Black Bull Jazz Cafe' presents Live Performance No Cover Charge... the late great Etta James

Etta James...born Jamesetta Hawkins...nicknamed "Miss Peaches"


This Legend in Jazz was born January 25,1938 in Los Angeles, CA. to Dorothy Hawkins and an unknown father that Etta believed to be Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone. She began her singing start-up and musical career, for that matter, in church...where else... at the age of five. She had the fortunate training of James Earle Hines, then musical director of the Echoes of Eden chori, at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Having endured a very tragic life during her young years in Los Angeles, Etta and her family, led again by her mother moved to San Fransico where she formed the doo-wop singing group called "the Creolettes". It was in San Francisco where Etta met bandleader Johnny Otis. They recorded the song "Wallflower" which reached #1on the R&B charts in 1955. This song jettisoned Etta into the spotlite. She began a concert tour with Little Richard which would lead to continued success.

The next big step in her musical career was her signing a recording contract with Chess Records, on their subsidiary label, Argo Records. From that label of Chess Records she recorded her #2 major hit..."At Last" which reached #2 of the BillboardR&B chart in 1961. Oddly enough, her #2 song became her signature song ahead of her #1 major hit. Perhaps the various versions of each song performed during different time period has something to do with this irony. As with many of our great artist Etta James had demons to fight throughout her life. Her addiction to herion led to her admission to the Los Angeles Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital...in and out for many years. No need to wonder of the effects her drug addiction placed on this wonderful songtress music career. However, being the resillient person she was Etta rebounded to later record her final two albums for Chess in 1978, Etta Is Betta Than Evah and Deep in the Night. Etta' unique style was initially classified as a R&B and doo-wop vocalist.She would later evolve into a recognized jazz vocalist winning the Best Jazz Vocal Performance award for the album Mystery Lady in 1994. First recipient and Pioneer Award winner of the R&B Foundation, NAACP Image Award winner and six time Grammy Awards.

Now sit back and enjoy another Legend in Jazz presented by the Black Bull Jazz Cafe...No cover charge...We have assembled some vintage and rare Live performances of this late great songtress. Tell your friends to come join you tonight at the Black Bull Jazz Cafe.
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