Etta James

In 2003 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One of their more famous songs from this period was "Cherish," part of their album Emergency. Drug-related and romantic problems interfered with her career, but James managed to maintain a career throughout the latter half of the 20th century and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Blues Halls of Fame. Their fame quickly diminished in the later part of the decade, though they continued releasing albums throughout the 80s and 1990s. The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and Foghat have also recorded the song but it is Etta's version that is best known. More hits followed in the early 1980s, including "Big Fun" and "Get Down on It". To a younger generation, Etta is known for the Muddy Waters song "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", used in television commercials for Coca-Cola and for John Smith's bitter. Their only #1 hit was 1980's "Celebration", off Celebrate!, produced by Eumir Deodato.

In 2003 she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The late 1970s saw a lull in Kool & the Gang's career that ended (after new lead singer James "JT" Taylor joined the group) with 1979's Ladies Night, the title track from which spawned a 25-year-long tradition of ladies' nights in New Jersey dance clubs and bars. She won the Grammy for best jazz vocal in 1994 for her CD Mystery Lady, a collection of songs associated with Billie Holliday, and in 2004 won the Grammy for best contemporary blues album with Let's Roll. Several live and studio albums followed, but 1973's Wild and Peaceful broke the into the mainstream with "Jungle Boogie" and "Hollywood Swinging". Her singing is characterized by accomplished vocal technique and strong jazz influences. Though none of the three singles from the album went far on the pop charts, their R&B success was swift and massive. In 1967, James recorded "Tell Mama" and "I'd Rather Go Blind", with "At Last" perhaps her most enduring songs, in Muscle Shoals. The group first hit the pop charts with their debut, self-titled album.

James released several duets with Harvey Fuqua (of The Moonglows) that became major R&B hits, as well as her classic "At Last." However, her mainstream success was limited. The Bell Brothers' father was an acquaintance of Thelonious Monk and the brothers were friends with Leon Thomas. The song was later a hit in the white market for Georgia Gibbs, re-written as "Dance with Me, Henry." She briefly recorded as Etta James & the Peaches, releasing several hits before signing to Chess Records in 1960. November 1, 1951, Youngstown, Ohio); George Brown on drums; Robert Mickens on trumpet; Dennis Thomas on saxophone; and Rick Westfield on keyboards. Otis reversed the syllables of her first name to give her her stage name and began recording her. Her first record, and her first R & B hit, was her own composition, "The Wallflower," an answer song to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie." She recorded it in 1954 with the Otis band and Richard Berry, who sang the second vocal. October 8, 1950, Youngstown, Ohio) and Ronald Bell on saxophone (b. Her family moved to San Francisco, California in 1950, and in 1952 the trio (the Creolettes) she had formed with two of her friends came to the attention of Johnny Otis. The group's main members over the years included brothers Robert Bell (known as "Kool") on bass (b.

Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. They started out as practitioners of R&B and funk, eventually went through a phase where they were a smooth disco ensemble, and wound up the successful period of their career recording tunes that were a mixture of pop and R&B. Born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, she received her first professional vocal training at the age of 5, from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St. They went through several musical phases in their career. Etta James (born January 25, 1938) is an American R&B and gospel singer. They originally formed in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964. Kool & the Gang was a massively successful rhythm and blues and disco group.

"Stone Love" [1987, #10]. "Victory" [1986, #10]. "Emergency" [1985, #28]. "Cherish" [1985, #2].

"Fresh" [1985, #4]. "Misled" [1985, #10]. "Tonight" [1984, #13]. "Joanna" [1983, #2 (#1 R&B)].

"Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, La, La)" [1982, #30]. "Big Fun" [1982, #21]. "Get Down on It" [1982, #10]. "Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)" [1981, #17 (#1 R&B)].

Jones" [1981, #39]. "Jones vs. "Celebration" [1980 #1, (#1 R&B)]. "Too Hot" [1980, #5].

"Ladies' Night" [1979, #8 (#1 R&B)]. "Spirit of the Boogie"/"Summer Madness" [1975, #35 (#1 R&B)]. "Higher Plane" [1974, #37 (#1 R&B)]. "Hollywood Swinging" [1974, #6].

"Jungle Boogie" [1974, #4]. "Funky Stuff" [1973, #29]. Victory (1986, Mercury, #25). Emergency (1985, De-Lite, #13).

In the Heart (1984, De-Lite, #29). As One (1982, De-Lite, #29). Something Special (1981, De-Lite, #12). Celebrate! (1980, De-Lite, #10).

Ladies' Night (1979, De-Lite, #13). Wild and Peaceful (1974, De-Lite, #33).