Etta James was an iconic American singer known for her powerful voice and emotional performances.
She gained fame with classic hits like "At Last" and "I'd Rather Go Blind," showcasing her versatility across multiple genres.
Etta received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her significant contributions to music.
Biography
Early Life
Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, faced a tumultuous childhood. Raised by her mother, Dorothy Hawkins, who was often absent, Etta lived with various foster parents, including an abusive figure known as "Sarge." Despite these challenges, she found solace in music, receiving her first vocal training at the age of five from James Earle Hines at the St. Paul Baptist Church. Her powerful voice quickly garnered attention, and she became a soloist in the choir, showcasing her talent on local radio stations.
Career
Etta's professional career began in 1954, and she quickly made a name for herself in the R&B scene, performing in Nashville's Chitlin' Circuit. She gained fame with hits like "The Wallflower" (1955) and "At Last" (1960), showcasing her versatility across genres such as blues, jazz, and soul. Despite facing personal struggles, including addiction and incarceration, Etta made a remarkable comeback in the late 1980s with the album "Seven Year Itch". Her unique vocal style and emotional depth earned her numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Personal Life
Etta James married Artis Mills in 1969 and had two sons, Donto and Sametto, both of whom followed in her musical footsteps. Throughout her life, she battled addiction, which led to legal troubles, but she also found strength in her faith, having been influenced by the Nation of Islam during her youth. Etta's legacy is marked by her profound impact on music, bridging the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and inspiring countless artists across generations. She passed away on January 20, 2012, leaving behind a rich musical heritage.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
The Heart of a Woman1999
- 1.You Don't Know What Love Is5:30
- 2.Good Morning Heartache5:31
- 3.My Old Flame6:22
- 4.Say It Isn't So4:57
- 5.At Last4:42
- 6.Tenderly5:29
- 7.I Only Have Eyes for You6:38
- 8.I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good6:27
- 9.You Go to My Head4:23
- 10.Sunday Kind of Love6:02
- 11.If It's the Last Thing I Do5:49
- 12.Only Women Bleed4:49
12 Songs of Christmas1998
- 1.Winter Wonderland4:26
- 2.Jingle Bells5:26
- 3.This Time of Year5:48
- 4.Merry Christmas Baby6:10
- 5.Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas4:45
- 6.Santa Claus is Coming to Town6:22
- 7.White Christmas5:53
- 8.The Christmas Song4:24
- 9.The Little Drummer Boy5:00
- 10.Silent Night4:50
- 11.Joy to the World5:31
- 12.O Holy Night4:51
Life, Love & The Blues1998
- 1.Born Under a Bad Sign3:29
- 2.I Want to Ta Ta You, Baby5:56
- 3.Here I Am (Come and Take Me)4:56
- 4.Running Out of Lies5:04
- 5.Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)7:02
- 6.Spoonful4:09
- 7.Life, Love & The Blues5:18
- 8.Hoochie Coochie Gal4:25
- 9.Cheating in the Next Room4:57
- 10.If You Want Me to Stay5:21
- 11.The Love You Save May Be Your Own4:02
- 12.I'll Take Care of You4:59
Love’s Been Rough on Me1997
- 1.The Rock3:34
- 2.Cry Like a Rainy Day5:22
- 3.Love’s Been Rough on Me3:10
- 4.Love It or Leave It Alone5:30
- 5.Don’t Touch Me3:59
- 6.Hold Me3:48
- 7.If I Had Any Pride Left at All3:49
- 8.I Can Give You Everything3:18
- 9.I’ve Been Lovin’ You Too Long4:22
- 10.Done in the Dark4:19
Time After Time1995
- 1.Don’t Go to Strangers5:03
- 2.Teach Me Tonight5:03
- 3.Love Is Here to Stay4:32
- 4.The Nearness of You6:36
- 5.Time After Time4:27
- 6.My Funny Valentine5:51
- 7.Imagination6:56
- 8.Fool That I Am4:02
- 9.Willow Weep for Me6:28
- 10.Ev’rybody’s Somebody’s Fool5:19
- 11.Night and Day4:19
- 12.Someone to Watch Over Me6:02
Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday1994
- 1.Don’t Explain5:20
- 2.You’ve Changed4:38
- 3.The Man I Love4:30
- 4.I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance (with You)4:19
- 5.Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be)5:26
- 6.Embraceable You3:59
- 7.How Deep Is the Ocean4:21
- 8.(I’m Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over5:49
- 9.Body and Soul4:19
- 10.The Very Thought of You4:35
- 11.I’ll Be Seeing You4:43
The Right Time1992
- 1.I Sing the Blues5:46
- 2.Love and Happiness4:28
- 3.Evening of Love3:40
- 4.Wet Match3:03
- 5.You’re Taking Up Another Man’s Place3:45
- 6.Give It Up3:41
- 7.Let It Rock3:33
- 8.Ninety Nine and a Half (Won’t Do)3:02
- 9.You’ve Got Me4:14
- 10.Nighttime Is the Right Time5:07
- 11.Down Home Blues4:38
Stickin’ to My Guns1990
- 1.Whatever Get’s You Through the Night3:51
- 2.Love to Burn3:33
- 3.The Blues Don’t Care3:44
- 4.Your Good Thing (Is About to End)3:57
- 5.Get Funky4:49
- 6.Beware3:43
- 7.Out of the Rain4:36
- 8.Stolen Affection3:56
- 9.A Fool in Love3:28
- 10.I’ve Got Dreams to Remember4:28
Seven Year Itch1988
- 1.I Got the Will2:55
- 2.Jump Into My Fire4:07
- 3.Shakey Ground3:19
- 4.Come to Mama4:22
- 5.Damn Your Eyes4:11
- 6.Breakin’ Up Somebody’s Home4:30
- 7.The Jealous Kind4:11
- 8.How Strong Is a Woman3:27
- 9.It Ain’t Always What You Do (It’s Who You Let See You Do It)3:28
- 10.One Night4:13
Blues in the Night1986
- 1.Kidney Stew5:04
- 2.When My Baby Left Me6:30
- 3.Railroad Porter Blues3:25
- 4.Something's Got a Hold on Me6:17
- 5.Medley: At Last / Trust Me / Sunday Kind of Love6:24
- 6.I Just Wanna Make Love to You5:57
- 7.Please Send Me Someone to Love5:10
- 8.Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)5:05
- 9.Misty8:00
Changes1980
- 1.Mean Mother4:33
- 2.Donkey3:18
- 3.Changes4:00
- 4.Don’t Stop3:23
- 5.Who’s Getting Your Love3:33
- 6.Night by Night3:15
- 7.It Takes Love to Keep a Woman4:10
- 8.Wheel of Fire3:32
- 9.Night People4:44
- 10.With You in Mind4:21
Deep in the Night1978
- 1.Laying Beside You4:10
- 2.Piece of My Heart3:37
- 3.Only Women Bleed4:01
- 4.Take It to the Limit4:12
- 5.Deep in the Night4:50
- 6.Lovesick Blues3:17
- 7.Strange Man3:18
- 8.Sugar on the Floor4:43
- 9.Sweet Touch of Love3:19
- 10.Blind Girl5:41
Etta Is Betta Than Evvah!1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Come a Little Closer1974
Tracklist not collected yet.
Etta James1973
Tracklist not collected yet.
Etta James Sings Funk1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Losers Weepers1970
Tracklist not collected yet.
Tell Mama1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Call My Name1966
Tracklist not collected yet.
Queen of Soul1965
Tracklist not collected yet.
Etta James Sings for Lovers1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
Etta James1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
Miss Etta James1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Second Time Around1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
At Last!1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Modern Records
- Record label
- Cadet Records
- Record label
- Chess Records
- Record label
- Elektra
- Record label
- Island Records
- Record label
- RCA Records
Achievements
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Groups
- Betty & Dupreeoriginalcurrent
- Etta James & The Peachescurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: E. James, Eita James, Etta Lames, Etta “Miss Peaches” James, Jamesetta Hawkins, Jamesetta Rogers
Jamesetta Hawkins, known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's R&B clubs, collectively known in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s as the Chitlin' Circuit. She sang in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, 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 on Me" (1962), "Tell Mama" and "I'd Rather Go Blind". She faced a number of personal problems, including heroin addiction, severe physical abuse and incarceration, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch (1988).
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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