Etta James dead at age 73
Posted January 20, 2012 11:47 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Blues artist Etta James, best known for her song “At Last”, died Friday morning, according to longtime friend and manager Lupe De Leon.
She had been suffering from dementia, leukemia, kidney problems and other ailments.
Born January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, she received vocal lessons at the age of five and got her start in music performing in her church choir.
She was part of all-female doo-wop group Peaches, which produced a few hits including ‘The Wallflower’, but it was her solo career with Chess Records which launched her to stardom.
Her biggest hits included ‘The Fool I am’, ‘Something’s Got a Hold on Me’ and the sultry ‘At Last’.
James won a total of four Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Grammy and Blues Hall of Fame.
She was 73.
