What a strong, clear voice. The album At Last apparently represents Chess Records' attempt to propel Etta James into the pop mainstream. It opens on "Anything to Say You're Mine" with lush violins, but Etta's first note is full of soul. She wails this song. The next song, "My Dearest Darling", has a strong country tinge. "A Sunday Kind of Love" is pure jazz. "I Just Want to Make Love to You, " of course, could not be more bluesy, growl and all. Etta James reminds me of Ray Charles in being an accomplished and convincing performer in all styles. At Last Made #116 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Albums.
While she is often classified as an R&B singer, she is equally good at rock, blues, and jazz. In an article in Rolling Stone Bonnie Raitt wrote “ Anybody who has a bluesy side...can point to Etta James as the bridge between R&B, blues, and pop singing.”
Born Jamsetta Hawkins in Los Angeles on January 25, 1938, James began singing solos in church at the age of five. By the time she was 14, James had formed a singing group, the Creolettes, with two other girls. In 1955, when she was 17, two of her songs, recorded on the Modern Records label, become top ten R&B hits.
By the late 1950s, James' career was lagging until a lucky break brought her to Chicago. Here, she drew the attention of Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records which had been gaining recognition for recording such artists as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. With producer Jerry Wexler, James recorded a series of successful jazz and soul hits for Chess and its subsidiary Argo. James’ relationship with Chess Records and its founder is covered in the film Cadillac Records which features Beyonce in a great performance as Etta James.
James’ personal life was out of control by the time she was 21, when she became addicted to heroin. She did go on to produce Call My Name, a well-received blues album and to record “I’d Rather Go Blind" an incredible R&B ballad. In 1974, she entered a drug rehabilitation program in Los Angeles.
After this she pulled her life together and went on to tour and record, becoming recognized as an R&B legend. She received two awards from the NAACP in 1990 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2003 she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked her #62 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Early this year, 2010, Etta James at age 72 was hospitalized for sepsis following a urinary tract infection, according to her son, Donto James. She was also treated for dependence on painkillers. As of early March, the time of this writing, she is still hospitalized in Los Angeles, but hopes to eventually return to performing.
By the late 1950s, James' career was lagging until a lucky break brought her to Chicago. Here, she drew the attention of Leonard Chess, founder of Chess Records which had been gaining recognition for recording such artists as Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. With producer Jerry Wexler, James recorded a series of successful jazz and soul hits for Chess and its subsidiary Argo. James’ relationship with Chess Records and its founder is covered in the film Cadillac Records which features Beyonce in a great performance as Etta James.
James’ personal life was out of control by the time she was 21, when she became addicted to heroin. She did go on to produce Call My Name, a well-received blues album and to record “I’d Rather Go Blind" an incredible R&B ballad. In 1974, she entered a drug rehabilitation program in Los Angeles.
After this she pulled her life together and went on to tour and record, becoming recognized as an R&B legend. She received two awards from the NAACP in 1990 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2003 she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked her #62 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Early this year, 2010, Etta James at age 72 was hospitalized for sepsis following a urinary tract infection, according to her son, Donto James. She was also treated for dependence on painkillers. As of early March, the time of this writing, she is still hospitalized in Los Angeles, but hopes to eventually return to performing.
Etta James at Niles library 
Blues to the Bone Her Best
Let’s Roll Deep in the Night
Blue Gardenia Time After Time
Matriarch of the Blues Mystery Lady
At Last! Rocks the House
Heart of a Woman all in Blues & Jazz
Life, Love and the Blues
Blues to the Bone Her Best
Let’s Roll Deep in the Night
Blue Gardenia Time After Time
Matriarch of the Blues Mystery Lady
At Last! Rocks the House
Heart of a Woman all in Blues & Jazz
Life, Love and the Blues
(all selections in Blues & Jazz)
Here is Etta James performing her well known ballad, "At Last."
Sources (all online): Rolling Stone Magazine, "100 Greatest Artists of All Time"
All About Jazz, "Etta James, Vocalist"
Wikipedia, "Etta James"
Allmusic "Etta James"
Urban Mecca.com
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment