Etta James, the fiery blues singer known best for her uncharacteristically sweet ballad "At Last," died Friday morning in Riverside, Calif., after a long battle with chronic leukemia. She was 73.
One of the first women inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, James began her career in 1954, at the age of 15, with her group The Creolettes and the racy-for-its-time hit "Roll With Me Henry." Her bold delivery and powerful voice quickly separated her from the crowd, as did her groundbreaking choice of material, leading Atlantic Records' producer Jerry Wexler to call her "the greatest of all modern blues singers."
"This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world," longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon told CNN. "She was a true original who could sing it all -- her music defied category."
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