Etta James
Etta James
Etta Jameswas an American singer who performed in various genres, including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind". She faced a number of personal problems, including drug addiction, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBlues Singer
Date of Birth25 January 1938
CityLos Angeles, CA
CountryUnited States of America
The music was thunder and joy. Lightning bolts of happiness and praise, foot-stomping, dance-shouting, good-feeling singing from the soul.
In some ways, it's my rage that keeps me going,
When I'm singing the blues, I'm singing life.
I don't care who's playing. Even if it's my favorite artist, I'm probably not gonna go and see him.
I like to shop, but I don't like to go out to dances.
I'm not a braggart, but when I was a little girl people used to come from all over Hollywood to hear me sing.
Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang.
To me, country music is like the blues, but it's something very hip and - I don't want to say commercial - but it's very worldly and good listening.
They said that Etta James is still vulgar. I said, Oh, how dare them say I'm still vulgar. I'm vulgar because I dance in the chair. What would they want me to do? Want me to just be still or something like that? I've got to do something.
All the things I used to like - cookies, ice cream, gumbo - I don't like anymore.
Country music has the great stories.
A few years ago, I thought, I'll never make it. I started to go to the doctor to help me lose weight.
When Malcolm X was assassinated I was working at the Apollo. They brought his body to the Unity Funeral Home, which was around the corner.
Long as I was riding in a big Cadillac and dressed nice and had plenty of food, that's all I cared about.