In Memoriam
Etta James
January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012 · aged 73
Blues · R&B · Soul · Jazz
Jamesetta Hawkins, famously known as Etta James, was a towering matriarch of early R&B, soul, and blues. Born in Los Angeles in 1938, she possessed a fiercely dynamic, earthy voice that could convey profound vulnerability one moment and explosive, gravelly power the next. Her 1960 ballad 'At Last' became her signature song—an incredibly romantic, sweeping orchestration that remains a staple at weddings worldwide. However, James was equally capable of gritty, gut-wrenching soul, perfectly exemplified by the raw emotion of 'I'd Rather Go Blind.' She was a pivotal figure who bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, fiercely influencing artists from Janis Joplin to Adele. Despite her immense talent, her life was marked by severe heroin addiction, legal troubles, and physical abuse. A true survivor, she ultimately overcame her demons and experienced a major career revival in her later years. She died of leukemia on January 20, 2012, just five days shy of her 74th birthday.
Milestones
At Last, I'd Rather Go Blind, Tell Mama
Also remembered in 2012
- Adam Yauch (MCA) (1964–2012)
- Davy Jones (1945–2012)
- Donna Summer (1948–2012)
- Whitney Houston (1963–2012)