Remembering Etta James
"At Last" singer Etta James' body drew its last breath today, but the world can be thankful that her smooth, soulful voice will live on forever.
James, born Jamesetta Hawkins, passed away due to complications with leukemia on Friday, January 20 at a hospital in Riverside, California. She also battled kidney disease and dementia in the last years of her life. James' death came just five days short of her 74th birthday.
During her career, James experienced public struggles with drug addiction and weight problems, but unlike so many young musician and artists who succumb to their addictions and die early, she was able to hang on to life and share her voice with the world for nearly 60 years.
James won six Grammy awards, the NAACP Image award, recognition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a star on the Walk of Fame and numerous other awards and recognitions.
Her vocal talent had the emotional power to bring tears to listener's eyes with "All I Could Do is Cry," make people fall in love with "At Last" and get up and dance with hits like "Good Rockin' Daddy."
This video provides a look into two of the songs that James is best known for, "At Last" and "Something's Got Ahold of Me" as well as a sound bite from Beyonce who portrayed James in the 2008 movie Cadillac Records.
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