R&B singer Etta James passed away last week at the age of 73. While she's best remembered for her heartwrenching ballads like “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind,” the diva's life also contained struggles with addiction and abuse. Joining us to remember the late singer is writer David Ritz, who co-wrote her 1995 autobiography, "Rage to Survive: The Etta James Story." And, Etta's longtime guitarist, Bobby Murray, joins us from Detroit to talk about working with the rhythm and blues legend toward the end of her career.
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Comments [23]
lol...thanks guys
who says chicks can't "troll" with the dudes, becky does a pretty damn good job.
"Becky" needs a nap.
*sp - compliment
... Etta was NOT "jealous", she was justifiably PISSED that she got passed over for the Korporate Krap®-Konsumer-"Beyonce".
Gross.
Unable to accept a complimant.
bitter
hey john- how great to hear mom call in.......way cool!
What THE hell was BO® thinking???
Why NOT get the real deal...
"Beyonce"??? Pfffffft!!!
Can't call in but here is a great article that DOES address the contention between Etta James and Beyonce...
http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/01/etta_james_political_obituary.html
@jmb from NYC
You're a complete ass.
Etta James: What's not to like!
Incredible.
"Beyonce": Not so much...
I just ran onto youtube for a second to hear Beyonce singing "At Last"...I have to agree with Siouxan: WHY?
Beyonce is capable, but not very interesting.
Etta nailed it effortlessly.
maybe beyonce, could have had the sense to say, "what about etta" re singing at the white house. but,why am i not surprized,that she didn't. it would have been such a beautiful magnanimous thing to do.
I first learned of Etta James and became a lifelong fan when I was 22, after seeing a videotape of an HBO B.B. King Blues special where she sang a duet of my all-time Etta James favorite, "Blind Girl" with Dr. John. From that point on, I listened to, read and saw everything I could that was Etta James. I read the Ritz biography by your guest in 1995 as well. Lastly, I had the opportunity to meet her at a concert in Camden, NJ where she performed in the mid 90s by flirting with one of her sons and getting access to her backstage!
On a final note, her lack of inclusion/participation in the 2008 presidential inauguration in the song that she alone made famous was more than an oversight, it was a disgrace.
When some jazz labels began to release 45 RPM records excerpted from their LPs, I found "Don't Go to Strangers" by Etta James. What a voice! I bought that recording and still hold on to it.
good stuff
Not everyone should be a commentary..I'm sorry, but his stuttering is too much for me...By the time he finishes his sentence I've forgotten what his point was.
@ rick- i agree,just go on youtube,and you'll see how many people,never even heard of her,or at most,know very little about etta james.
Etta was very jealous that Beyonce got to sing "At Last" and be there on the stage during Obama's Inaugural Ball. Now that she's gone, it struck me how this must have stung Etta. Why was she not included? "At Last" was HER song, and no other singer alive could touch her version.
By the way, I first heard "At Last" during a car commercial!
simply the most UNDERRATED singer in American music. All I can ask is: WHY?
forgive me, this is perhaps mundane; but,could the author address the "theory", that etta had, about minnesota fats being her father. did he, ever have anything to say about it?
As I a poet, I am grateful that Etta James was an emotional truth teller. And tales were told. She sang love. She sang hope. She sang anger. She sang seduction. She sang loneliness. She was fearless. And that fearlessness propelled her onstage and almost killed her off stage.
from a blog entitled "Winter's Daughter"
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