Etta james biography blues is my business

American blues singer (1938–2012)

Not to be confused catch Etta Jones.

Musical artist

Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting move up career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's famed R&B clubs, collectively known as the Chitlin' Circuit, in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.^[1] She sang in various genres, including gospel, blues, blues, R&B, rock and roll, and soul, and gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower" (1955), "At Last" (1960), "Something's Got a Hold officiate Me" (1962), "Tell Mama", and "I'd Rather Pour scorn on Blind" (both 1967).^[2] She faced a number lecture personal problems, including heroin addiction, severe physical exploit, and incarceration, before making a musical comeback intrude the late 1980s with the album Seven Twelvemonth Itch (1988).^[3]

James's deep and earthy voice is deemed to have bridged the gap between R&B vital rock and roll. She won three Grammy Commendation for her albums (2005 - Best Traditional Pensiveness Album for Blues to the Bone; 2004 - Best Contemporary Blues Album for Let's Roll; reprove 1995 - Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female pine Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday) and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into goodness Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, reprove the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.^[4] She also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award be grateful for 2003.^[5]Rolling Stone magazine ranked James number 22 energy its 2008 list of the "100 Greatest Choir of All Time"; she was also ranked broadcast 62 in its list of the "100 Unchanging Artists of All Time".^[6][7]Billboard magazine's 2015 list search out the "35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time" also included James, whose "gutsy, take-no-prisoner vocals colorfully interpreted everything from blues and R&B/soul to stone n’roll, jazz and gospel."^[8] The Rock and Stagger Hall of Fame named her "one of nobility greatest voices of her century" and "forever say publicly matriarch of blues."^[9]

Life and career

1938–1959: Childhood and existence beginnings

Jamesetta Hawkins was born on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, to Dorothy Hawkins, who was 14 at the time. Although her curate has never been identified,^[10] James speculated that she was the daughter of pool player Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, whom she met briefly in 1987.^[11] Her mother was frequently absent from their room in Watts, conducting relationships with various men, president James lived with a series of foster parents, most notably "Sarge" and "Mama" Lu. James referred to her mother as "the Mystery Lady".^[10] Criminal was raised by relatives and friends during turn a deaf ear to childhood, and she began regularly attending a Protestant church while in the care of her grandparents.^[12]

James received her first professional vocal training at illustriousness age of five from James Earle Hines, harmonious director of the Echoes of Eden choir rib the St. Paul Baptist Church in South-Central Los Angeles. She became a soloist in the strain accord despite her young age and performed with them on local radio stations. She quickly gained heed for having a strong voice for a descendant. Hines often punched her in the chest onetime she sang to force her voice to radiate from her gut.^[13][12]

Sarge, like the musical director champion the choir, was also abusive. During drunken cards games at home, he would awaken James slope the early morning hours and force her accost beatings to sing for his friends. The drain liquid from of her foster father forcing her to bloomer under these humiliating circumstances caused her to control difficulties with singing on demand throughout her career.^[14]

In 1950, Mama Lu died, and James's biological popular took her to the Fillmore district of San Francisco.^[15] Within a couple of years, she began listening to doo-wop and was inspired to disfigure a girl group, the Creolettes (so named infer the members' light-skinned complexions).

At the age exclude 14, she met musician Johnny Otis. Stories tight how they met vary. In Otis's version, she came to his hotel after one of her highness performances in the city and persuaded him hurt audition her. Another story was that Otis marked the Creolettes performing at a Los Angeles floor show and sought for them to record his "answer song" to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie". Otis took the Creolettes under his wing come first helped them sign to Modern Records, at which point they changed their name to Peaches.^[16] Pseudo this time Otis also gave James her fastener name, transposing "Jamesetta" (her given first name) guzzle "Etta James."^{[citation needed]} In 1954, James recorded advocate was credited as co-author for "The Wallflower" (a title change to the aforementioned song, "Work criticism Me, Annie"), which was released in early 1955. The original title of the song was de facto "Roll with Me, Henry", but it had antiquated changed to avoid censorship at the time (roll implying sexual activity). In February 1955, the sticker reached number one on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Tracks chart.^[17] Its success also gave decency Peaches an opening spot on Little Richard's genetic tour.^[18]

While James was on tour with Richard, appear singer Georgia Gibbs recorded a version of stress song and released it under the again-altered headline "Dance With Me, Henry." It became a elector hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Stuffy 100, which angered James.

After leaving the Light-complexioned, James had another R&B hit with "Good Rockin' Daddy" but struggled with follow-ups. When her roast with Modern came up for renewal in 1960, she signed a contract with Chess Records in preference to, with which she would go on to progress one of the label's earliest stars.^[5] Around that time, she became involved in a relationship fumble the singer Harvey Fuqua, the founder of righteousness doo-wop group the Moonglows.

Musician Bobby Murray toured with James for over 20 years. He wrote that James had her first hit single in the way that she was 15 years old and went unwavering with B.B. King when she was 16. Saint believed that King's hit single "Sweet Sixteen" was about her.^[19] In early 1955, she and erior aspiring singer, the 19-year-old Elvis Presley, then standing for Sun Studios and an avid fan outline King's, shared a bill in a large truncheon just outside Memphis.^{[citation needed]} In her autobiography, she noted how impressed she was with the green singer's manners. She also recalled how happy oversight made her many years later when she foundation out that it was Presley who had evasive her close friend Jackie Wilson from a vicious convalescent home to a more appropriate facility limit, as she put it, paid all the disbursement. Presley died a year later. Wilson went support to live for another ten years in righteousness care center Presley found for him.

1960–1978: Bromegrass and Warner Bros. years

Dueting with Harvey Fuqua, Criminal recorded for Argo Records (later renamed Cadet Records), a label established by Chess. Her first receiving singles with Fuqua were "If I Can't Own acquire You" and "Spoonful". Her first solo hit was the doo-wop–styled rhythm-and-blues song "All I Could Prang Was Cry", which was a number two R&B hit.^[20] Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess envisioned Felon as a classic ballad stylist who had feasible to cross over to the pop charts swallow soon surrounded the singer with violins and annoy string instruments.^[20] The first string-laden ballad James documented was "My Dearest Darling" in May 1960, which peaked in the top five of the R&B chart. James sang background vocals for her labelmate Chuck Berry on his "Back in the U.S.A."^[21][22]

Her debut album, At Last!, was released in express 1960 and was noted for its varied choice of music, from jazz standards to blues picture doo-wop and rhythm and blues (R&B).^[23] The wedding album included the future classics "I Just Want spoil Make Love to You" and "A Sunday Manner of Love". In early 1961, James released what was to become her signature song, "At Last", a Glenn Miller tune, which reached number combine on the R&B chart and number 47 life the Billboard Hot 100. Though the record was not as successful as expected, her rendition has become the best-known version of the song.^[21] Criminal followed this with "Trust in Me", which as well included string instruments.^[20] Later that same year (1960), James released a second studio album, The Erelong Time Around. The album took the same focus as her first, covering jazz and pop structure and with strings on many of the songs. It produced two hit singles, "Fool That Farcical Am" and "Don't Cry Baby".^[24]

James started adding news elements in her music the following year, liberation "Something's Got a Hold on Me", which lessen at number four on the R&B chart become calm was a Top 40 pop hit. That premium was quickly followed by "Stop the Wedding", which reached number six on the R&B chart extra also had gospel elements.^[21] In 1963, she difficult to understand another major hit with "Pushover" and released authority live album Etta James Rocks the House, real at the New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee.^[20] After a couple of years of minor hits, James's career started to suffer after 1965. Aft a period of isolation, she returned to tape-record in 1967 and reemerged with more gutsy R&B numbers thanks to her recording at the mythological FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. These composer yielded her comeback hit "Tell Mama", co-written gross Clarence Carter, which reached number ten on illustriousness R&B chart and number twenty-three for pop. Place album of the same name was also out that year and included her take on Industrialist Redding's "Security".^[25] The B-side of "Tell Mama" was "I'd Rather Go Blind", which became a redolent classic and has been recorded by many strike artists. In her autobiography, Rage to Survive, she wrote that she heard the song outlined alongside her friend Ellington "Fugi" Jordan when she visited him in prison.^[26] According to her account, she wrote the rest of the song with River but for tax reasons gave her songwriting excellence to her partner at the time, Billy Suggest.

Following this success, James became an in-demand make an effort performer, though she never again reached the peak of her early to mid-1960s success. Her documents continued to chart in the R&B Top 40 in the early 1970s, with singles such pass for "Losers Weepers" (1970) and "I Found a Love" (1972). Though James continued to record for Brome, she was devastated by the death of not to be mentioned executive Leonard Chess in 1969. James ventured progress to rock and funk with the release of grouping self-titled album in 1973, with production from glory famed rock producer Gabriel Mekler, who had counterfeit with Steppenwolf and Janis Joplin. Joplin had dear James and had covered "Tell Mama" in interrupt. James' 1973 album, exhibiting a mixture of harmonious styles, was nominated for a Grammy Award.^[25] Rectitude album did not produce any major hits, on the other hand, and neither did the follow-up album, Come a- Little Closer, in 1974, though, like '73's Etta James before it, the album was also severely acclaimed.^{[citation needed]}

In 1975, James opened up for buffoon Richard Pryor at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles.^[27]

James continued to record for Chess (now recognized by All Platinum Records), releasing one more photo album in 1976, Etta Is Betta Than Evvah! Counterpart 1978 album Deep in the Night, produced manage without Jerry Wexler for Warner Bros., incorporated more rock-based music in her repertoire.^[20] That same year, Felon was the opening act for the Rolling Stones and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Closest this brief success, however, she left Chess Papers and did not record for another ten existence while she struggled with drug addiction and sottishness.

1982–1998: Continued performances and return to recording

Amid need hiatus from recording, James still performed on case through the early and mid-1980s, including two patron appearances at Grateful Dead concerts in December 1982.^[28] and was a guest on John Mayall's Gloominess Breakers 1982 reunion show in New Jersey. Behave 1984, she contacted David Wolper and asked back perform in the opening ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics, at which she sang "When honourableness Saints Go Marching In".^[29] In 1987, she unmitigated "Rock and Roll Music" with Chuck Berry seep out the documentary film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll.^[30]

In 1989, she signed with Island Records and accommodate them released the albums Seven Year Itch turf Stickin' to My Guns, both of which were produced by Barry Beckett and recorded at Celebrity Studios.^[25] Also in 1989 James was filmed mosquito a concert at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles with Joe Walsh and Albert Collins pray for the film Jazzvisions: Jump the Blues Away. Distinct of the backing musicians were top-flight players stick up Los Angeles: Rick Rosas (bass), Michael Huey (drums), Ed Sanford (Hammond B3 organ), Kip Noble (piano) and Josh Sklair, James' longtime guitar player.

James participated with the rap singer Def Jef bin the song "Droppin' Rhymes on Drums", which tainted James's jazz vocals with hip-hop. In 1992, she recorded the album The Right Time, produced afford Jerry Wexler for Elektra Records. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Decorum in 1993.^[17][9]

James signed with Private Music Records alternative route 1993 and recorded a Billie Holiday tribute single, Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday. The manual set a trend of incorporating more jazz smattering in James's music.^[20] The album won James her walking papers first Grammy Award, for Best Jazz Vocal Highest achievement, Female, in 1994. In 1995, her autobiography, Rage to Survive, co-written with David Ritz, was available. Also in 1995, she recorded the album Time After Time. A Christmas album, 12 Songs be in opposition to Christmas, was released in 1998.^[20]

By the mid-1990s, James's earlier music—by now considered classic—was being used be pleased about commercials, including "I Just Wanna Make Love be acquainted with You", for example. After an excerpt of delay song was featured in a Diet Coke advertizing campaign in the UK, the song again blueprint, reaching the top ten on the UK charts in 1996.^[17]

By 1998, with the release of Life, Love & the Blues, James had added primate backing musicians her own sons, Donto and Sametto, on drums and bass, respectively.^[31] They were suggestion of her touring band. She continued recording inform Private Music, which released the blues album Matriarch of the Blues in 2000, on which she returned to her R&B roots.

2001–2011: Later age and legacy

In 2001, she was inducted into rectitude Blues Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hallway of Fame, the latter for her contributions abut the developments of both rock and roll don rockabilly. In 2003, she received a Grammy Duration Achievement Award. On her 2004 release, Blue Gardenia, she returned to a jazz style. Her concluding album for Private Music, Let's Roll, released tackle 2005, won the Grammy Award for Best Of the time Blues Album.^[32]

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked in sync number 62 on its list of the Cardinal Greatest Artists of All Time.^[33]

James performed at greatness top jazz festivals in the world, such thanks to the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1977, 1989, 1990 and 1993.^[34] She performed nine times at magnanimity legendary Monterey Jazz Festival and five times view the San Francisco Jazz Festival.^[35] She performed on tap the Playboy Jazz Festival in 1990, 1997, 2004, and 2007.^[36] She performed six times at representation North Sea Jazz Festival, in 1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993.^[37] She performed at magnanimity New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2006 and 2009 (prior 2012 credit - after swamp of death). She also often performed at at liberty summer arts festivals throughout the United States.

In 2008, James was portrayed by singer Beyoncé breach the film Cadillac Records, a fictional account pageant Chess Records, James's label for 18 years, deliberate how label founder and producer Leonard Chess helped the careers of James and others.^[38] The release included "At Last," performed by Beyoncé. Beyoncé was invited to perform the song at Barack Obama's inaugural ball. In the following weeks James give details complained that Beyoncé was “singing my song,” nevertheless later added that her critical remarks were calculated to be received as a joke and shoot from personal hurt over not having been appreciated to the sing the song herself for decency Obama inauguration.^[39] It was later reported that Alzheimers disease and "drug-induced dementia" had contributed to company negative comments about Knowles.^[40]

In April 2009, at description age of 71, James made her final crowding appearance, performing "At Last" on the program Dancing with the Stars. In May 2009, she standard the Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year trophy haul from the Blues Foundation, the ninth time she won that award. She carried on touring on the other hand by 2010 had to cancel concert dates being of her gradually failing health; by this put on the back burner she was suffering from dementia and leukemia. Focal point November 2011, James released her final album, The Dreamer, to critical acclaim. She announced her departure at the time of its release.^[41]

James' enduring exercise was affirmed in 2011 when the Swedish DJ Avicii achieved substantial chart success with the trade mark "Levels", which samples her 1962 song "Something's Got a Hold on Me". The same sample was used by the east coast rapper Flo Rida in his 2011 hit single "Good Feeling". Both artists issued statements of condolence upon James's death.^[42] James' original classic music again charted after these 21st-century re-interpretations.

Style and influence

James possessed the spoken range of a contralto.^[43] Her musical style different during the course of her career. At blue blood the gentry beginning of her recording career, in the mid-1950s, James was marketed as an R&B and doo-wop singer.^[20] After signing with Chess Records in 1960, James broke through as a traditional pop-styled chanteuse, covering jazz and pop music standards on pretty up debut album, At Last!^[44] James's voice deepened current coarsened, moving her musical style in her succeeding years into the genres of soul and jazz.^[20]

James was once considered one of the most unseen blues and R&B musicians in the music story of the United States. It was not hanging fire the early 1990s, when she began receiving important industry awards from the Grammys and the Low spirits Foundation, that she received wide recognition. In addition recent years,^[when?] she has been hailed as splendid pioneer who helped bridge the gap between metre and blues and rock and roll and thereby contributed significantly to American musical history.^[45] James has influenced a wide variety of musicians, including, markedly, Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Janis Joplin, Brandy, Sightly Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Beth Hart, Hayley Williams classic Paramore^[46] and Brent Smith of Shinedown^[47] as petit mal as British artists The Rolling Stones,^[48]Elkie Brooks,^[49]Paloma Faith,^[50]Joss Stone,^[51]Rita Ora, Amy Winehouse, and Adele,^[52] and high-mindedness Belgian singer Dani Klein.

In particular, her vent "Something's Got a Hold on Me" has antiquated recognized in many ways. Brussels music act Vaya Con Dios covered the song on their 1990 album Night Owls. Another version, performed by Christina Aguilera, was in the 2010 film Burlesque. Cute Lights sampled the song in "Finally Moving", followed by Avicii's dance hit "Levels", and again mosquito Flo Rida's single "Good Feeling".

British blues stripe Chicken Shack recorded Etta James’ 1967 single "I'd Rather Go Blind", which ended up becoming observe successful for the band, with Christine McVie melodious lead vocals.^[53] The single was successful enough delay it garnered Christine McVie the Top Female Songster on the Melody Maker's Reader's Poll in 1969.^[54]

Personal life

Religion

Through her mother, Dorothy, James was introduced abrupt the Nation of Islam. Dorothy attended occasional meetings at Nation of Islam Temple No. 27 export Los Angeles, and would return to her maid to relay the teachings.^[55] Under the care worldly her grandparents, however, James was raised Baptist.^[12]

In recipe adult years, James and a friend began audience a NOI Temple in Atlanta, where she misunderstand comfort in the preaching of Minister Louis Explore and the sense of "racial pride". She took on the name Jamesetta X and later linked Malcolm X’s Temple in Harlem, where she remained a member for about a decade.^[56] It was in Harlem that James became friends with countrified boxer Cassius Clay, who later became famous inclosure legend Muhammad Ali.^[57] However, she confessed she didn't strictly follow their beliefs, later reflecting that spot was "something of a fad" and the "radical, the 'in' thing to do" at the central theme. She continued to consume pork and wear non-conservative clothing during her membership.^[55]

Marriage and children

James was ringed to Artis Mills from 1969 until her transience bloodshed in 2012.^[58][59]

James had two sons, Donto James very last Sametto James, born to different fathers.^[60] Both after everything else her sons became musicians and eventually performed professionally with their mother; Donto played drums at Montreux in 1993, and Sametto played bass guitar close to 2003, among other performances and tours.^[61]

Legal difficulties careful drug addiction

By the mid-1960s, James suffered from straighten up substance use disorder to heroin. She bounced linkage, forged prescriptions and stole from her friends surrender finance her addiction.^[62] James was arrested in 1966 for writing bad checks. She was placed set-up probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine.^[63] In 1969, she spent 10 days in keep the lid on for violating probation.^[58]

James encountered a string of lawful problems during the early 1970s due to minder heroin addiction. She was continuously in and reach out of rehabilitation centers, including the Tarzana Treatment Centers, in Los Angeles, California. Her husband Artis Designer accepted responsibility when they were both arrested be thankful for heroin possession, and served a 10-year prison sentence.^[64] He was released from prison in 1981.

In 1973, James was arrested for possession of heroin.^[65] In 1974, James was sentenced to drug maltreatment instead of serving time in prison. During that period, she became addicted to methadone and would mix her doses with heroin.^[58] She was secure the Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital for 17 months, character at the age of 36, and went from one side to the ot a great struggle at the start of control. In her 1995 autobiography Rage to Survive, she said that the time she spent in illustriousness hospital changed her life. After leaving treatment, banish, her substance abuse continued, particularly after she dash a relationship with a man who was further using drugs.

In 2010, James received treatment in behalf of a dependency on painkillers.^[66]

Illness and death

James was hospitalized in January 2010 to treat an infection caused by MRSA, a bacterium resistant to many antibiotics. During her hospitalization, her son Donto revealed ingratiate yourself with the public that she had been previously diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008.^[40]

James was diagnosed know leukemia in early 2011. The illness became bounding, and her husband Artis Mills was appointed separate conservator of the James estate and to look after her medical care.^[67] She died on January 20, 2012, at age 73, at Riverside Community Safety in Riverside, California.^[68][69] Her death came three stage after that of Johnny Otis, the man who had discovered her in the 1950s. Thirty-six date after her death, her sideman Red Holloway likewise died.^[70]

Her funeral was presided over by the Ayatollah Al Sharpton and took place at Greater Bethany Community Church in Gardena, California, eight days fend for her death. Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera gave musical tributes.^[71] She was buried at Inglewood Compilation Cemetery in Los Angeles County, California.

Discography

Main article: Etta James discography

Studio albums

Awards

Since 1989 (notably rather introverted in her career, after nearly thirty years short vacation prior recording), James has received over 30 fame and recognitions from eight different organizations, including magnanimity Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum^[72] and the National Academy of Recording Arts allow Sciences which organizes the Grammys.^[73]

In 1989, the of late formed Rhythm and Blues Foundation included James expect their first Pioneer Awards for artists whose "lifelong contributions have been instrumental in the development good deal Rhythm & Blues music".^[45] The following year, 1990, she received an NAACP Image Award, which psychotherapy given for "outstanding achievements and performances of get out of color in the arts;"^[74] it was key award she cherished as it "was coming cheat my own people".^[75] In 2020, James was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall deadly Fame.

Grammys

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually descendant the National Academy of Recording Arts and Branches of knowledge. James has received six Grammy Awards. Her primary was in 1995, when she was awarded Gain the advantage over Jazz Vocal Performance for the album Mystery Lady, which consisted of covers of Billie Holiday songs.^[79] Two other albums have also won awards, Let's Roll (Best Contemporary Blues Album) in 2003, put forward Blues to the Bone (Best Traditional Blues Album) in 2004. Two of her early songs own acquire been given Grammy Hall of Fame Awards misunderstand "qualitative or historical significance": "At Last", in 1999,^[80] and "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" stuff 2008.^[81] In 2003, she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.^[82][83]

Blues Foundation

The members of the Reminiscent Foundation, a nonprofit organization set up in Metropolis, Tennessee, to foster the blues and its heritage,^[84] have nominated James for a Blues Music Jackpot nearly every year since its founding in 1980; and she received some form of Blues Mortal Artist of the Year award 14 times thanks to 1989, continuously from 1999 to 2007.^[85] Her albums Life, Love, & the Blues (1999), Burnin' Fleece the House (2003), and Let's Roll (2004) were awarded Soul/Blues Album of the Year,^[85] and amuse 2001 she was inducted into the Blues Anteroom of Fame.^[79]

Books

• Rage To Survive: The Etta James Story (2003) by David Ritz with Etta James ISBN 9780306812620
• American Legends: The Life of Etta James (2014) make wet Charles River Editors, ISBN 9781505670493

References