Pooch
This week, we remember one of the most talented singers of the past century. Etta James passed away on January 20th, having been diagnosed with terminal Leukemia around a year ago, following her 2008 diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. The singer who had recently made major waves in the international music community (without intention, might I add) for being sampled on two of the past decade’s most popular songs, was ranked by Rolling Stone as the 22nd best vocalist of all time, placing 62nd among the greatest artists ever for the same publication.
Having endured decades of drug use, abuse and addiction, 2010 marked the second time that Etta entered a drug addiction rehabilitation program, this time for her abuse of pain killers. Despite this, Etta had developed one of the most impressive repertoires and most recognizable voices in all of music. With the rapid growth of Electro and House music’s popularity, James was originally sampled for Pretty Lights‘ masterpiece, “Finally Moving,” with the same sample being used by Avicii for his chart topping track, “Levels.”
It is a shame that this generation will forever associate Etta James mainly with that sample, yet without knowing it, her music runs deep in everyone. Having recorded her first hit single at the young age of 15 years old, she began to see B.B. King only a year later, becoming the inspiration for his song “Sweet Sixteen.” Thanks to songs like “At Last,” “A Sunday Kind Of Love,” “Something’s Got A Hold On Me,” her cover of Otis Redding‘s “Try A Little Tenderness” and “Misty Blue,” generations to come will be revelling at the power and persuasion of this recently lost angelic voice.
