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Etta James (b. Jamesetta Hawkins January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, California) is an American Blues, R&B and gospel singer.

She received her first professional vocal training at the age of 5, from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St. Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Her family moved to San Francisco, California in 1950, and in 1952 the trio (the Creolettes) she had formed with two of her friends came to the attention of Johnny Otis. Otis reversed the syllables of her first name to give her her stage name and began recording her. Her first record, and her first R & B hit, was her own composition, "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)," an answer song to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie." She recorded it in 1954 with the Otis band and Richard Berry, who sang the second vocal. The song was later a hit in the white market for Georgia Gibbs, re-written as "Dance with Me, Henry". She briefly recorded as Etta James & the Peaches, releasing several hits before signing to Chess Records in 1960.

James released several duets with Harvey Fuqua (of The Moonglows) that became major R&B hits, as well as her classic "At Last". However, her mainstream success was limited. In 1967, James recorded "Tell Mama" and "I'd Rather Go Blind", with "At Last" perhaps her most enduring songs, in Muscle Shoals. Her singing is characterized by accomplished vocal technique and strong jazz influences. She won the Grammy for best jazz vocal in 1994 for her CD Mystery Lady, a collection of songs associated with Billie Holliday, and in 2004 won the Grammy for best contemporary blues album with Let's Roll. In 2003 she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

To a younger generation, Etta is known for the Muddy Waters song "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", used in television commercials for Coca-Cola and for John Smith's bitter. The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and Foghat have also recorded the song.

Drug-related and romantic problems interfered with her career, but James managed to maintain a career throughout the latter half of the 20th century and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame. Her pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

In 2003 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Singles

• "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" (1955) R&B: #1
• "Hey Henry" (1955)
• "Good Rockin' Daddy" (1955) R&B: #6
• "W-O-M-A-N" (1955)
• "Number One" (1955)
• "Shortnin' Bread Rock" (1956)
• "Tough Lover" (1956)
• "Good Lookin'" (1956)
• "The Pick-Up" (1957)
• "Come What May" (1957)
• "Sunshine of Love" (1958)
• "If I Can't Have You" (1960) R&B: #6 Pop: #52
• "Spoonful" (1960) R&B: #12 Pop: #78
• "All I Could Do Was Cry" (1960) R&B: #2 Pop: #33
• "My Dearest Darling" (1960) R&B: #5 Pop: #34
• "At Last" (1961) R&B: #2 Pop: #47
• "Don't Go to Strangers" (1960) R&B: ? Pop: #36
• "Trust in Me" (1961) R&B: #4 Pop: #30
• "Fool That I Am" (1961) R&B: #14 Pop: #50
• "Dream" (1961) Pop: #55 b-side of "Fool That I Am"
• "Don't Cry, Baby" (1961) R&B: #6 Pop: #39
• "Seven Day Fool" (1961) Pop: #95
• "It's Too Soon to Know" (1961) Pop: #54 b-side to "Seven Day Fool"
• "Something's Got a Hold on Me" (1962) R&B: #4 Pop: #37
• "Stop the Wedding" (1962) R&B: #6 Pop: #34
• "Fools Rush In" (1962)
• "Next Door to the Blues" (1962) R&B: #13 Pop: #71 b-side to "Fools Rush In"
• "Would It Make Any Difference to You?" (1963) Pop: #64 *
• "Pushover" (1963) R&B: #7 Pop: #25
• "Pay Back" (1963) Pop: #78
• "Two Sides (to Every Story)" (1963) Pop: #63 *
• "Baby What You Want Me to Do" (1964) Pop: #82 *
• "Loving You More Every Day" (1964) Pop: #65 *
• "Breaking Point" (1964)
• "Bobby Is His Name" (1964)
• "Do I Make Myself Clear" (1965) Pop: #96 *
• "Only Time Will Tell" (1966)
• "In the Basement - Pt. I" (1966) Pop: #97
• "I Prefer You" (1967) R&B: #42
• "Don't Pick Me For Your Fool" (1967)
• "842-3089" (1967)
• "Tell Mama" (1968) R&B: #10 Pop: #23
• "Security" (1968) R&B: #11 Pop: #35
• "I Got You Babe" (1968) R&B: #32 Pop: #69
• "You Got It" (1968)
• "Almost Persuaded" (1969) R&B: #32 Pop: #79
• "Miss Pitiful" (1969)
• "Tighten Up Your Own Thing" (1969)
• "Sound of Love" (1970)
• "Losers Weepers - Pt. 1" (1970)
• "Nothing From Nothing Leaves Nothing" (1970)
• "Take Out Some Insurance" (1971)
• "I Found a Love" (1972)
• "All the Way Down" (1973) R&B: #29
• "Leave Your Hat On" (1974) R&B: #76
• "Out on the Street, Again" (1974) R&B: #84
• "Jump Into Love" (1976) R&B: #92
• "Piece of My Heart" (1978) R&B: #93
• "Sugar on the Floor" (1978)
• "Mean Mother" (1980)

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