Featured In
ALBUMLate Night Etta JamesEtta James
Albums by Etta James
ALBUMOld Time ReligionEtta James
ALBUMNew Orleans SessionsEtta James
ALBUMThe DreamerEtta James
ALBUMAll the WayEtta James
ALBUMBlues to the BoneEtta James
ALBUMLet's RollEtta James
ALBUMClassic Masters: Etta JamesEtta James
ALBUMBlue GardeniaEtta James
ALBUMMatriarch of the BluesEtta James
ALBUMHeart of a WomanEtta James
Etta James's Popular Music Videos
I just Want to Make Love to You (Live)
Etta James
Something's Got a Hold On Me (Live)
Etta James
Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do?
Etta James
I'd Rather Go Blind (Live)
Etta James
Artist Playlists
Etta James Essentials
Hear the songs that made Etta James The Matriarch of R&B.
Inspired by Etta James
Proud disciples of her slow-burn ballads and room-filling wails.
Etta James: Deep Cuts
Across six decades, she never lost her tough, grounded presence.
Artist Biography
Legendary R&B singer Etta James got her start at age 15 in The Peaches, a girl group whose No. 1 hit, “The Wallflower,” won them an opening spot on Little Richard’s national tour.
∙ James’ solo album At Last! was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, due in large part to its title track, which has become as an undisputed soundtrack for love.
∙ She turned “I’d Rather Go Blind” into a blues standard that’s been covered by such artists as B.B. King, Rod Stewart, and Dua Lipa.
∙ Her 1968 comeback single, “Tell Mama,” was one her biggest hits, inspiring the vocal style of Janis Joplin, who covered it in her live shows.
∙ Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards lists her 1978 single “Sugar on the Floor” as one of his eight “desert island discs.”
∙ After portraying James in the film Cadillac Records, Beyoncé went on to perform her signature song, “At Last,” for Barack and Michelle Obama during the 2009 inaugural ball.
∙ Her 1962 song “Something’s Got a Hold On Me” found new life almost 50 years after its release, when it was sampled in two smash hits: Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” and Avicii’s “Levels.”
∙ She’s ranked at #22 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
∙ She was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Hometown
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Genre
Blues