Etta James
By Jonny Whiteside
For a black woman in mid-20th century America, life was an almost guaranteed dead end, a double whammy of sexist-racist oppression that so severely marginalized and limited one’s choices it seemed foolhardy to even dream of better conditions. When R&B singer Etta James found one of the only escape routes available to African-Americans--the blues--she climbed on board, and before long, found herself driving that train, at full steam, into previously uncharted musical territories. The journey was circuitous, fraught with peril and nearly killed her more than once, but the ultimate outcome was an inarguable triumph, personally and... Read More
- City Of Origin:
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Genre:
- Blues, Soul, R&B
- Birthdate:
- 01/25/1938
