Pianist Prez was then a professor at the New England Conservatory; his student, Read More Explaining the Taubman Approach, Everyone knows that Joe Williams sang the hell out of the blues, but do you know what else he sang the hell out of? Etta James: The Early Years - JazzTimes Leonard invested in Aristocrat Records and eventually asked his brother to invest with him. It never happened. He even asked James, a longtime friend, and she told him, He kissed me on the cheek once.. On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. He wrote that James had her first hit single when she was 15 years old and went steady with B.B. Also included are her near-orgiastic reading of Lieber and Stollers Tears of Joy and the sunny Come What May, which finds James is a slightly mellower groove, presaging her Chess work that commenced just a couple of years later. He said Id gotten all my moral values from Mama Lu, but I never knew a normal life.And then when Mama Lu died and Dorothy snatched me away, everything went haywire., While there was a number of other omissions such as the exclusion of Leonard Chesss brother, co-founder and partner Phil Chess, the question still stands, why were these truths never told? Between this internal tug of war and growing up in a business that didnt cater much to a growing teenager, Ettas life journey was surrounded by upheaval and survival. All rights reserved. With Fuqua, Etta went on to sing songs like I Just Want to Make Love to You, If I Cant Have You and later became the duo Betty & Dupree on Kent Records while also recording on Chess due to the lack of money they were paid on Chess. Testimonials, Shipping and Returns Policy Her funeral was presided over by the Reverend Al Sharpton and took place in Gardena, California eight days after her death. In the 40s, the two brothers owned a blues nightclub on the southside of Chicago where several blues artists would perform at night. Jamessang with unmatched emotional hunger and a pain that can chill the listener. Addicted to heroin and bad men, she lived a criminal lifestyle and was jailed several times. Cadillac Records begins with Dixon laying the foundation of the story, introducing us to "one white boy from Chicago" (Chess, first seen mid-coitus) and "one sharecropper from Mississippi" (Waters, tilling the soil). Everything. [6] In 1947, Leonard became associated with Aristocrat Records, increasing his share in the company over time; eventually he and Phil would acquire complete control. [20] In 1963, she had another major hit with "Pushover" and released the live album Etta James Rocks the House, recorded at the New Era Club in Nashville, Tennessee. [19] The album won James her first Grammy Award, for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female, in 1994. [57] He was released from prison in 1981. From the age of five, she sang gospel in the local church and later acknowledged the influence of the choirmaster, Professor James Earl Hines. [36] The film included "At Last," performed by Beyonce. Also in 1995, she recorded the album Time After Time. Janis Joplin modelled her singing closely on James and covered Tell Mama. Lejzor became Leonard. Just 52 years old, the elder brother had died of a heart attack in his car less than two blocks from the Chess headquarters. The original title of the song was actually "Roll with Me, Henry", but it had been changed to avoid censorship at the time (roll implying sexual activity). The true story is that the man who recorded under the pseudonym Howlin Wolf was a 300-pound farmer named Chester Burnette. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The title was changed to the less evocative The Wallflower and, despite its notoriety (or, more likely, because of it), it soared to number 1 on the R&B charts. In 1960, Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins), a moody singer with a contralto voice as striking as the platinum-blond beehive hairdo she wore in one iconic publicity shot, joined the Chess. "Shewas never there when I got off from school," James recalled, "so I could pretty much do what I wanted to do drinking, smoking weed." In the 1950s, Chess Records' commercial success grew with artists such as Little Walter, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, and Chuck Berry, and in the '60s with Etta James, Fontella Bass, Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Laura Lee, and Tommy Tucker, as well as with the subsidiary labels Checker, Argo, and Cadet. Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. And, in 2008, Rolling Stone ranked her at number 22 in its rock-focused list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Though this song has made a musical impact with its torturous cry of love lost, the first tears that fell for this song privately were truly that of Leonard Chess, head of her recording label, Chess Records in his intial hearing of the song. After leaving the Peaches, James had another R&B hit with "Good Rockin' Daddy" but struggled with follow-ups. [1] She faced a number of personal problems, including heroin addiction, severe physical abuse, and incarceration, before making a musical comeback in the late 1980s with the album Seven Year Itch. So heres to both Jordan and James, and to the great song they wrote together. The Hollywood Blues: "Cadillac Records" | Vanity Fair When Jamesetta's adoptive mother died, Dorothy reappeared and took her 12-year-old daughter to San Francisco. Thanks for a marvelous posting! When, in1971, the couple were arrested in San Antonio, Texas, on narcotics charges, Mills took the fall. It opens with James rather notorious Roll With Me Henry, recorded when she was just 16. The illness became terminal, and her husband Artis Mills was appointed sole conservator of the James estate and to oversee her medical care. [24] The album did not produce any major hits, however, and neither did the follow-up album, Come a Little Closer, in 1974, though, like '73's Etta James before it, the album was also critically acclaimed. [60] She died on January 20, 2012, five days before her 74th birthday, at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, California. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? King, Janet Jackson, Teddy Riley and many others. Her husband Artis Mills accepted responsibility when they were both arrested for heroin possession, and served a 10-year prison sentence. In 2001, she was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the latter for her contributions to the developments of both rock and roll and rockabilly. Legendary soul singer Etta James dead at 73 | Fox News The film Cadillac Records, a heavily fictionalised biopic about Chess Records, attracted wide attention due to Beyonc's appearance asJames. Before joining the cast, Adrien took home the 2003 Oscar Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the 2002 film The Pianist.After his fantastic portrayal of Leonard in Cadillac Records, he went on to star in a plethora of films and TV series that include Midnight in Paris, Clean . In 1989, the newly formed Rhythm and Blues Foundation included James in their first Pioneer Awards for artists whose "lifelong contributions have been instrumental in the development of Rhythm & Blues music". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Her final album for Private Music, Let's Roll, released in 2005, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. All rights reserved. [9], James received her first professional vocal training at the age of five from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at the St. Paul Baptist Church in South-Central Los Angeles. But in this version of the taletold in flashback, with overwrought narration provided by Cedric the Entertainer as Chess producer, session musician and house songwriter Willie Dixonthere is no Phil Chess, only Leonard, played by an actor, Adrien Brody, who, with his anachronistically tousled hair and Forever Fonzie wardrobe, looks as much like Leonard Chess as he does, well, Howlin' Wolf. About Us Leonard Chess Lejzor Szmuel Czy (March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969), best known as Leonard Sam Chess, was a Polish-American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Once asked to describe her style, she responded that singing allowed her to vent "all this bitch shit inside of me". Leonard S. Chess (1917-1969) - Find a Grave Memorial Yes. In the early 1960s, Chess became involved in the broadcasting business as part owner of WVON-AM radio and later acquired WSDM-FM, both in Chicago. James was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame a full eight years before her 2001 inclusion in the Blues Hall of Fame. Dec 4, 2008. After an excerpt of that song was featured in a Diet Coke advertising campaign in the UK, the song again charted, reaching the top ten on the UK charts in 1996.[16]. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has We calculated our top 40 new releases of 2022 We calculated our top 10 historical/reissue You never quite knew what Chicago bassist Kelly Sill was going to play (or what he was going to say). Phil Chess, Co-Founder Of Chess Records, Dies At 95 : NPR What did Etta James say about Leonard Chess? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. In time, Chess begins assembling his pieces: Howlin' Wolf, played with almost cartoonish ferocity by Eamonn Walker; Dixon, who here comes off as nothing more than a sideman; Chuck Berry, rendered as a savvy country boy who liked to show gals his ding-a-ling in the backseat of his car; and James, who already had a career before Chess signed the tormented torch singer in 1960, not that you'd know it here. He was influential in the development of electric blues, Chicago blues, and rock and roll. Etta James (Jamesetta Mills), singer, born 25 January 1938; died 20 January 2012, Blues and soul singer with a raw, emotional vocal style, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Under GRT and All Platinum In 1969, the Chess brothers sold the label to General Recorded Tape (GRT) for $6.5 million. Already a member? She is survived by her husband and her sons, Donto and Sametto. She later got married again to Abner Bernard Spector. and currently resides in Atlanta, GA as a Georgia Peach. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Theyoung superstar made adecent job of portraying her as a foul-mouthed, two-fisted singer, yet lacked the raging bull quality that made James sounforgettable. Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California on January 25, 1938; her mother was just 14 years old at the time, and she never knew her father, though she would later say she had reason to believe he was the well-known pool hustler Minnesota Fats. Leonard and his brother Phil became involved in the black nightclub scene on the South Side of Chicago in 1938 running a series of jazz clubs, culminating in the Macomba Lounge. Learn how your comment data is processed. The British pop singer Adele said that it was buying an Etta James CD when she was 13 that made her want to sing. She was continuously in and out of rehabilitation centers, including the Tarzana Treatment Centers, in Los Angeles, California. Following this brief success, however, she left Chess Records and did not record for another ten years while she struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism. But rarely is Etta James recognized among those pioneers. Leonard Chess (March 12, 1917 October 16, 1969) was an American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. Indeed, hurt, anger and self-destructive behaviour boiled beneath the surface of her vocals. 1 Did Leonard Chess really die in his car? In 1995 James recorded Mystery Lady, the first in a series of jazz vocal albums where she channelled the influence of Billie Holiday. In 1973, James was arrested for possession of heroin. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. According to Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, he had these words to say concerning the issue of this affair: "Now, my father was no angel, but (he) was never caught in an affair," Chess said. (A far better place to start would be Nadine Cohodas' 2001 book, Spinning Blues Into Gold, about the Chess Brothersyes, both of them.) and help keep the future of the Observer, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our, Dallas Observer's The Morning After Brunch. Minnesota Fats, Muddy Waters, and Etta James - AzBilliards Forums However when you fully inhale the intricacies of Ms. Jamess defiant nature and understand the surrounding issues that followed her life and compare them to Beyonces persona and acting range, it just doesnt scream a perfect match. 2023 Madavor Media, LLC. [71] Two other albums have also won awards, Let's Roll (Best Contemporary Blues Album) in 2003, and Blues to the Bone (Best Traditional Blues Album) in 2004. They renamed it Chess,. Is the movie Cadillac Records based on a true story? The follow-up, Good Rockin' Daddy, reached No 12 in the R&B charts in November 1955. Though Etta had a mother figure in an older woman affectionatelynamed Mama Lu, Ettas life spiraled after her death. Shes also a proud Florida Girl born and raised inFt. Lauderdale, Fl. In 1941, he married Revetta Sloan who was also Jewish; they had three children: son Marshall, daughter Pam, and another son Kevin. "My Foolish Heart" (Gene Ammons), "Rollin' Stone" (Muddy Waters), and "That's All Right" (Jimmy Rogers) were among the first releases on the new label. James was a star, yet one seemingly set on self-destruction. This self discovery wasnt revealed until Etta checked into a program in the Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital. Appreciate your comment. [citation needed], In 1975, James opened up for comedian Richard Pryor at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles.[26]. Knowles also recorded her own version of James signature song, At Last for the soundtrack. What happened between Etta James and Leonard Chess? In fact, as truly great as that song is, James recorded another that was even betterand its one she co-wrote, although, for tax reasons, she gave songwriting credit to her then boyfriend. He was 95. Having finally conquered her drug addiction in 1988, she began to struggle with her weight in 2002, weighing more than 400lb, she had gastric bypass surgery and lost 200lb, which allowed her to return to active singing and performing. Waters, recorded one day in the field by Alan Lomax (Tony Bentley), reckons he's got a future in the Big City and treads the tracks till he reaches Chicago. Phil and his brother, Leonard Chess, emigrated to the. Often controversial, always entertaining, JazzTimes is a favorite of musicians and fans alike. In time, other important artists signed with Chess Records, including Bo Diddley and Sonny Boy Williamson, while Willie Dixon and Robert Lockwood Jr. took on a significant role behind the scenes. [73] In 2003, she was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Former Artie Shaw vocalist Georgia Gibbs, signed to the far more powerful Mercury label, released a cleaned-up cover version, safely entitled Dance With Me Henry. It spent three weeks at number one on the pop charts. [67] In 2020, James was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. A Christmas album, Etta James Christmas, was released in 1998. James believed that King's hit single "Sweet Sixteen" was about her. [34] She performed six times at the North Sea Jazz Festival, in 1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Hope West isamusic enthusiast and music photographer who has captured artists like B.B. DMCA, General Contact According to Marshall Chess, son of Leonard Chess, he had these words to say concerning the issue of this affair: Now, my father was no angel, but (he) was never caught in an affair, Chess said. [1][2][3][4] He and his brother, Fiszel, sister, Malka, and mother arrived in New York in 1928 from Poland. Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California on January 25, 1938; her mother was just 14 years old at the time, and she never knew her father, though she would later say she. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. Sign in to continue reading, Christopher Loudon on the release of a new compilation of vintage material from the legendary singer. Her first solo hit was the doo-wopstyled rhythm-and-blues song "All I Could Do Was Cry", which was a number two R&B hit. But as early as 1954, James was, under the guidance of Johnny Otis, pivotal among the artists erecting musical signposts for Elvis, Jerry Lee and others who would follow. Leonard Chess (March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969) was an American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. Chess was born to Polish-Jewish parents in Motal, now in Belarus. With everything so wrong, how can there be anything right about Cadillac Records? Polish-American record executive (19171969), Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Phil Chess, co-founder of blues label Chess Records, dies", "Will the real music mogul stand up? [10][11] On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. A life long lover of music, Hope is a graduate of Full Sail University where she studied music engineering. She announced that this would be her final album. [31], In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked her number 62 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[32]. The song was written by James, Leroy Kirkland and Pearl Woods, while production was handled by Leonard and Phil Chess.It was released in 1962 as the third single from her 1962 self-titled album as a 7" vinyl disc.Musically, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" is an R&B track with elements of soul, blues and gospel. Her 1963 album Etta James Rocks the House was recorded live at the New Era club in Nashville and documents a formidable performer. As many families did, when they arrived in the United States the Czy family changed their name. In 2008, James was portrayed by Beyonc Knowles in the film Cadillac Records, a fictional account of Chess Records, James's label for 18 years, about how label founder and producer Leonard Chess helped the careers of James and others. Who was the co-founder of Chess Records? In her autobiography, Rage to Survive, she wrote that she heard the song outlined by her friend Ellington "Fugi" Jordan when she visited him in prison. James was raised by friends and relatives instead of her mother through most of . She added that she would have sung the song better. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Dorothy was a hustler and showed no inclination to change her lifestyle. The story of the early days of Chess Records was brought to the big screen as Cadillac Records in 2008, with singer Beyonc Knowles playing James in the film. For all its copious flaws, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story perfectly nailed the trajectory of every single rockudrama that has tarnished a legend's legendthe big bang turned sad whimper. Shescored a surprising (and sole) UK top 10 hit in 1996 when her threatening reading of I Just Want to Make Love to You became the soundtrack to a Diet Coke advertisement. Leonard Chess set new standards for the industry in artist development, deal making, networking, and marketing and promotion"[12] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, posthumously, in the non-performer category.[13].
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