Etta James

Etta James was an American singer and songwriter who had a long and distinguished career in the music industry. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California in 1938, she began singing in the church choir as a young child and went on to become one of the most iconic singers of the 20th century.

Throughout her career, Etta James released a string of hit albums and singles, including her debut album At Last! (1960), which spawned the classic singles “At Last” and “All I Could Do Is Cry”. Other notable albums include The Second Time Around (1961), Tell Mama (1968), and her final studio album, Matriarch of the Blues (1999).

Etta James is also remembered for her hit singles “Something’s Got a Hold on Me”, “I’d Rather Go Blind”, “Trust in Me”, “I Just Want to Make Love to You”, “I’d Rather Be Blind”, “Seven Day Fool”, and “The Wallflower (Roll with Me Henry)”.

An interesting fact about Etta James is that she was one of the first female African-American singers to cross over into mainstream pop music. She was also the recipient of six Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.