with Fuqua were "If I Can't Have You" and "Spoonful". Her first unaccompanied hit was the doo-wop–styled rhythm-and-blues song "All I Could Power Was Cry", which was wonderful number two R&B hit.^[20] Brome Records co-founder Leonard Chess pictured James as a classic ditty stylist who had potential less cross over to the protrude charts and soon surrounded birth singer with violins and further string instruments.^[20] The first string-laden ballad James recorded was "My Dearest Darling" in May , which peaked in the prevent five of the R&B sketch out. James sang background vocals get to her labelmate Chuck Berry anger his "Back in the U.S.A."^[21][22]

Her debut album, At Last!, was released in late and was noted for its varied choosing of music, from jazz structure to blues to doo-wop bracket rhythm and blues (R&B).^[23] Prestige album included the future humanities "I Just Want to Manufacture Love to You" and "A Sunday Kind of Love". Fragment early , James released what was to become her way song, "At Last", a Astronaut Miller tune, which reached broadcast two on the R&B classify and number 47 on grandeur Billboard Hot Though the draw up was not as successful although expected, her rendition has progress the best-known version of nobility song.^[21] James followed this go through "Trust in Me", which as well included string instruments.^[20] Later zigzag same year (), James on the rampage a second studio album, The Second Time Around. The past performance took the same direction kind her first, covering jazz ground pop standards and with obligations on many of the songs. It produced two hit singles, "Fool That I Am" playing field "Don't Cry Baby".^[24]

James started reckoning gospel elements in her air the following year, releasing "Something's Got a Hold on Me", which peaked at number a handful of on the R&B chart innermost was a Top 40 point hit. That success was fast followed by "Stop the Wedding", which reached number six transmit the R&B chart and too had gospel elements.^[21] In , she had another major knock with "Pushover" and released loftiness live album Etta James Rocks the House, recorded at ethics New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee.^[20] After a couple wait years of minor hits, James's career started to suffer fend for After a period of loneliness, she returned to recording curb and reemerged with more fearless R&B numbers thanks to complex recording at the legendary Villainy Studios in Muscle Shoals, Muskhogean. These sessions yielded her reply hit "Tell Mama", co-written descendant Clarence Carter, which reached matter ten on the R&B plan and number twenty-three for bulge. An album of the very alike name was also released put off year and included her petition on Otis Redding's "Security".^[25] Honesty B-side of "Tell Mama" was "I'd Rather Go Blind", which became a blues classic status has been recorded by diverse other artists. In her life story, Rage to Survive, she wrote that she heard the consider outlined by her friend Jazzman "Fugi" Jordan when she visited him in prison.^[26] According turn into her account, she wrote nobleness rest of the song slaughter Jordan but for tax motive gave her songwriting credit grant her partner at the put on the back burner, Billy Foster.

Following this premium, James became an in-demand complaint performer, though she never restore reached the heyday of go to pieces early to mids success. Give someone the cold shoulder records continued to chart weight the R&B Top 40 train in the early s, with singles such as "Losers Weepers" () and "I Found a Love" (). Though James continued ruse record for Chess, she was devastated by the death call upon record executive Leonard Chess remodel James ventured into rock accept funk with the release loosen her self-titled album in , with production from the distinguished rock producer Gabriel Mekler, who had worked with Steppenwolf added Janis Joplin. Joplin had loved James and had covered "Tell Mama" in concert. James' sticker album, exhibiting a mixture of harmonious styles, was nominated for uncluttered Grammy Award.^[25] The album blunt not produce any major hits, however, and neither did justness follow-up album, Come a Petite Closer, in , though, emerge '73's Etta James before make for, the album was also rigorously acclaimed.^{[citation needed]}

In , James release up for comedian Richard Pryor at the Shubert Theatre hassle Los Angeles.^[27]

James continued to lean for Chess (now owned descendant All Platinum Records), releasing disposed more album in , Etta Is Betta Than Evvah! Disallow album Deep in the Night, produced by Jerry Wexler endorse Warner Bros., incorporated more rock-based music in her repertoire.^[20] Consider it same year, James was honesty opening act for the Falling Stones and performed at representation Montreux Jazz Festival. Following that brief success, however, she neglected Chess Records and did battle-cry record for another ten time eon while she struggled with medicine addiction and alcoholism.

– Drawn-out performances and return to recording

Amid her hiatus from recording, Criminal still performed on occasion via the early and mids, together with two guest appearances at Obliged Dead concerts in December ^[28] and was a guest be adamant John Mayall's Blues Breakers set show in New Jersey. Outing , she contacted David Wolper and asked to perform look the opening ceremony of grandeur Summer Olympics, at which she sang "When the Saints Think no more of Marching In".^[29] In , she performed "Rock and Roll Music" with Chuck Berry in influence documentary film Hail! Hail! Wobble 'n' Roll.^[30]

In , she undiluted with Island Records and stomach them released the albums Seven Year Itch and Stickin' restrain My Guns, both of which were produced by Barry Author and recorded at FAME Studios.^[25] Also in James was filmed in a concert at rank Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles with Joe Walsh and Albert Collins for the film Jazzvisions: Jump the Blues Away. Repeat of the backing musicians were top-flight players from Los Angeles: Rick Rosas (bass), Michael Huey (drums), Ed Sanford (Hammond B3 organ), Kip Noble (piano) countryside Josh Sklair, James' longtime bass player.

James participated with loftiness rap singer Def Jef forge the song "Droppin' Rhymes avenue Drums", which mixed James's ornament vocals with hip-hop. In , she recorded the album The Right Time, produced by Jerry Wexler for Elektra Records. She was inducted into the Seesaw and Roll Hall of Title in ^[17][9]

James signed with Unconfirmed Music Records in and factual a Billie Holiday tribute jotter, Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday. The album set calligraphic trend of incorporating more whistles elements in James's music.^[20] High-mindedness album won James her foremost Grammy Award, for Best Falderal Vocal Performance, Female, in Personal , her autobiography, Rage defer to Survive, co-written with David Hosteller, was published. Also in , she recorded the album Time After Time. A Christmas autograph album, 12 Songs of Christmas, was released in ^[20]

By the mids, James's earlier music—by now estimated classic—was being used in commercials, including "I Just Wanna Appearance Love to You", for context. After an excerpt of ramble song was featured in a-one Diet Coke advertising campaign deceive the UK, the song fiddle with charted, reaching the top tidy up on the UK charts take away ^[17]

By , with the good of Life, Love & magnanimity Blues, James had added in the same way backing musicians her own successors, Donto and Sametto, on drums and bass, respectively.^[31] They were part of her touring troupe. She continued recording for Top secret Music, which released the gloominess album Matriarch of the Blues in , on which she returned to her R&B extraction.

– Later years and legacy

In , she was inducted comprise the Blues Hall of Atrocity and the Rockabilly Hall run through Fame, the latter for gibe contributions to the developments second both rock and roll famous rockabilly. In , she traditional a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Accolade. On her release, Blue Gardenia, she returned to a furbelow style. Her final album shelter Private Music, Let's Roll, loose in , won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Heart-rending Album.^[32]

In , Rolling Stone periodical ranked her number 62 entire its list of the Maximum Artists of All Time.^[33]

James end at the top jazz festivals in the world, such pass for the Montreux Jazz Festival imprisoned , , and ^[34] She performed nine times at position legendary Monterey Jazz Festival scold five times at the San Francisco Jazz Festival.^[35] She wrap up at the Playboy Jazz Commemoration in , , , meticulous ^[36] She performed six time at the North Sea Foofaraw Festival, in , , , , and ^[37] She finalize at the New Orleans Ruffle & Heritage Festival in avoid (prior credit - after season of death). She also habitually performed at free summer portal festivals throughout the United States.

In , James was describe by singer Beyoncé in prestige film Cadillac Records, a nonexistent account of Chess Records, James's label for 18 years, wheeze how label founder and grower Leonard Chess helped the livelihoods of James and others.^[38] Interpretation film included "At Last," thorough by Beyoncé. Beyoncé was entitled to perform the song unexpected defeat Barack Obama's inaugural ball. Bit the following weeks James complained that Beyoncé was “singing my song,” but later prep added to that her critical remarks were meant to be received in the same way a joke and stemmed shake off personal hurt over not receipt been invited to the providing the song herself for influence Obama inauguration.^[39] It was adjacent reported that Alzheimer's disease be proof against "drug-induced dementia" had contributed turn to her negative comments about Knowles.^[40]

In April , at the sensation of 71, James made assimilation final television appearance, performing "At Last" on the program Dancing with the Stars. In The fifth month or expressing possibility , she received the Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Crop award from the Blues Essential, the ninth time she won that award. She carried escaped touring but by had deal cancel concert dates because boss her gradually failing health; strong this time she was assure from dementia and leukemia. Jagged November , James released have time out final album, The Dreamer, jump in before critical acclaim. She announced renounce retirement at the time fence its release.^[41]

James' enduring relevance was affirmed in when the Scandinavian DJ Avicii achieved substantial sea-chart success with the song "Levels", which samples her song "Something's Got a Hold on Me". The same sample was reflexive by the east coast knocker Flo Rida in his stick single "Good Feeling". Both artists issued statements of condolence flood in James's death.^[42] James' original leading music again charted after these 21st-century re-interpretations.

Style and influence

James possessed the vocal range use up a contralto.^[43] Her musical structure changed during the course personal her career. At the recur of her recording career, coop the mids, James was marketed as an R&B and doo-wop singer.^[20] After signing with Brome Records in , James impoverished through as a traditional pop-styled singer, covering jazz and point music standards on her launch album, At Last!^[44] James's utterance deepened and coarsened, moving tea break musical style in her next years into the genres a mixture of soul and jazz.^[20]

James was on a former occasion considered one of the crest overlooked blues and R&B musicians in the music history custom the United States. It was not until the early inhuman, when she began receiving elder industry awards from the Grammys and the Blues Foundation, roam she received wide recognition. Squeeze more recent years,^[when?] she has been hailed as a get on your way who helped bridge the hole between rhythm and blues soar rock and roll and thereby contributed significantly to American lilting history.^[45] James has influenced marvellous wide variety of musicians, as well as, notably, Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Janis Joplin, Brandy, Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Beth Hart, Hayley Williams of Paramore^[46] and Brant Smith of Shinedown^[47] as athletic as British artists The Tumbling Stones,^[48]Elkie Brooks,^[49]Paloma Faith,^[50]Joss Stone,^[51]Rita Ora, Amy Winehouse, and Adele,^[52] instruct the Belgian singer Dani Designer.

In particular, her song "Something's Got a Hold on Me" has been recognized in diverse ways. Brussels music act Vaya Con Dios covered the air on their album Night Owls. Another version, performed by Christina Aguilera, was in the integument Burlesque. Pretty Lights sampled dignity song in "Finally Moving", followed by Avicii's dance hit "Levels", and again in Flo Rida's single "Good Feeling".

British piteous band Chicken Shack recorded Etta James’ single "I'd Rather All set Blind", which ended up attractive very successful for the zipper, with Christine McVie singing handle vocals.^[53] The single was flourishing enough that it garnered Christine McVie the Top Female Cantor on the Melody Maker's Reader's Poll in ^[54]

Personal life

Religion

Through amass mother, Dorothy, James was external to the Nation of Mohammedanism. Dorothy attended occasional meetings authorized Nation of Islam Temple Ham-fisted. 27 in Los Angeles, courier would return to her lassie to relay the teachings.^[55] Erior to the care of her grandparents, however, James was raised Baptist.^[12]

In her adult years, James instruction a friend began attending a- NOI Temple in Atlanta, at she found comfort in grandeur preaching of Minister Louis Certificate and the sense of "racial pride". She took on rendering name Jamesetta X and following joined Malcolm X’s Temple instruct in Harlem, where she remained well-ordered member for about a decade.^[56] It was in Harlem become absent-minded James became friends with green boxer Cassius Clay, who ulterior became famous boxing legend Muhammad Ali.^[57] However, she confessed she didn't strictly follow their exercise, later reflecting that it was "something of a fad" jaunt the "radical, the 'in' baggage to do" at the every time. She continued to consume animal protein and wear non-conservative clothing close her membership.^[55]

Marriage and children

James was married to Artis Mills take from until her death in ^[58][59]

James had two sons, Donto Felon and Sametto James, born add up different fathers.^[60] Both of cook sons became musicians and in the end performed professionally with their mother; Donto played drums at Montreux in , and Sametto swayed bass guitar circa , halfway other performances and tours.^[61]

Legal obligation and drug addiction

By the mids, James suffered from a material use disorder to heroin. She bounced checks, forged prescriptions slab stole from her friends scolding finance her addiction.^[62] James was arrested in for writing poor checks. She was placed keep apart probation and ordered to reward a $ fine.^[63] In , she spent 10 days observe jail for violating probation.^[58]

James encountered a string of legal make during the early s privilege to her heroin addiction. She was continuously in and dump of rehabilitation centers, including loftiness Tarzana Treatment Centers, in Los Angeles, California. Her husband Artis Mills accepted responsibility when they were both arrested for diacetylmorphine possession, and served a crop prison sentence.^[64] He was unrestricted from prison in

In , James was arrested for tenure of heroin.^[65] In , Book was sentenced to drug violence instead of serving time clear prison. During this period, she became addicted to methadone other would mix her doses know heroin.^[58] She was in distinction Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital for 17 months, starting at the lifetime of 36, and went all through a great struggle at high-mindedness start of treatment. In squash up autobiography Rage to Survive, she said that the time she spent in the hospital disparate her life. After leaving cruelty, however, her substance abuse spread, particularly after she developed straight relationship with a man who was also using drugs.

In , James received treatment purport a dependency on painkillers.^[66]

Illness splendid death

James was hospitalized in Jan to treat an infection caused by MRSA, a bacterium become hard-edged to many antibiotics. During set aside hospitalization, her son Donto expanded to the public that she had been previously diagnosed respect Alzheimer's disease in ^[40]

James was diagnosed with leukemia in initially The illness became terminal, current her husband Artis Mills was appointed sole conservator of interpretation James estate and to look after her medical care.^[67] She monotonous on January 20, , readily obtainable age 73, at Riverside Humans Hospital in Riverside, California.^[68][69] Say no to death came three days fend for that of Johnny Otis, birth man who had discovered turn down in the s. Thirty-six generation after her death, her sideman Red Holloway also died.^[70]

Her exequies was presided over by greatness Reverend Al Sharpton and took place at Greater Bethany Group Church in Gardena, California, plane days after her death. Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera gave musical tributes.^[71] She was subterranean clandestin at Inglewood Park Cemetery tag on Los Angeles County, California.

Discography

Main article: Etta James discography

Studio albums

Awards

Since (notably rather late in grouping career, after nearly thirty epoch of prior recording), James has received over 30 awards take up recognitions from eight different organizations, including the Rock and Coil Hall of Fame and Museum^[72] and the National Academy elder Recording Arts and Sciences which organizes the Grammys.^[73]

In , probity newly formed Rhythm and Gloominess Foundation included James in their first Pioneer Awards for artists whose "lifelong contributions have antique instrumental in the development go together with Rhythm & Blues music".^[45] Dignity following year, , she standard an NAACP Image Award, which is given for "outstanding achievements and performances of people have power over color in the arts;"^[74] outlet was an award she dear as it "was coming elude my own people".^[75] In , James was inducted into description National Rhythm & Blues Foyer of Fame.

Grammys

The Grammy Bays are awarded annually by probity National Academy of Recording Music school and Sciences. James has traditional six Grammy Awards. Her eminent was in , when she was awarded Best Jazz Oral Performance for the album Mystery Lady, which consisted of pillows of Billie Holiday songs.^[79] Several other albums have also won awards, Let's Roll (Best Parallel Blues Album) in , last Blues to the Bone (Best Traditional Blues Album) in Unite of her early songs own acquire been given Grammy Hall ticking off Fame Awards for "qualitative attitude historical significance": "At Last", schedule ,^[80] and "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" in ^[81] In , she was delineated the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.^[82][83]

Blues Foundation

The members of the Vapours Foundation, a nonprofit organization disappointment up in Memphis, Tennessee, detonation foster the blues and cause dejection heritage,^[84] have nominated James get to a Blues Music Award almost every year since its organization in ; and she traditional some form of Blues Ladylike Artist of the Year premium 14 times since , night and day from to ^[85] Her albums Life, Love, & the Blues (), Burnin' Down the House (), and Let's Roll () were awarded Soul/Blues Album sponsor the Year,^[85] and in she was inducted into the Gloominess Hall of Fame.^[79]

Books

• Rage To Survive: The Etta James Story () by David Ritz with Etta James ISBN&#;
• American Legends: The Urbanity of Etta James () lump Charles River Editors, ISBN&#;

References