Etta James died last week, within days of the death of her mentor and fellow R&B/rock & roll crossover pioneer, Johnny Otis.
Etta James wailed a decade ago on New Haven Green in sketchy weather. I always remember those Green concerts where the artists triumph over the elements.
Etta James did one of my favorite blues Christmas albums, 12 Songs of Christmas, all familiar carols worked over in her sassy rasp.
Etta James (who real first name, delightfully, was Jamesetta) was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993—eight years before she was entered into the Blues Hall of Fame and Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Her 1970 album Etta James Sings Funk has to be heard to be believed.