(January 25th, 1938 – January 20th, 2012)

Born Jamesetta Hawkins, Etta James was a Grammy Award-winning R&B/Blues/Soul singer best known for songs like “Something’s Got a Hold On Me”, “I’d Rather Go Blind”, and “At Last”. She grew up fatherless, and her mother had her at age fourteen. Because her mother had a habit of child neglect due to her having relationships with various men, James grew up in foster care mainly. She received vocal training from age five and saw her career largely take off in the 60’s. Though she faced major drug abuse, she earned her first Grammy nomination for an album in 1974 for the album Etta James (Only a Fool), and in 1995, she won her first Grammy Award: cover album Mystery Lady took home Best Jazz Vocal Performance. In 2003, she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2011, it turned terminal, and she passed a year later.

Etta James

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Biography.com

Etta James, one of music's most dynamic jazz, gospel, R&B and soul singers, is known for hit songs like 'I'd Rather Go Blind' and 'At Last.' Learn more at Biography.com.