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Looking back at the life of a singing legend
Etta James, the legendary singer known for such '60s blues and soul hits as "At Last" and "I'd Rather Go Blind," died Friday, Jan. 20 in Riverside, Calif., at the age of 73. She had been suffering from leukemia and according to her manager, Lupe De Leon, succumbed to complications from the disease.
James leaves behind a musical legacy that culminated in early 2009, when she performed "At Last" at President Barack Obama's inaugural ball. She also became familiar to a younger generation of music fans from the film "Cadillac Records," in which she was portrayed (not entirely to James' liking) by Beyoncé.
James' career spanned seven decades and included hit records in a variety of styles, from blues and R&B to jazz and gospel. She battled heroin addiction in the '60s and '70s but eventually got clean and enjoyed a late career resurgence beginning with her 1989 album, "The Seven Year Itch." She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Blues Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.
