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Etta James was a legendary American singer renowned for her powerful, soulful voice and her profound influence across rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, gospel, jazz, and blues.Discovered as a teenager, James signed with Chess Records in 1960, achieving fame with hits like 'At Last,' 'Tell Mama,' and 'I'd Rather Go Blind.' Her career spanned over five decades, marked by Grammy Awards, inductions into multiple halls of fame, and overcoming significant personal struggles with addiction and health issues.

• James had a turbulent childhood, raised primarily by caregivers. Her biological father was rumored to be the famous pool player Minnesota Fats, though this was never confirmed.
• She struggled with heroin addiction for many years, leading to arrests and periods of rehabilitation. This addiction significantly impacted her career and personal life during the 1960s and 1970s.
• James faced severe health problems later in life, including leukemia, dementia, Hepatitis C, and kidney problems. She died on January 20, 2012, from complications of leukemia, just days before her 74th birthday.
• Her rendition of 'At Last' at the 1960 Chess recording session became her signature song and an enduring classic, famously associated with weddings despite its complex emotional layers.
• James had a contentious relationship with Beyoncé, who portrayed her in the film 'Cadillac Records' (2008) and performed 'At Last' at President Obama's inauguration ball in 2009. James publicly expressed displeasure over Beyoncé singing 'her song.'