What a Woman!

I just heard that Etta James passed away today at age 73.  There is not a one of us that does not know the song plunged her into the stratosphere.  I know of 2 weddings, in my family, that "At Last" was played for the Bride and Groom's dance.

About 5 years ago, Daughter #2  and I  were so lucky to get last minute tickets to see her in concert.   She had aged considerably.  She was extremely frail.  Her health was declining even then, but that lady was a frisky as could be.  One of her sons was playing in the band behind her and she was making sexy jokes.


I didn't really think that was appropriate but, that's just me.  There was a little girl, about 10 years old, all dressed in her finery, sitting in front of us.  I'm sure her parents were blues fans and wanted to show her a legend at work.  This was a small auditorium with red velvet seats, not a bar.  

This version of her iconic song is not my favorite, but it's how she chose to sing it after decades on owning that sound.

I was pretty surprised to see that she had released another album just this past fall.  I didn't think she was strong enough and I had read that she was suffering from dementia.  But, she did it.  I do wonder how much electronic "magic" was used to make it work.

I have a couple of other favorites from  her. 

      

I'D Rather Go Blind

All I Could Do Was Cry

You can just hear the tears in her voice.  No one could sing the blues like Miss Etta James.

She will be missed.