With the recent passing of Jazz/Blues/R&B great, Etta James, I thought it only appropriate to post one of my fav songs by her. She died Jan 20, 2012, just 5 days shy of her 74th birthday.
Born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1925 and reported to be the illegitimate daughter of pool shark Minnesota Fats, Etta James was the premiere vocalist at Chess Records (as seen in the movie Cadillac Records, portrayed by a pretty turrible Beyonce...I would have cared for a PERFECT Faith Evans to play her...but anywho). She started her career in the 50s, and lasted until her death. She had a pretty terrible and rocky childhood, bouncing from caregiver to caregiver. She used her "femininity" to get what she want. Needless to say, Etta was a FOX back in the day.
Her most famous song, of course, is her rendition of "At Last", played at almost every wedding, and the moody, soulful and mournful, "I'd Rather go Blind". But my fav Etta Jams song is def "A Sunday Kind of Love". It'd hopepul, happy, and dare I say "blissful". She wants a love that last beyond a fling...something that is permanent and steady. Don't we all want that??
According to Wiki: Very few people would associate this song with jazz great Louis Prima, but he wrote it in 1946 along with Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, and Stan Rhodes. "A Sunday Kind Of Love" was first popularly recorded in '46 by Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra with Fran Warren doing the vocal, and it has since been recorded by many including this version by Etta James in 1961 masterfully produced by Leonard and Phill Chess.
Etta was all of that and then some. Please pay homage to this great Godmother of R&B and get you some The Best of Etta James.
Maybe you'll have a little "Sunday kinda love"
Born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1925 and reported to be the illegitimate daughter of pool shark Minnesota Fats, Etta James was the premiere vocalist at Chess Records (as seen in the movie Cadillac Records, portrayed by a pretty turrible Beyonce...I would have cared for a PERFECT Faith Evans to play her...but anywho). She started her career in the 50s, and lasted until her death. She had a pretty terrible and rocky childhood, bouncing from caregiver to caregiver. She used her "femininity" to get what she want. Needless to say, Etta was a FOX back in the day.
Her most famous song, of course, is her rendition of "At Last", played at almost every wedding, and the moody, soulful and mournful, "I'd Rather go Blind". But my fav Etta Jams song is def "A Sunday Kind of Love". It'd hopepul, happy, and dare I say "blissful". She wants a love that last beyond a fling...something that is permanent and steady. Don't we all want that??
According to Wiki: Very few people would associate this song with jazz great Louis Prima, but he wrote it in 1946 along with Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, and Stan Rhodes. "A Sunday Kind Of Love" was first popularly recorded in '46 by Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra with Fran Warren doing the vocal, and it has since been recorded by many including this version by Etta James in 1961 masterfully produced by Leonard and Phill Chess.
Etta was all of that and then some. Please pay homage to this great Godmother of R&B and get you some The Best of Etta James.
Maybe you'll have a little "Sunday kinda love"
Goodness, what a loss! :( Rest in Peace, Ms. Etta!
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