1. Etta James By: Kristen Kirkham

2. Life • Born as Jamesetta Hawkins • Born Jan. 25, 1938 • Died Jan. 25, 2012 • Started Career in 1954

3. Etta’s mother was only 14 (Dorothy Hawkins) • Never knew father • Due to the absence of her mother, Etta lived with many foster parents. (Sarge& Mama Lu)

4. Early Career • Etta’s first vocal training was from James Earle Hines. • Baptist Church • Sarge tried to have Hines pay Etta • Sarge would wake Etta and beat her to sing for his friends. • She developed a reluctance for singing on demand

5. Mid Career • Etta was inspired by doo-wop • Formed a group “The Peaches” • Johnny Otis Helped the group sign to Modern Records and changed Jamesetta’s name to Etta James

6. Later life • Developed a heroin addiction • Continuously in and out of rehabilitation • Developed leukemia

7. Doo-wop and Blues style • Doo-wop: group harmony, a wide range of vocal parts, nonsense syllables, a simple beat, light instrumentation, and simple music and lyrics. • Blues: 12-bar form built on the I, IV, and V chords, A scale with a flatted third, fifth, and sometimes a seventh, poetic form, Lyrics often stories or emotions, guitar, piano.

8. Etta & The Peaches • The Wallflower or Roll With Me Henery (Harmony, upbeat, simple lyrics) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2CfBHAtt4 • Hold Me, Squeeze Me (Harmony, simple beat, light instrument) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Qb0JELVusE

9. Popular songs • “At last” (story, emotion, guitar…) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-cbOl96RFM • “I’d Rather Go Blind” (Electric guitar, hovering organ, emotional) • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9sq3ME0JHQ&feature=kp

10. REferences • http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/01/etta-james-id-rather-go-blind/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etta_James • http://www.biography.com/people/etta-james-9542558