Etta James (1938-2012)

Grammy Award-winning blues singer Etta James has died.

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Etta James attracted a broad following in the 1960s with her interpretations of jazz-inflected pop. Many of her songs, especially her 1961 string-backed version of the big-band-era pop standard "At Last," are frequently heard on film and television soundtracks.

James R. Minchin III /

In September 1974, James and famed boxer Muhammad Ali rehearsed at the Kinshasa Hotel ahead of a music festival in Kinshasa, Zaire. The country is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Horst Faas / AP

James (seen in 2003) made more than 40 albums and received a Grammy Award for best jazz vocal performance for "Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday."

Kwaku Alston

James performed at the 35th annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2004. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.

David Rae Morris / Reuters

Singer Etta James displays her star during a ceremony honoring her on the Hollywood Walk of Fame April 18, 2003 in Hollywood, California.

Vince Bucci / Getty Images

James continued to perform and release albums through recent years. "Blues to the Bone" was released in 2004.

/ RCA Records

James performed at the 2006 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans. James also experimented with rock music and was the opening act for the Rolling Stones in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Jeff Christensen / AP

Singer Etta James and singer/actress Beyonce arrive at the premiere of "Cadillac Records" held at The Egyptian Theater on November 24, 2008 in Hollywood. Beyonce played Ms. James in the movie.

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images

James (performing at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival) influenced generations of singers, from Janis Joplin to Bonnie Raitt, who called her "the bridge between R&B, blues and pop singing. . . . Like Ray Charles, Etta brought the passion of gospel, R&B and gutbucket raw soul music into the mainstream in a way that very few people have ever crossed over."

Rick Diamond/ / Getty Images

James saw herself foremost as a blues musician. She wrote in her 1995 autobiography, "Rage to Survive": "No matter how pop or schmaltzy a song, I can't help but put a gospel and blues hurting on it."

/ PRNewsFoto/RCA Records

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