ETTA JAMES

By: Kristen Kirkham

LIFE

Born as Jamesetta Hawkins

Born Jan. 25, 1938

Died Jan. 25, 2012

Started Career in 1954

Etta’s mother was only 14 (Dorothy Hawkins)

Never knew father

Due to the absence of her mother, Etta lived with many foster parents. (Sarge & Mama Lu)

EARLY CAREER

Etta’s first vocal training was from James Earle Hines.

Baptist Church

Sarge tried to have Hines pay Etta

Sarge would wake Etta and beat her to sing for his friends.

She developed a reluctance for singing on demand

MID CAREER

Etta was inspired by doo-wop

Formed a group “The Peaches”

Johnny Otis Helped the group sign to Modern Records and changed Jamesetta’s name to Etta James

LATER LIFE

Developed a heroin addiction

Continuously in and out of rehabilitation

Developed leukemia

Doo-wop and Blues style

Doo-wop: group harmony, a wide range of vocal parts, nonsense syllables, a simple beat, light instrumentation, and simple music and lyrics.

Blues: 12-bar form built on the I, IV, and V chords, A scale with a flatted third, fifth, and sometimes a seventh, poetic form, Lyrics often stories or emotions, guitar, piano.

ETTA & THE PEACHES

The Wallflower or Roll With Me Henery (Harmony, upbeat, simple lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2CfBHAtt4

Hold Me, Squeeze Me (Harmony, simple beat, light instrument)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qb0JELVusE

POPULAR SONGS

“At last” (story, emotion, guitar…)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-cbOl96RFM

“I’d Rather Go Blind” (Electric guitar, hovering organ, emotional)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9sq3ME0JHQ&feature=

kp

REFERENCES

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/01/etta-james-id-rather-go-blind

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_James

http://www.biography.com/people/etta-james-9542558