Subsequent albums, including Deep In The Night and Seven Year Itch, received high critical acclaim. A renewed public profile followed her appearance at the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. After completing her contract with Chess in 1977, James signed on with Warner Brothers Records. James' work gained positive attention from critics as well as fans, and her 1973 album Etta James earned a Grammy nomination, in part for its creative combination of rock and funk sounds. In 1967, James recorded with the Muscle Shoals house band in the Fame studios, and the collaboration resulted in the triumphant Tell Mama album. Sadly, heroin addiction affected both her personal and professional life, but despite her continued drug problems she persisted in making new albums. James continued to work with Chess throughout the 1960s and early '70s. She knew how to rock a house, and did so with such gospel-charged tunes as "Something's Got a Hold On Me" in 1962, "In The Basement" in 1966 and "I'd Rather Go Blind" in 1968. Chart-toppers included duets with then-boyfriend Harvey Fuqua, the heart-breaking ballad "All I Could Do Was Cry," "At Last" and "Trust in Me." But James' talents weren't reserved for powerful ballads. Mid-CareerĪfter signing with Chicago's Chess Records in 1960, James' career began to soar. Soon after, James launched her solo career with such hits as "Good Rockin' Daddy" in 1955. It was that year that the young singer became Etta James (a shortened version of her first name) and her vocal group was dubbed "the Peaches" (also Etta's nickname). Four years later, in 1954, she moved to Los Angeles to record "The Wallflower" (a tamer title for the then-risqué "Roll with Me Henry") with the Otis band. At age 12, she moved north to San Francisco, where she formed a trio and was soon working for bandleader Johnny Otis. I'd like to think I did that." James never knew her father.īy the age of 5, James was known as a gospel prodigy, gaining fame by singing in her church choir and on the radio. James would later say, "My mother always told me, even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it. James was born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, to a 14-year-old mother, Dorothy Hawkins, who encouraged her daughter's singing career. James died in Riverside, California, on January 20, 2012, and continues to be is considered one of the most dynamic singers in music. In 2006, she released the album All the Way. In 1954, she moved to Los Angeles to record "The Wallflower." Her career had begun to soar by 1960, due in no small part to songs like "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "At Last." Despite her continued drug problems, she earned a Grammy Award nomination for her 1973 eponymous album.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |