Etta James Birthday Highlights
Birth Name Jamesetta Hawkins
Place Of Birth California, USA Age 85 years old
Birth Date January 25 1938
Etta James Facts
Child Star? no Occupation Singer Education & Qualifications Thomas Jefferson High School Net Worth $16,000,000
Current Partner Artis Mills Children Donto James, Sametto James Parents Dorothy Hawkins
About Etta JamesEtta James was an exceptional rhythm and blues singer who had an enormous contribution to the music industry.She performed in rock and roll, jazz, R&B, and Blues, among others. Her albums had received international fame, and her unique voice had touched the heart of millions.Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, to Dorothy Hawkins, who was just 14 at the time of her birth. Her mother was absent almost all of her childhood, and she lived under foster care. At the age of five, Etta James began singing in the church choir. She was regarded as a gospel prodigy and became popular for her deep voice. After moving to San Francisco with her mother, she formed a girl group named ‘Creolletes.’Famous American singer Johnny Otis gave them their first break by allowing them to record his song ‘The Wallflower,’ which became a huge hit. It was ranked one in the hot rhythm and blues tracks chart and can be considered the first milestone in Etta James’ career. She delivered several hits after that for various other record labels. Her first hit single was ‘All I Could Do Was Cry,’ a legendary rhythm and blues song. She released her first album, ‘At Last,’ in 1960, which had a mix of various genres of music ranging from R&B to jazz and doo-wop. Her song ‘Something’s Got A Hold Of Me’ had some elements of gospel in it and reached number four on the R&B chart.Her collaboration with Private music records produced the tribute album called ‘Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday.’ This album brought Etta James her first Grammy award for Best jazz vocal performance female. It was followed by a trail of awards, nominations, and induction to the R&B, Blues, and grammy hall of fame that glorified her musical career. Her last television appearance was on the program Dancing with the stars, where she performed her legendary song ‘At Last.’Her two sons, Donto James, who played the drums, and Sametto James, who played the bass guitar, performed in several concerts with their mother. Her struggles in her personal life were some of the setbacks in her career. However, she was always known to bounce back. She died at the riverside community hospital after being diagnosed with leukemia at the age of seventy-three. From singing blues on street corners to being one of the most revered artists whose songs topped several pop charts, her journey was genuinely fascinating.Net Worth, Earnings & Spending HabitsWhat was Etta James’ net worth?The net worth of singer Etta James is around 16 million dollars which she gained from her successful music career. Etta James was one of the most promising singers of her time, with thirty studio albums under her name.How much did Etta James earn per year?Her earnings per year were estimated to be around $4,00,000, and most of it was generated from her hit records.Height, Age & Physical AttributesHow tall was Etta James?Etta James was around 5 ft 2 in (157.4 cm) in height.How old was Etta James?Etta James died on January 20, 2012, at the age of 73, in the riverside community hospital in California. She had several health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease, and died shortly after being diagnosed with Leukemia.Childhood And EducationOn January 25, 1938, Etta James was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. Her original name was Jamesetta Hawkins. She was the daughter of Dorothy Hawkins, who was just 14 years old at the time when she gave birth. Her father has never been identified, but the singer claimed Rudolf Wanderone, a professional billiards player, to be her father. She received her formal education from Thomas Jefferson High School. Etta James lived with her foster parents until the age of 12, when her mother took her to San Francisco.Her mother had always been supportive of her musical career and encouraged her to perform. Since the age of five, she became a popular face in the church choir for her soulful voice and was trained by James Earle Hines, the musical director of the Eden choir of St. Paul Baptist Church. She even performed on the radio from a very young age. She was also known to perform in R&B clubs and was recognized for her unusually deep and earthy style of music.Family, Romance, And RelationshipsWho was Etta James’ partner?Etta James was happily married to Artis Mills in the year 1969. They had two sons, Donto and Sametto James.Career And Professional HighlightsIn San Francisco, Etta James was a part of a vocal group called the ‘Creolettes,’ which later changed its name to ‘Peaches.’ Their performances caught the attention of R&B bandleader Johnny Otis. They made them sign the modern records. This gave them the opportunity to record their first song, ‘The Wallflower,’ originally named ‘Roll With Me, Henry’, which was released in 1955. The song was known to be set to the tune of ‘Work With Me, Annie’ by Hank Ballard, the lead singer of the band ‘The Midnighters’. It was Johnny Otis who gave Etta James her stage name. The song soon became a huge hit and topped the Hot Rhythm and Blues Tracks chart. James released another R&B hit called ‘Good Rockin’ Daddy.’ It also marked the beginning of her solo career in the musical industry.In 1960, Etta James signed a contract with the chess records that kick-started her musical career. Her very first solo hit was the song named ‘All I Could Do Was Cry,’ which was a rhythm and blues song. In 1960, her first debut album was released that contained songs of varied genres from rhythm and blues to doo-wop. She was regarded as the youngest female star of the Chess records and continued to give huge hits like ‘At Last,’ ‘My Dearest Darling,’ ‘Something’s Got A Hold On Me,’ and ‘Trust In me.’ It earned her several awards, like the Best Traditional Blues Album.In 1967, after delivering a hit single, ‘Tell Mama,’ she left Chess Records and began recording for other labels like Warner Bros. Etta James recorded with the Fame studios and produced the ‘Tell Mama’ album in the same year. The album received a lot of appreciation and earned her a Grammy nomination. James continued to work with Chess Records in the 1960s and throughout the beginning of the 1970s. In the 1970s and ’80s, she performed the opening act for the famous musical band Rolling stone. It was in the 60s when she became a victim of addiction and her career, as well as personal life, went through several ups and downs.Her career took a setback after 1965 due to various personal problems. She returned with a hit, ‘Tell Mama,’ which was co-written by Clarence Carter, an American songwriter and blues singer. The song was ranked number ten on the R&B charts. She sang America’s national anthem in the Olympics held in Los Angeles in 1984. After a gap of seven years and visiting the Betty Ford Center for rehabilitation, she made a comeback with the studio album ‘Seven Year Itch’ in 1988 by the Island Records.The singer performed in various jazz music festivals throughout the world. She performed in the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, and Playboy Jazz Festival, among others. In the 90s, her soulful voice shined through her private releases like ‘Blue Gardenia,’ which earned a place on the Billboard jazz chart. In 2000, she returned to her Rhythm and blues roots by releasing the album ‘Matriarch Of The blues’.Famous American periodical Rolling Stone regarded her release as a ‘solid return to roots.’ In 2003, after undergoing gastric bypass surgery, she released the album ‘Let’s Roll’ which won the Grammy for a best contemporary blues album. Her final album was released in the year 2011, called ‘The Dreamer.’Her style of music and songs has inspired many aspiring artists and musicians, such as Christina Aguilera, Beth Hart, Elkie Brooks, Rita Ora, Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, and Adele, among others. They have expressed their deep admiration and appreciation of the artist and her caliber.Best Known For…Etta James was known for embracing songs from different genres and giving them her own touch of music. She was a great translator of emotion and music reflected through her performances. Her style of music underwent modifications throughout her career. Her voice was considered a bridge that connected rock and roll with rhythm and blues.Her songs are considered to be very emotionally evocative that touches the listener’s soul. One of her most celebrated songs is ‘At Last.’ It was from the debut album that Etta James released on Argo Records in the year 1960. It was ranked twelve on the Billboard Top Catalog Albums chart. It had several hits like ‘All I Could Do Was Cry,’ ‘My Dearest Darling,’ and ‘Trust In Me,’ among others. The rhythm and blues song ‘All I Could Do Was Cry’ is considered her first solo hit.Leonard Chess, the co-founder of Chess Records, considered James to have the potential to become a classical ballad singer. Her song ‘My Dearest Darling’ was a ballad with violins and other musical instruments playing in the background. Etta James brought some new variation to her musical style by adding gospel elements to her song ‘Something’s Got A Hold Of Me.’ This can be attributed to her childhood years of performing in the church choir, where she was celebrated as a gospel prodigy. The song was ranked four on the R&B chart.What awards did Etta James win?Her musical prowess and contribution to the music industry were recognized with six Grammy awards and several other honors. Her tribute album, produced by Private Music Records, called ‘Mystery Lady: Songs Of Billie Holiday’ earned her the first Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. Etta James had always mentioned the famous Jazz and Swing singer Billie Holiday who had a considerable influence on her career. The album was the stepping stone for the singer into the world of jazz music.Her album ‘Let’s Roll’ brought her a Grammy award for the best contemporary blues album. Her two sons, along with Josh Sklair, co-produced this album. In 2004, the album Blues To The Bone’ earned her the best traditional blues album. Etta James received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award for her last studio album ‘At Last.’ She was also the receiver of the Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2003.In the same year, Etta James was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also the recipient of the NAACP Image Award in 1990, which recognizes the achievement of people of color in the field of music. According to her, this award meant something special as it was coming from her own people.Etta James was also awarded seventeen Blues Music Awards and was inducted into the blues hall of fame in 2001.The renowned magazine Rolling Stone had ranked the singer twenty-two on the list of ’the hundred greatest singers of all time.’ Etta James was also ranked 62nd among ’the hundred greatest artists of all time by the same magazine.’ She also made it to Billboard’s ‘The 35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time’ list.The Rock and Roll Hall of fame regarded Etta James as one of the greatest voices of her century.Etta James was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, an organization dedicated to recording the history of bands and musicians who have contributed to rock and roll. She was also the recipient of the Billboard R&B Founders Award in 2006.It is indeed said that very few singers received such huge acclaim as Etta James did, whose career spanned over six decades.Etta James’ Hobbies And InterestsEtta James sang in the church choir in her childhood years and took lessons from the music director of the church. Since then, she was considered to be a gospel prodigy and became popular for her earthy voice, a contralto, which is the lowest vocal range of voice types in female singers.Her style of music, which she chose to perform, also changed throughout her career. In her initial days, she performed mainly R&B and doo-wop songs. Slowly as time progressed, she transitioned into a more traditional pop singer as her albums started having more jazz and pop songs catering to the demands of the audience. Towards the end of Etta’s career, she was more interested in exploring jazz and soul genres. Her voice had also deepened, which made her songs even more endearing and filled with raw emotions.Other Interesting Etta James Facts And TriviaAmerican singer Beyonce portrayed Etta James in the movie Cadillac Records which was released in 2008. The movie focuses on African-American singers who start their musical journey from scratch and reach the pinnacle of success. Beyonce performed ‘At Last’ for the film’s soundtrack to pay tribute to Etta James. Etta James was happy with the rendition of the song and praised Beyonce’s efforts.However, Etta James was not entirely pleased when Beyonce sang ‘At Last’ in an inaugural ceremony for former President of the United States Barack Obama. According to her, Beyonce had no business choosing to perform the song she had been singing forever.Etta James wrote her own autobiography ‘Rage To Survive: The Etta James Story’ with assistance from Los Angeles-based author David Ritz. The book talks about the journey, struggles, and eventful happenings in the life of the singer.Charles River Editors had published another book on the life of the singer called ‘American Legends: The life Of Etta James.‘Editorial credit: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Etta James Birthday Highlights
Birth Name Jamesetta Hawkins
Place Of Birth California, USA Age 85 years old
Birth Date January 25 1938
Etta James Facts
Child Star? no Occupation Singer Education & Qualifications Thomas Jefferson High School Net Worth $16,000,000
Current Partner Artis Mills Children Donto James, Sametto James Parents Dorothy Hawkins
Etta James was an exceptional rhythm and blues singer who had an enormous contribution to the music industry.She performed in rock and roll, jazz, R&B, and Blues, among others. Her albums had received international fame, and her unique voice had touched the heart of millions.Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, to Dorothy Hawkins, who was just 14 at the time of her birth. Her mother was absent almost all of her childhood, and she lived under foster care. At the age of five, Etta James began singing in the church choir. She was regarded as a gospel prodigy and became popular for her deep voice. After moving to San Francisco with her mother, she formed a girl group named ‘Creolletes.’Famous American singer Johnny Otis gave them their first break by allowing them to record his song ‘The Wallflower,’ which became a huge hit. It was ranked one in the hot rhythm and blues tracks chart and can be considered the first milestone in Etta James’ career. She delivered several hits after that for various other record labels. Her first hit single was ‘All I Could Do Was Cry,’ a legendary rhythm and blues song. She released her first album, ‘At Last,’ in 1960, which had a mix of various genres of music ranging from R&B to jazz and doo-wop. Her song ‘Something’s Got A Hold Of Me’ had some elements of gospel in it and reached number four on the R&B chart.Her collaboration with Private music records produced the tribute album called ‘Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday.’ This album brought Etta James her first Grammy award for Best jazz vocal performance female. It was followed by a trail of awards, nominations, and induction to the R&B, Blues, and grammy hall of fame that glorified her musical career. Her last television appearance was on the program Dancing with the stars, where she performed her legendary song ‘At Last.’Her two sons, Donto James, who played the drums, and Sametto James, who played the bass guitar, performed in several concerts with their mother. Her struggles in her personal life were some of the setbacks in her career. However, she was always known to bounce back. She died at the riverside community hospital after being diagnosed with leukemia at the age of seventy-three. From singing blues on street corners to being one of the most revered artists whose songs topped several pop charts, her journey was genuinely fascinating.
Etta James Birthday Highlights
Birth Name Jamesetta Hawkins
Place Of Birth California, USA Age 85 years old
Birth Date January 25 1938
Etta James Birthday Highlights
Birth Name Jamesetta Hawkins
Place Of Birth California, USA Age 85 years old
Birth Date January 25 1938
Birth Name Jamesetta Hawkins
Place Of Birth California, USA Age 85 years old
Birth Date January 25 1938
Birth Name Jamesetta Hawkins
Place Of Birth California, USA Age 85 years old
Birth Date January 25 1938
Etta James Facts
Child Star? no Occupation Singer Education & Qualifications Thomas Jefferson High School Net Worth $16,000,000
Current Partner Artis Mills Children Donto James, Sametto James Parents Dorothy Hawkins
Etta James Facts
Child Star? no Occupation Singer Education & Qualifications Thomas Jefferson High School Net Worth $16,000,000
Current Partner Artis Mills Children Donto James, Sametto James Parents Dorothy Hawkins
Child Star? no Occupation Singer Education & Qualifications Thomas Jefferson High School Net Worth $16,000,000
Current Partner Artis Mills Children Donto James, Sametto James Parents Dorothy Hawkins
Child Star? no Occupation Singer Education & Qualifications Thomas Jefferson High School Net Worth $16,000,000
Current Partner Artis Mills Children Donto James, Sametto James Parents Dorothy Hawkins
