Edd’s MANtra: Etta James dies at 73

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Sad news from cnn.com:

Etta James, whose assertive, earthy voice lit up such hits as “The Wallflower” “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” and the wedding favorite “At Last,” has died, according to her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. She was 73 and had been diagnosed with leukemia in 2010.

James, who also suffered from dementia and hepatitis C, died at a hospital in Riverside, California.

The powerhouse singer, known as “Miss Peaches,” lived an eventful life. She first hit the charts as a teenager, taking “The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)” — an “answer record” to Hank Ballard’s “Work With Me, Annie” — to No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1955. She joined Chess Records in 1960 and had a string of R&B and pop hits, many with lush string arrangements. After a mid-decade fade, she re-emerged in 1967 with a more hard-edged, soulful sound.

Etta leaves behind a enduring legacy of fantastic music. “At Last” has become THE definitive wedding song, and her vocals are unmatched.

Etta had been fighting illness for a very long time. I’m happy to know she’s at peace.