It’s already been a sad week, with Johnny Otis, an R&B legend, passing away. Now it has been announced that at 73, soul icon Etta James has passed away. Coincidentally, Otis had been responsible for overseeing James’ first No. 1 hit single, “The Wallflower (Dance With Me, Henry)” at age 12 when she was a member of The Peaches.
The singer who made “At Last” a signature song known throughout the world died on Friday, January 20th in Riverside, California. Her health had been declining since early 2010, when it was announced that she had Alzheimer’s Disease. Before her death, she had suffered a long period of declining health, including dementia, kidney failure, and leukemia.
She is gone, but certainly not forgotten as she has won the admiration of millions of fans, and also of fellow artists. “At Last” has been covered many times over by artists including Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Liza Minelli, and Christina Aguilera.
The current coach on The Voice spoke very fondly of the late soul singer as an influence and an inspiration.
“She said, ‘Don’t pay attention to any of the negativity out there. You keep doing what you’re doing and don’t care what other people think.’ She was so down to earth and so real. She called me an old soul and said that my voice reminded her of almost a Janis Joplin to a Diana Washington. She made my life wtih her compliments and the things she had to say.”
James will certainly be missed and her mark on the world of soul will not be forgotten. Check out a video below of her performing her signature, “At Last”:
