Wild And Interesting Facts About Etta James

Powerhouse vocalist Etta James was well-known for her deep vocals and unvarnished intensity. These are ten unusual and fascinating details on her life and work:

1.Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, had another birth name. Turning her first name around produced her stage name.


2. She Never Knew Her Father—Though this was never formally verified, Etta thought her father was the well-known pool player Minnesota Fats throughout her childhood.

3. Her Voice Was Found in Church—At the St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles, she started singing at the age of five. Her loud voice caused her choir director, Professor James Earle Hines, to have her stand further from the microphone.

4. She was barely 14 when she recorded her first hit—originally titled “Roll with Me, Henry,” she recorded “The Wallflower” (at barely 14 years old) in 1954. Though at the time deemed too provocative, the song, a reaction to Hank Ballard’s “Work With Me, Annie,” became a smash.

5. She Once Called a Hotel Home as a Young Star— Unable to afford anything better, Etta and her mother slept in a hotel with pimps and sex workers when she traveled to San Francisco as an adolescent in search of music.

Six. She battled drug addiction for decades. For many years, Etta struggled with heroin addiction that compromised her personal life as well as her work. She then overcame her challenges and made a big return.

7. She was a Musical Chameleon—Though most recognized for her blues and soul, Etta James was quite flexible and performed jazz, gospel, doo-wop, R&B, and even rock. She was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as well as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

8. She objected to Beyoncé’s portrayal of her. Etta James was not happy even though Beyoncé played her in the 2008 movie Cadillac Records. Later, she called Beyoncé’s “At Last” performance at President Obama’s inaugural ball “She’s going to get her ass whupped!” She later claimed, though, she was kidding.

9. She underwent a significant weight loss—Etta battled obesity all her life, but following gastric bypass surgery, she dropped over 200 pounds in the late 1980s. She said the weight loss helped her career come back alive.

Ten: Her Last Years Were Tragic Later on, Etta battled leukemia, dementia, and kidney failure. She died January 20, 2012, just a few days before her 74th birthday.

She is among the best vocalists in music history still today!