Etta James
Etta James
Etta Jameswas an American singer who performed in various genres, including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz and gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Mama", "Something's Got a Hold on Me", and "I'd Rather Go Blind". She faced a number of personal problems, including drug addiction, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBlues Singer
Date of Birth25 January 1938
CityLos Angeles, CA
CountryUnited States of America
It feels so good to be happy.
Long as I was riding in a big Cadillac and dressed nice and had plenty of food, that's all I cared about.
When Malcolm X was assassinated I was working at the Apollo. They brought his body to the Unity Funeral Home, which was around the corner.
A few years ago, I thought, I'll never make it. I started to go to the doctor to help me lose weight.
I figured I could do 'It's A Man's Man's Man's World,' because I believe it's the truth.
Country music has the great stories.
All the things I used to like - cookies, ice cream, gumbo - I don't like anymore.
They said that Etta James is still vulgar. I said, Oh, how dare them say I'm still vulgar. I'm vulgar because I dance in the chair. What would they want me to do? Want me to just be still or something like that? I've got to do something.
To me, country music is like the blues, but it's something very hip and - I don't want to say commercial - but it's very worldly and good listening.
Now I can stand up on the stage again like I used to after five years of sitting down while I sang.
I'm not a braggart, but when I was a little girl people used to come from all over Hollywood to hear me sing.
I was originally like a punker, know what I mean, like the punks are today, I'd spit in a minute.
I like to shop, but I don't like to go out to dances.
My mother always wanted me to be glamorous. When I thought about that, it really fired me up, and once I lost all those pounds, I started to feel really good about myself.