Etta James Biography: Albums, Age, Net Worth, Wikipedia, Height, Parents, Husband, Children, Songs, Death

Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins, was an iconic American singer-songwriter whose powerful and emotionally charged voice transcended multiple genres including blues, R&B, soul, rock and roll, jazz, and gospel.

Known for timeless hits such as “At Last,” “Tell Mama,” and “I’d Rather Go Blind,” she became a defining voice in 20th-century American music and a major influence on generations of artists.

Her gritty vocal style and commanding presence earned her multiple Grammy Awards, a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a lasting legacy as one of the most dynamic and versatile performers in history.

Profile

• Full Name: Jamesetta Hawkins
• Stage Name: Etta James
• Born: January 25, 1938
• Died: January 20, 2012
• Age: 73 years old
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Singer-songwriter
• Height: 1.60 m
• Parents: Dorothy Hawkins
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Artis Mills (m. 1969–2012)
• Children: Donto James, Sametto James
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $16 million

Early Life and Education

Jamesetta Hawkins was born on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. She was the only child of Dorothy Hawkins, a teenage mother, and her father’s identity remains officially unknown, though James believed he may have been famed pool player Rudolf “Minnesota Fats” Wanderone.

Her vocal talent emerged early, receiving training from musical director James Earle Hines at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. She did not complete formal higher education, instead diving into her music career as a teenager.

Etta was of African-American ethnicity and was raised in a Christian environment, though she later explored spirituality in broader terms during her life.

Career

Etta James began her professional career in her teens when she formed the girl group The Creolettes, later renamed The Peaches. In 1954, she recorded “The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)” with bandleader Johnny Otis, which became a hit on the R&B charts and launched her into the spotlight.

The success opened doors for James to tour and perform nationally, often as an opening act for major artists in the blues and soul circuit. Her early recordings with Modern Records positioned her as a rising star with a bold voice and fearless stage presence.

Her career soared in the 1960s when she signed with Chess Records, where she released some of her most enduring classics. Her 1960 debut album At Last! featured the iconic title track, which became her signature song and an enduring symbol of romance and vocal brilliance.

Throughout the decade, James continued releasing hits like “All I Could Do Was Cry,” “Something’s Got a Hold on Me,” and “Tell Mama.” Despite personal struggles, including heroin addiction, her musical output remained critically acclaimed, and she was lauded for her raw emotion and genre-crossing sound.

In later decades, Etta James reinvented herself with jazz and rock-infused albums such as Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday and Matriarch of the Blues, which earned her Grammy recognition. Her contribution to American music was acknowledged with her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Blues Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame in subsequent years.

Even as her health declined in the 2000s, she remained a revered figure, influencing artists from Beyoncé to Adele. Her final studio album, The Dreamer, was released in 2011, shortly before her death.

Social Media

Etta James does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Etta James was married to Artis Mills, who remained her husband from 1969 until her death in 2012. Mills stood by her through various personal and legal challenges, including periods of drug rehabilitation and health issues.

The couple had two sons, Donto James and Sametto James, both of whom were involved in music and supported their mother in her later years. James lived a complex and often turbulent personal life but was also fiercely protective of her family.

Discography

Studio Albums

• At Last! (1960)
• The Second Time Around (1961)
• Etta James (1962)
• Queen of Soul (1965)
• Tell Mama (1968)
• Etta James Sings Funk (1970)
• Losers Weepers (1971)
• Etta Is Betta Than Evvah! (1976)
• Seven Year Itch (1989)
• Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday (1994)
• Life, Love & the Blues (1998)
• Heart of a Woman (1999)
• Matriarch of the Blues (2000)
• Blues to the Bone (2004)
• All the Way (2006)
• The Dreamer (2011)

Live Albums

• Etta James Rocks the House (1964)
• Burnin’ Down the House: Live at the House of Blues (2001)

Compilation Albums

• The Best of Etta James
• At Last: The Best of Etta James
• Heart & Soul: A Retrospective

Net Worth

Etta James had an estimated net worth of $16 million, accumulated through her decades-long music career, at the time of her death in 2012.

Her wealth came from record sales, touring, royalties from her classic recordings, and licensing of her music in films and commercials. Even posthumously, her catalog continues to generate income, reinforcing her lasting cultural and financial legacy.