Post by Rob Durkee on Jan 20, 2012 14:18:05 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Etta James, the legendary pop and soul singer who was most famous for the 1961 ballad "At Last," died today (January 20, 2012). She was 73. According to the Associated Press, James died at Riverside, California, Community Hospital with her husband and two sons at her side. She had been suffering from numerous health woes over the years, including leukemia, dementia, heroin addiction, kidney problems and being overweight. She fought all these ailments and once shed 200 pounds.
Sources differ as to her name at birth. Some say she was born Etta James Hawkins but most sources indicate she was born Jamesette/Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles. Thus, she passed away five days before turning 74. Last July 4, she was the subject of a death hoax. One web site reported her passing away but the story was quickly labeled as untrue.
Sources disagree as to whom James was raised by. The Etta James Chess Box set booklet said she was raised by her grandparents. Other sources say she was raised by Lula and Jessie Rogers, who owned the rooming house where Etta's mother once lived. Her mom, Dorothy Hawkins, was only 14 at the time of Etta's birth and was later described as a scam artist and a substance abuser. Etta never knew her father. It was rumored that he was the legendary billiards player, Minnesota Fats, but he never confirmed or denied it. When he once met Etta, Minnesota Fats reportedly said, "I don't remember everything. I wish I did, but I don't."
Etta's church choir singing led her to being discovered singing with a group on a San Francisco street corner by Johnny Otis, who, sadly, died at the age of 90 three days earlier. Otis, who was successful as the producer for the 1953 original version of "Hound Dog" by Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton, likewise tuned James into a pop and soul icon with one early rock and roll song in 1955. "At the time," James told the Associated Press in 1987, "Hank Ballard (also discovered by Otis) had a hit song called 'Work With Me Annie' and we decided to do an answer song. We didn't think we could get into show business. We were just running around making up answers to songs."
"Roll With Me Henry" was the original title of the song although it was changed to "The Wallflower" because it sounded much less suggestive and less offensive. Sadly, rock and roll music's early years included many songs being released by black artists, only to be covered by white artists who'd go on to have the major hit. This was the case of James' song, as "Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)" became a #3 pop hit for Georgia Gibbs on the Cash Box chart. James' version, meanwhile, totally missed the Cash Box pop chart although her version was a major Top 5 hit on at least one nationally recognized R&B chart. Suffice to say that James had to forge her guardian's signature to get permission to record "The Wallflower." On the form, she claimed she was 18 but was probably more like 16 years old going on 17.
Although she had another R&B hit with "Good Rockin' Daddy" in late 1955, it would take James roughly five years to solidly establish herself. From the mid- to late 1950's, she toured with a number of popular singers, including Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Bobby Vinton and Little Richard. However, it was her touring with the Moonglows of 1954's "Sincerely" fame that led to her next big break.
Together in February, 1959, the Moonglows and Etta provided background vocals for two Chuck Berry songs, "Almost Grown" and "Back In the U.S.A." Those sessions led to Chess Records buying James contract from Modern Records.
The result of that signing was 27 Cash Box pop chart singles for James from 1960-73. She had hits not only with Chess Records, but also the Argo and Cadet labels. It's believed Etta James still holds the record for the most Top 40 hits without a Top 10 among solo women with 10.
"All I Could Do Was Cry" was Etta James' breakthrough pop hit, peaking at #23 on the Cash Box chart in early 1960 plus reaching #2 on one prominent R&B chart.
Four single releases later came her signature song. Ironically, "At Last" was by far her most famous song even though it only reached #30 on the Cash Box pop chart in early 1961. The song was already 20 years old at the time. It was introduced by big band leader Glenn Miller with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday in two 1941 movies, "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Orchestra Wives." The song would make the soundtrack of at least five other movies, "North By Northwest," "The Wedding"," "American Pie," "Cadillac Records" and "Rain Man."
"At Last" has endured over the years. According to Wikipedia, the song's been record by nearly 50 other artists, including Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole, Brenda Lee, Eva Cassidy, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Liza Minnelli and Aretha Franklin.
In one report, CBS Radio news said a man once noticed Etta James at an airport, went up to her and asked that she sing the song at his wedding. In 2008, R&B star Beyonce Knowles portrayed James in the movie "Cadillac Records" and sang the song in the soundtrack. Knowles would go on to serenade the Obamas with the song at the January 20, 2009 inauguration ball celebrating the USA's first black President. James, however, was quite hurt that she wasn't asked to perform the song instead. Not long after inauguration day, a video clip surfaced showing James saying that she couldn't stand Beyonce and that Beyonce "had no business singing my song." After the clip surfaced, James insisted what she said was merely joking.
Highlighting Etta James' other hits is next to impossible because there's so many of them. Among this writer's favorites were the 1960 duet with Harvey Fuqua, "If I Can't Have You," where the label said it was sung by Etta and Harvey. Plus, there was perhaps her rockingest song ever, 1967's "Tell Mama," a song which Clarence Carter wrote and originally recorded as "Tell Daddy."
Likewise, mentioning all the honors bestowed upon Etta James are endless but here's the more notable ones: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (1993), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a special Lifetime Achievement Grammy (2003), six Grammy Awards; 17 Blues Music Awards; singing the national anthem at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games; and author of the 1995 autobiography, "Rage To Survive."
In announcing her passing, her husband, De Leon said, "This is a tremendous loss for her fans around the world. She was a great American singer who'll be missed."
Looking back on her life and career, Etta James noted, "My mom always wanted me to be a jazz singer, but I wanted to be raunchy. The bad girls...had the look that I liked. I wanted to be rare. I wanted to noticed. I wanted to be as exotic as a Cotton Club chorus girl. And I wanted to be obvious as the most flamboyant hooker on the street corner. I just wanted to be."
Etta James, the legendary pop and soul singer who was most famous for the 1961 ballad "At Last," died today (January 20, 2012). She was 73. According to the Associated Press, James died at Riverside, California, Community Hospital with her husband and two sons at her side. She had been suffering from numerous health woes over the years, including leukemia, dementia, heroin addiction, kidney problems and being overweight. She fought all these ailments and once shed 200 pounds.
Sources differ as to her name at birth. Some say she was born Etta James Hawkins but most sources indicate she was born Jamesette/Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles. Thus, she passed away five days before turning 74. Last July 4, she was the subject of a death hoax. One web site reported her passing away but the story was quickly labeled as untrue.
Sources disagree as to whom James was raised by. The Etta James Chess Box set booklet said she was raised by her grandparents. Other sources say she was raised by Lula and Jessie Rogers, who owned the rooming house where Etta's mother once lived. Her mom, Dorothy Hawkins, was only 14 at the time of Etta's birth and was later described as a scam artist and a substance abuser. Etta never knew her father. It was rumored that he was the legendary billiards player, Minnesota Fats, but he never confirmed or denied it. When he once met Etta, Minnesota Fats reportedly said, "I don't remember everything. I wish I did, but I don't."
Etta's church choir singing led her to being discovered singing with a group on a San Francisco street corner by Johnny Otis, who, sadly, died at the age of 90 three days earlier. Otis, who was successful as the producer for the 1953 original version of "Hound Dog" by Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton, likewise tuned James into a pop and soul icon with one early rock and roll song in 1955. "At the time," James told the Associated Press in 1987, "Hank Ballard (also discovered by Otis) had a hit song called 'Work With Me Annie' and we decided to do an answer song. We didn't think we could get into show business. We were just running around making up answers to songs."
"Roll With Me Henry" was the original title of the song although it was changed to "The Wallflower" because it sounded much less suggestive and less offensive. Sadly, rock and roll music's early years included many songs being released by black artists, only to be covered by white artists who'd go on to have the major hit. This was the case of James' song, as "Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)" became a #3 pop hit for Georgia Gibbs on the Cash Box chart. James' version, meanwhile, totally missed the Cash Box pop chart although her version was a major Top 5 hit on at least one nationally recognized R&B chart. Suffice to say that James had to forge her guardian's signature to get permission to record "The Wallflower." On the form, she claimed she was 18 but was probably more like 16 years old going on 17.
Although she had another R&B hit with "Good Rockin' Daddy" in late 1955, it would take James roughly five years to solidly establish herself. From the mid- to late 1950's, she toured with a number of popular singers, including Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Gene Vincent, Bobby Vinton and Little Richard. However, it was her touring with the Moonglows of 1954's "Sincerely" fame that led to her next big break.
Together in February, 1959, the Moonglows and Etta provided background vocals for two Chuck Berry songs, "Almost Grown" and "Back In the U.S.A." Those sessions led to Chess Records buying James contract from Modern Records.
The result of that signing was 27 Cash Box pop chart singles for James from 1960-73. She had hits not only with Chess Records, but also the Argo and Cadet labels. It's believed Etta James still holds the record for the most Top 40 hits without a Top 10 among solo women with 10.
"All I Could Do Was Cry" was Etta James' breakthrough pop hit, peaking at #23 on the Cash Box chart in early 1960 plus reaching #2 on one prominent R&B chart.
Four single releases later came her signature song. Ironically, "At Last" was by far her most famous song even though it only reached #30 on the Cash Box pop chart in early 1961. The song was already 20 years old at the time. It was introduced by big band leader Glenn Miller with vocals by Ray Eberle and Pat Friday in two 1941 movies, "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Orchestra Wives." The song would make the soundtrack of at least five other movies, "North By Northwest," "The Wedding"," "American Pie," "Cadillac Records" and "Rain Man."
"At Last" has endured over the years. According to Wikipedia, the song's been record by nearly 50 other artists, including Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole, Brenda Lee, Eva Cassidy, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Liza Minnelli and Aretha Franklin.
In one report, CBS Radio news said a man once noticed Etta James at an airport, went up to her and asked that she sing the song at his wedding. In 2008, R&B star Beyonce Knowles portrayed James in the movie "Cadillac Records" and sang the song in the soundtrack. Knowles would go on to serenade the Obamas with the song at the January 20, 2009 inauguration ball celebrating the USA's first black President. James, however, was quite hurt that she wasn't asked to perform the song instead. Not long after inauguration day, a video clip surfaced showing James saying that she couldn't stand Beyonce and that Beyonce "had no business singing my song." After the clip surfaced, James insisted what she said was merely joking.
Highlighting Etta James' other hits is next to impossible because there's so many of them. Among this writer's favorites were the 1960 duet with Harvey Fuqua, "If I Can't Have You," where the label said it was sung by Etta and Harvey. Plus, there was perhaps her rockingest song ever, 1967's "Tell Mama," a song which Clarence Carter wrote and originally recorded as "Tell Daddy."
Likewise, mentioning all the honors bestowed upon Etta James are endless but here's the more notable ones: The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (1993), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a special Lifetime Achievement Grammy (2003), six Grammy Awards; 17 Blues Music Awards; singing the national anthem at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games; and author of the 1995 autobiography, "Rage To Survive."
In announcing her passing, her husband, De Leon said, "This is a tremendous loss for her fans around the world. She was a great American singer who'll be missed."
Looking back on her life and career, Etta James noted, "My mom always wanted me to be a jazz singer, but I wanted to be raunchy. The bad girls...had the look that I liked. I wanted to be rare. I wanted to noticed. I wanted to be as exotic as a Cotton Club chorus girl. And I wanted to be obvious as the most flamboyant hooker on the street corner. I just wanted to be."
