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Singing legend Etta James dies at 73
CNN ^ | 01/20/2012 | Todd Leopold

Posted on 01/20/2012 3:41:43 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Etta James, whose assertive, earthy voice lit up such hits as "The Wallflower," "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and the wedding favorite "At Last," has died, according to her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. She was 73.

She died from complications from leukemia with her husband, Artis Mills, and her sons by her side, De Leon said.

She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010, and also suffered from dementia and hepatitis C. James died at a hospital in Riverside, California. She would have turned 74 Wednesday.

" This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world," De Leon said. "She was a true original who could sing it all -- her music defied category.

"I worked with Etta for over 30 years. She was my friend and I will miss her always."

Was "At Last" your song for your wedding's first dance?

The powerhouse singer, known as "Miss Peaches," lived an eventful life. She first hit the charts as a teenager, taking "The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)" -- an "answer record" to Hank Ballard's "Work With Me, Annie" -- to No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1955. She joined Chess Records in 1960 and had a string of R&B and pop hits, many with lush string arrangements. After a mid-decade fade, she re-emerged in 1967 with a more hard-edged, soulful sound.

Throughout her career, James overcame a heroin addiction, opened for the Rolling Stones, won six Grammys and was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite her ups and downs -- including a number of health problems -- she maintained an optimistic attitude.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: ettajames; obit; rip

British songstress Adele named James as one of her favorite singers, along with Aretha Franklin.
1 posted on 01/20/2012 3:41:47 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

John King of CNN fame just stepped in it again. He said he remembered listening to Etta on his fathers windup phonograph. That would be a Victrola. I don’t think Etta was that old to be of the windup record player! I guess lying is getting hard to stop once you start.


2 posted on 01/20/2012 3:53:26 PM PST by Rapunzel (Run SARAH run)
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To: SeekAndFind

Rest in peace Miss James. Thank you for a beautiful song.


3 posted on 01/20/2012 4:01:12 PM PST by SHOOT THE MOON bat
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To: SeekAndFind
Rest in Peace, Etta James - in the arms of your Savior AT LAST!



Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!
4 posted on 01/20/2012 4:03:08 PM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
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To: Rapunzel

Quite possible the greatest song ever...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZXvLsltu2A


5 posted on 01/20/2012 4:04:07 PM PST by patriot08 (TEXAS GAL- born and bred and proud of it!)
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To: patriot08

At Last is just awesome. Rest in peace, Ms. James.


6 posted on 01/20/2012 4:10:53 PM PST by fatnotlazy
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To: Rapunzel

He’s probably remembering the old Whitburn 78rpm Billie Holiday records.


7 posted on 01/20/2012 4:11:08 PM PST by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Her place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was very well deserved, in her memory take a listen to one of the greatest R&B tunes of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRB9pJUXaYU&feature=fvst

Rest in Peace, Etta James.


8 posted on 01/20/2012 4:16:42 PM PST by bigbob
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To: patriot08; Rapunzel; bigbob; Bobalu

You all may be interested in:
http://www.venerableradio.com/samPHPweb/playing.php?buster=20071131762


9 posted on 01/20/2012 4:26:18 PM PST by GOYAKLA (Recall/ Impeachment Day, November 6, 2012. FUBO)
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To: SeekAndFind

I saw her open for the Rolling Stones back in the day.

May she Rest In Peace.


10 posted on 01/20/2012 4:30:08 PM PST by Beaten Valve
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To: SeekAndFind

Etta James:

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604348/beyonce-slammed-by-etta-james-at-last.jhtml
“You guys know your president, right? You know the one with the big ears?” began her rant, a recording of which was obtained by TMZ. “Wait a minute, he ain’t my president. He might be yours; he ain’t my president. But I tell you that woman he had singing for him, singing my song — she’s going to get her a— whipped.

“The great Beyoncé,” James went on. “Like I said, she ain’t mine. ... I can’t stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol’ president day, gonna be singing my song that I’ve been singing forever.”


11 posted on 01/20/2012 4:37:44 PM PST by iowamark
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To: SeekAndFind

My favorite...”There’s Something on Your Mind”...Etta and B.B. King.


12 posted on 01/20/2012 4:43:37 PM PST by capt. norm (Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never run out of material. c)
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To: SeekAndFind

I wept when I heard this. I loved that lady.


13 posted on 01/20/2012 7:52:12 PM PST by left that other site
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To: SeekAndFind

I hardly ever go to concerts, but I saw Etta James at the Hollywood Bowl in the 1990s. Good times.

May God welcome her home.


14 posted on 01/21/2012 10:51:59 AM PST by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: left that other site

Amen. I shed a tear when I heard my home girl, Miss Etta James, had passed on. God bless her.


15 posted on 01/21/2012 1:51:34 PM PST by La Enchiladita (If you believe John Edwards has a heart condition then I feel sorry for you...)
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To: La Enchiladita

The weird thing is that just last week, I was approached to do a tribute cd to Etta.
Then this happened.


16 posted on 01/21/2012 3:26:58 PM PST by left that other site
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