Etta James biography
In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked her #62 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Etta James performs at the top world jazz festivals in the world, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1977, 1989, 1990 and 1993, performed nine times at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival, and the San Francisco Jazz Festival five times. She also performs often at free city outdoor summer arts festivals throughout the US.
James was portrayed by R&B singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles in the film Cadillac Records, which was released to theaters on December 5, 2008. The film is loosely based on the rise and fall of James' record label, Chess Records, and how producer Leonard Chess helped the career of James and her other counterparts at the label, although the film fails to reflect the fact that James was already a successful hit-recording artist before she joined Chess, and was not discovered by Leonard Chess as portrayed. In fact, James's songs performed worse on the charts after she joined Chess. Also, contrary to the impression created in the film, it is doubtful that James and Chess were lovers. Others portrayed in Cadillac Records include Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and Willie Dixon.
At a Seattle concert on January 28, 2009, James expressed her displeasure with Knowles singing her song "At Last" at the first inaugural ball for Barack Obama, exclaiming that she "can't stand Beyoncé" and that Knowles would "get her ass whipped." James later said that her remarks about Knowles were a joke, but was hurt that she was not invited to sing her song and that she could have performed it better.
On April 7, 2009, Etta James appeared on Dancing with the Stars as a guest performer, singing her classic hit from 1961 "At Last" at age 71.
In Memphis, Tennessee on May 7, 2009, the Blues Foundation awarded Etta James the 2009 Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year-making Etta a nine-time winner of this prestigious award.
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