Pianist Prez was then a professor at the New England Conservatory; his student, Read More Explaining the Taubman Approach, Everyone knows that Joe Williams sang the hell out of the blues, but do you know what else he sang the hell out of? Howlin Wolf guitarist was a huge inspiration for the Stones The funeral for Chicago blues great Hubert Sumlin, the longtime guitar player for Howlin Wolf who died Sunday at age 80, will be paid for by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Not saying I wasnt pleased to see Beyonces commitment to the role written however that role was poorly written and watered down. In 1954, she moved to Los Angeles to record "The Wallflower." Her career had begun to soar by 1960, due in no small part to songs like "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "At Last." When did Etta James change her name to Peaches? 19381959: Childhood and career beginnings, 19601978: Chess and Warner Brothers years, Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album, list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, "Etta James Hospitalized, Tour Suspended", "Etta James | American singer | Britannica", "The 35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time", "Etta James: Acclaimed Soul Singer Who Fought to Overcome Her Personal Demons", "Nashville's smoldering R&B; scene where Jimi Hendrix 'learned to play' was invisible to Music City", "Taters, and Other Fascinating People: NO QUARTER", "Talent on Stage: Richard Pryor, Etta James", "Happy Birthday Etta James: Grateful Dead Sit-In On New Year's 1982", "Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Opening Ceremony Complete", "Playboy Jazz Festival Historical Highlights", "North Sea Jazz program archive | NN North Sea Jazz Festival", "Beyonce to Portray Legendary Blues Singer Etta James in 'Cadillac Records', "Etta James Says Rip on Beyonce Was a Joke", "Hospitalized Etta James Battling Alzheimer's, Infection, Son Says", "Etta James Remembered by will.i.am, Hayley Williams", "Rhythm & Blues Foundation Preserving America's Soul", "Interview: Shinedown Vocalist Inspired by Chris Cornell, Otis Redding", "100 Greatest Artists of All Time:Etta James", "Etta James, the husky-voiced R&B singer, dies at 73", "Etta James' husband, sons battle over money for her care", "James pours heart, soul into set To the 'Last', "Remembering Etta James, Stunning Singer", "Etta James Faces New Cort Action In Los Angeles", "Son says singer Etta James changes hospitals", "Etta James' estate settled in wake of terminally ill diagnosis", "Etta James Dies at 73; Voice Behind 'At Last', "Highly regarded L.A. tenor, alto saxophonist played with A-list stars", "Singer Etta James Displays Her Star With U S Nieuwsfoto's | Getty Images Nederland | 1939332", "Recording Academy Honors Etta James, Simon & Garfunkel, Alan Lomax | News", "The Blues Foundation: About The Blues Foundation", "The Blues Foundation: Past Blues Music Awards", Burnin' Down the House: Live at the House of Blues, Miss Etta James: The Complete Modern and Kent Recordings, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Etta_James&oldid=1149759960, African-American women singer-songwriters, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners, 21st-century African-American women singers, 20th-century African-American women singers, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In 2006, James received the Billboard R&B Founders Award, This page was last edited on 14 April 2023, at 07:52. [19], By the mid-1990s, James's earlier musicby now considered classicwas being used in commercials, including "I Just Wanna Make Love to You," for example. He took her to Sheffield, Alabama, to record at FAME Studios. Phil Chess, co-founder of the iconic Chicago blues and rock 'n' roll label Chess Records, died Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz. love music etta you one the great woman singer g. Etta was beautiful, dynamic, and such a Soulstress Of Epic Magnetism!! Of course we all saw Beyonces role in the movie Cadillac Records but unfortunately that role was not the factual life of Etta James. When paired with the right producer and material, she delivered superb albums: Seven Year Itch (1989), Matriarch of the Blues (2000) and even her swansong The Dreamer (2011) find her interpreting lyrics with grace and venom. The same sample was used by the east coast rapper Flo Rida in his 2011 hit single "Good Feeling". She is survived by her husband and her sons, Donto and Sametto. Rock 'n' Roll.) For instance, while the film plays heavily on a romantic relationship with Chess Records head, Leonard Chess, this information was never once mentioned in Ettas autobiography. She announced that this would be her final album. On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. [38], James was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2011. Its also an opportunity to mention her friend and co-writer, the far less famous Ellington Fugi Jordan. Leonard Chess - Wikipedia In 1967 Leonard Chess, the founder of Chess Records, sent. I seriously enjoyed reading it, you [74][75], The members of the Blues Foundation, a nonprofit organization set up in Memphis, Tennessee, to foster the blues and its heritage,[76] have nominated James for a Blues Music Award nearly every year since its founding in 1980; and she received some form of Blues Female Artist of the Year award 14 times since 1989, continuously from 1999 to 2007. Lejzor Szmuel Czy (March 12, 1917 October 16, 1969), best known as Leonard Sam Chess, was a Polish-American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back During this period, she became addicted to methadone and would mix her doses with heroin. For all its copious flaws, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story perfectly nailed the trajectory of every single rockudrama that has tarnished a legend's legendthe big bang turned sad whimper. Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1. she has been hailed as a pioneer who helped bridge the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll and thereby contributed significantly to American musical history. (portrayed by Alessandro Nivola)[14] which are also fictional accounts of the ascent (and descent) of the label itself and the personnel who were involved or recorded at Chess Records. [61][62] Her death came three days after that of Johnny Otis, the man who had discovered her in the 1950s. He wrote that James had her first hit single when she was 15 years old and went steady with B.B. 1 Did Leonard Chess really die in his car? James ventured into rock and funk with the release of her self-titled album in 1973, with production from the famed rock producer Gabriel Mekler, who had worked with Steppenwolf and Janis Joplin. Rock'n'Roll (1987), opened stadium dates for the Rolling Stones and was inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. Leonard Chess Lejzor Szmuel Czy (March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969), best known as Leonard Sam Chess, was a Polish-American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. Thirty-six days after her death, her sideman Red Holloway also died.[63]. The Hollywood Blues: "Cadillac Records" | Vanity Fair Hope is known for her creativity, sense of humor and quirky perfectionism. Two other Berry tunes are included in this collection, the rollicking Number One (which cleverly references Henry as a bygone lover) and the stridently plaintive Im A Fool. James herself co-authored both the playfully sensual W-O-M-A-N and the high-octane Tough Lover, easily the equal of any of Little Richards thundering hits. According to Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, he had these words to say concerning the issue of this affair: Now, my father was no angel, but (he) was never caught in an affair, Chess said. At the age of 14, she met musician Johnny Otis. Leonard and his brother Phil became involved in the black nightclub scene on the South Side of Chicago in 1938 running a series of jazz clubs, culminating in the Macomba Lounge. The 1974 album Come a Little Closer, recorded while she was in rehab at apsychiatric hospital, features James at her best. Fortunately, the best of those early recordings, all for Modern Records, have now been assembled in a single-disc collection. Though Etta had a mother figure in an older woman affectionatelynamed Mama Lu, Ettas life spiraled after her death. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In October 1969, Leonard Chess died and by 1972, the only part of Chess Records still operating in Chicago was the recording studio, Ter-Mar Studios. Chess was the focus of 2008 movies Cadillac Records (portrayed by Adrien Brody) and Who Do You Love? Etta James: The Early Years - JazzTimes 53: Cadillac Records | Based on a True Story Podcast Since 1989 (notably rather late in her career, after nearly thirty years of prior recording), James has received over 30 awards and recognitions from eight different organizations, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum[64] and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences which organizes the Grammys.[65]. [56] In 1969, she spent 10 days in jail for violating probation.[51]. According to Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, he had these words to say concerning the issue of this affair: "Now, my father was no angel, but (he) was never caught in an affair," Chess said. In May 2009, she received the Soul/Blues Female Artist of the Year award from the Blues Foundation, the ninth time she won that award. (He is, however, a central player in Jerry Zaks' Who Do You Love, the other Chess bio that had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.) He said Id gotten all my moral values from Mama Lu, but I never knew a normal life.And then when Mama Lu died and Dorothy snatched me away, everything went haywire., While there was a number of other omissions such as the exclusion of Leonard Chesss brother, co-founder and partner Phil Chess, the question still stands, why were these truths never told? James became a natural replacement for Joplin after the latter's death in 1970. An elite fanclub ensured James sang at the Los Angeles Olympics opening ceremony in 1984, appeared in Taylor Hackford's celebrated Chuck Berry feature Hail! In 1941, he married Revetta Sloan, who was also Jewish; they had three children: son Marshall and two daughters, Elaine and Susie[9]. Etta's crossed over!' She notched up such hits as All I Could Do Was Cry, If I Can't Have You and AtLast. Once asked to describe her style, she responded that singing allowed her to vent "all this bitch shit inside of me". Hail! She added that she would have sung the song better. After leaving jail in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1969, she met and married Artis Mills. (Berry has already served as the subject for one of the better rockumentaries: Taylor Hackford's 1987 Chuck Berry Hail! James went on to record a string of hits in the late 1950s and `60s including "Trust In Me," "Something's Got a Hold On Me," "Sunday Kind of Love," "All I Could Do Was Cry," and of course, "At Last." Chess Records, whose founder, Leonard Chess, called James their first soul singer, she wrote. She later got married again to Abner Bernard Spector. Etta James - Wikipedia inserted here and there to remind us that these small stars are, in fact, portraying larger-than-life musicians whose work would influence generations. But as early as 1954, James was, under the guidance of Johnny Otis, pivotal among the artists erecting musical signposts for Elvis, Jerry Lee and others who would follow. [58] In 1974, James was sentenced to drug treatment instead of serving time in prison. It never happened. He even asked James, a longtime friend, and she told him, He kissed me on the cheek once.. YEBBA, #SoulfulSaturday: Nadine (Is It You) George Benson, #SoulfulSaturday #Visuals Good Foot Pokey. Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess envisioned James as a classic ballad stylist who had potential to cross over to the pop charts and soon surrounded the singer with violins and other string instruments. [39] James' original classic music again charted after these 21st-century re-interpretations. [19] Later that same year (1960), James released a second studio album, The Second Time Around. The album took the same direction as her first, covering jazz and pop standards and with strings on many of the songs. Her first solo hit was the doo-wopstyled rhythm-and-blues song "All I Could Do Was Cry", which was a number two R&B hit. [35] She performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2006 and 2009 (prior 2012 credit - after date of death). In the 40s, the two brothers owned a blues nightclub on the southside of Chicago where several blues artists would perform at night. Rock 'n' Roll.[29]. What happened between Etta James and Leonard Chess? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. She bounced checks, forged prescriptions and stole from her friends to finance her addiction. Etta James, who has died aged 73 after suffering from leukaemia, was among the most critically acclaimed and influential female singers of the past 50 years, even if she never achieved huge popular success. Like the movie shows, Howlin Wolf did sing the song Smokestack Lightnin for Chess Records. In another instance, Cadillac insinuates Ettas drug abuse stemming from her father issues. Her 1963 album EttaJames Rocks the House was recorded live at the New Era club in Nashville and documents a formidable performer. [22] The album included the future classics "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "A Sunday Kind of Love". Where is the border between Italy and France? In 1995 James recorded Mystery Lady, the first in a series of jazz vocal albums where she channelled the influence of Billie Holiday. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. [citation needed] In her autobiography, she noted how impressed she was with the young singer's manners. She performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival in 1990, 1997, 2004, and 2007. In early 1961, James released what was to become her signature song, "At Last", a Glenn Miller tune, which reached number two on the R&B chart and number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. (It bugs me to this day that he still receives royalties, James wrote in 1995.). What did Etta James say about Leonard Chess? Confronting Satan in a Dark Spanish Castle, sung by Beyoncto Barack and Michelle Obama. [19] The first string-laden ballad James recorded was "My Dearest Darling" in May 1960, which peaked in the top five of the R&B chart. Once you indulge yourself in her life, you quickly comprehend the fierce spirit, complexities and facts never fully realized in the Beyonce produced film, Cadillac Records. Pretty Lights sampled the song in "Finally Moving", followed by Avicii's dance hit "Levels", and again in Flo Rida's single "Good Feeling". Joplin had admired James and had covered "Tell Mama" in concert. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In 1959 James signed with the Chicago blues label Chess, which began marketing her as the "Queen of Soul". Phillips supplied Chess with recordings by Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and Doctor Ross among others. It became a crossover hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, which angered James. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In 1967 Leonard Chess, the founder ofChess Records, sent James to Alabama to record at Fame studios with the producer Rick Hall. Leonard S. Chess (1917-1969) - Find a Grave Memorial James never again enjoyed a major US hit, although she continued to record strong material. With that said, it greatly disappoints me that in light of her authenticity, this truth has failed to be depicted on the screens of Hollywood. The title was changed to the less evocative The Wallflower and, despite its notoriety (or, more likely, because of it), it soared to number 1 on the R&B charts. Read More Joe Williams: Beyond the Blues, As a JazzTimes writer, I can talk about the powers of a dynamic drummer until Im blue in the face: the weight of each tom-toms Read More Chops: What Bassists Listen for in Drummers, America's jazz resource, delivered to your inbox. Shes also a proud Florida Girl born and raised inFt. Lauderdale, Fl. All of this. The tracks crossover potential was limited by more than just its sexually charged lyrics. Teamed with Joplin's collaborator Gabriel Meckler in 1973, James began to record rock songs: mauling the Eagles, slugging Randy Newman. down the road. What are the 4 main characteristics is shared by all living things? On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Addicted to heroin and bad men, she lived a criminal lifestyle and was jailed several times. Poetic license accounts . Fabrications in the name of movie myth-making are, of course, to be expected from a genre that demands condensing lives into a handful of Defining Episodes; all biopics reduce and trivialize. Group, a Graham Holdings Company. After leaving treatment, however, her substance abuse continued, particularly after she developed a relationship with a man who was also using drugs. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. James was a star, yet one seemingly set on self-destruction. Love Ms. Etta James!! Hope West isamusic enthusiast and music photographer who has captured artists like B.B. As the 1960s progressed, Chess's recording enterprise branched out into other genres including gospel, traditional jazz, spoken word, comedy, and more. When her contract with Modern came up for renewal in 1960, she signed a contract with Chess Records instead, with which she would go on to become one of the label's earliest stars. In 1954, she moved to Los Angeles to record The Wallflower. Her career had begun to soar by 1960, due in no small part to songs like Id Rather Go Blind and At Last.. [31], In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her number 62 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[32]. The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Two films highlight role of Jewish immigrants in popularizing blues and rock", "Fictional History: What It Was Like to Start Rock 'n' Roll, Sort Of", Chess Records: How Two Polish Brothers Made Music History, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leonard_Chess&oldid=1145483368, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from December 2016, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 19 March 2023, at 11:03. Record Producer, Music Executive. Become a member to support the independent voice of Dallas Phil and his brother, Leonard Chess, emigrated to the. Presley died a year later. Before joining the cast, Adrien took home the 2003 Oscar Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the 2002 film The Pianist.After his fantastic portrayal of Leonard in Cadillac Records, he went on to star in a plethora of films and TV series that include Midnight in Paris, Clean . [53] Both were musicians and eventually performed professionally with their mother; Donto played drums at Montreux in 1993, and Sametto played bass guitar circa 2003, among other performances and tours. Like the song says, I just dont want to be free. When Leonard Chessthe founder of Jamess label, Chess Recordsfirst heard the song, James says, he got up and left the room cause he started crying When he came back in the room, he said, Etta, its a mother its a mother.. local news and culture, Robert Wilonsky He's especially upset over how 'Cadillac Records,' a film that stars Beyonce as Etta James and Oscar-winner Adrien Brody as Leonard Chess, cuts Leonard's brother, Phil, the co-founder of . Lejzor became Leonard. She also often performed at free summer arts festivals throughout the United States. [19] After a couple of years of minor hits, James's career started to suffer after 1965. They quickly went to Chicago to join their father, Joseph, who was already engaged in the liquor business, which was illegal at the height of Prohibition and controlled in Chicago by Al Capone.

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