Sensational 60’s vocalist, Etta James, has passed away today at age 73. “Miss Peaches” had been suffering from leukemia as well as dementia, and died at a hospital in Riverside California. Its a sad day in the music world anytime such an influential and talented artist dies, but she has left behind beautiful music that will play on. She lead the way for female musicians during a time when “most of the blues of that day was done by men. Women just didn’t have the nerve.”- Words from Etta herself. For this and many other reasons, she was awarded a lifetime achievement grammy.
Personally, she’s always reminded me of a male Bill Withers, with a little Amy Winehouse (even though she probably INFLUENCED Amy Winehouse.) Take a moment out of your day to pay some respects to someone who has done so much for music.
“My mother always told me, even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it. I’d like to think I did that.- Etta James