Beginning at the age of 5, young Jamesetta started performing professionally at the St. Paul Baptist Church in LA. After moving to San Francisco as a teen, she began singing doo-woop with girl group the Creolettes. The 14 year old met legendary impresario Johnny Otis who re-named the group the Peaches and gave Jamesetta the stage name "Etta James" as well as getting them a deal with Modern Records. In 1955, their first song, "Dance With Me, Henry" was released and shot to the top of the Hot Rhythm and Blues chart. The group also earned an opening slot on tour with Little Richard.
In 1960 Etta left the Peaches and Modern Records to sign with the Chess label. Her first solo effort, "All I Could Do Was Cry" reached #2 on the R&B charts. May 1960 saw the hit "My Dearest Darling" chart as high as #5. "At Last", her 1960 debut album for the Chess imprint Argo featured "A Sunday Kind of Love" and "I Just Want to Make Love to You", songs that would go on to become Etta classics. During the next several years, Etta continued to record R&B, soul, jazz and gospel hits.
Her career eventually began to wane. But Etta came back strong in 1967, recording her hit "Tell Mama" at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. The B-side, "I'd Rather Go Blind" became another signature track. During the 1970s Etta continued to tour and record to critical acclaim, opening for the Rolling Stones, earning Grammy nominations, and performing at the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival. She ultimately left Chess Records and the recording industry for a time to battle drug and alcohol addictions.
Etta stepped back into the spotlight with her performance of "Rock & Roll Music" in the 1987 Chuck Berry documentary "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll". She released her comeback album 1989's "Seven Year Itch" on Island Records. In 1992 she worked with famed producer Jerry Wexler for the Elektra release "The Right Time".
She was honored with her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. 1993 also saw the release of her Billie Holiday tribute album, "Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday" which garnered Etta her 1st Grammy Award for 1994 Best Jazz Vocal Performance. In the mid '90s Etta's earlier music began re-entering the charts as many commercials incorporated her music.
2001 marked Etta's induction to the Blues Hall of Fame. In 2003 the Grammys honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Sadly, an April, 2009 appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" marked Etta's final television appearance. The Blues Foundation named her "Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year" for the 9th time a month later.
She ultimately had to retire from touring due to dementia and leukemia, passing away on January 20, 2012. The voice that spawned such hits as "Tell Mama", "At Last" and "I'd Rather Go Blind" continues to live on. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her 22nd of the "100 Greatest Singers of All-Time". They also placed her at #62 of the "100 Greatest Artists of All-Time". Etta's influence also spans generations, from the Rolling Stones to Bonnie Raitt to Rod Stewart on through to Christina Aguilera to Shemekia Copeland to Adele. Her beautiful, soulful voice will never be forgotten. Etta once sang "Something's Got a Hold on Me". Her voice has a hold on all of us. Until next time, boys and girls. Keep It Bluesy!
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