In Memory of Etta James
BET remembers the soul icon.
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Etta James: (1/25/38 – 1/20-12) - Blues legend Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins, lost her battle with leukemia on January 20, 2012. Tonight, James was among the fallen music stars remembered at the BET Awards 2012 for her groundbreaking contributions to music. Here we share just a few of the artists who were influenced by her immense and unforgettable talent.
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Common "Thisisme" - Common's 1994 song "Thisisme" samples Etta James' classic "Something's Got a Hold on Me." (Photo: Scott Gries/PictureGroup)
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Royce Da 5' 9' "Security" - Royce Da 5' 9' sampled one of James' lesser known 1968 singles, "Security," for a song of the same name off his latest album, Success is Certain. (Photo: John Ricard / BET)
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Kanye West "Addiction" - Kanye West chose to sample Etta's "My Funny Valentine" for the track "Addiction" off his sophomore album Late Registration in 2005. (Photo: Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)
Photo By Photo: Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post
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Beyoncé "I'd Rather Go Blind" - Originally recorded in 1968, Beyoncé covered the blues and soul classic "I'd Rather Go Blind" in 2009 for the film Cadillac Records. (Photo: Mark Davis/Fox/PictureGroup)
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Beyoncé "At Last" - In addition to portraying James in the musical biopic Cadillac Records, Bey's cover of "At Last" was the lead single from the film's soundtrack. Bey was also honored with the privilege of singing the song live for the first dance of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at one of the inaugural balls in 2009. (Photo: Myrna Suarez/PictureGroup)
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Christina Aguilera "Something's Got a Hold on Me" - Beyoncé isn't the only one who's brought Etta James to the big screen. Playing a frustrated restaurant worker with dreams of making it big in Hollywood in Burlesque, during one of the opening scenes of the 2010 film Christina Aguilera packs up her things and heads west while belting out James' "Something's Got a Hold on Me." (Photo: Tony Bartone/PictureGroup)
Photo By Tony Bartone/PictureGroup
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Cyndi Lauper "At Last" - Cyndi Lauper was nominated for a Grammy for her 2003 album At Last. Of course the collection of popular jazz songs included her rendition of James' "At Last," for which the project was named. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
