Etta James passed away today.
She was part of the Chess Records group that dominated and changed popular music in the mid-20th Century, recording her unforgettable classics in the same studios as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Big Bill Broonzy and Howlin' Wolf helping to cement Chicago as America's most creative musical city.
Her influence can be clearly seen in many of today's greatest performers. Most notably Beyonce, who played her in the brilliant film Cadillac Records and unforgettably sang "At Last" for Obama's first Presidential dance.
Quite an achievement.
By helping to bring black music into mainstream popular culture Etta James has allowed us all to enjoy so much music that would otherwise have been ignored, thus depriving us of many other formidable and talented musicians.
I haven't listened to her music for a few months or so, but today she's all I'll be hearing.
No comments:
Post a Comment