Singing great Etta James, famous for “At Last” and many other hits, has died, CNN reports. She was 73.
Her long-running friend and manager Lupe De Leon said she died from complications from leukemia and had her husband and sons by her side in Riverside, California. She would have turned 74 next Wednesday. The singer had been battling a number of health issues in recent years, including dementia and hepatitis C.
“This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world,
De Leon said. “She was a true original who could sing it all – her music defied category. I worked with Etta for over 30 years. She was my friend and I will miss her always.”
James was discovered by Johnny Otis (who also died recently), and had her first hit in the ’50s as a teenager. She later joined the iconic Chess label and scored a string of pop and R&B hits, including “Stormy Weather” and “At Last.” She won six Grammys, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and continued to tour and record until recent years.
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