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Etta James

Celebrity

Etta James: Biography

Etta James
10 photos
  • Birth Name: Jamesetta Hawkins
  • Birth Place: Los Angeles, CA
  • Date of Birth / Zodiac Sign: 01/25/1938, Aquarius
  • Date of Death: 01/20/2012
  • Profession: Singer; songwriter
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Etta James Fast Facts:
  • Raised by Lula Rogers, her mother's former landlady, for 12 years.
  • Began performing on Los Angeles radio gospel-music broadcasts at age 5.
  • Was discovered by blues icon Johnny Otis when she was 16. He changed her name to Etta James (an inversion of her first name), changed the name of her singing group from the Creolettes to the Peaches (her nickname) and took them out on tour with his band.
  • Had her first hit at age 17 with "Roll With Me Henry" in 1955, retitled "The Wallflower" because the original title was considered too risqué for radio.
  • Lived in Chicago's inexpensive Sutherland Hotel in the early 1960s with other budding stars, including Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. 
  • Appeared in the films Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), B.B. King and Friends - A Night of Red Hot Blues (1981) and Chuck Berry Hail! Hail Rock 'n' Roll (1987).
  • Sang at the opening ceremonies of the 1984 Olympics.
  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
  • Cowrote her autobiography, Rage to Live, in 1995 with David Ritz.
  • Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003.
  • Was portrayed by Beyoncé Knowles in the film Cadillac Records(2008); Knowles later went on to perform James' signature ballad "At Last" at Barack Obama's 2009 Inaugural Ball.
  • Sons Sametto and Donto played in her band during her 2009 tour.
  • Etta James Relationships:
  • Artis Dee Mills - Husband
  • Donto James - Son
  • Dorothy Leatherwood Hawkins - Mother
  • Sametto James - Son
  • Etta James Awards:
  • 2003 Grammy: Best Contemporary Blues Album - Winner
  • 1994 Grammy: Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female - Winner
  • 2004 Grammy: Best Traditional Blues Album - Winner

Photos

Etta James Barry Brecheisen/WireImage.com
Etta James Jay West/WireImage.com
Etta James, Beyonce Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Etta James, Miley Cyrus Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com
Etta James Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Etta James, Alicia Keys Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
more Etta James photos (10 total photos)
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