Singer Etta James dies

The legendary singer, whose hits included Something's Got a Hold on Me and rhythm and blues standard At Last, has passed away aged 73 after a battle with leukaemia.

She had been diagnosed with the condition in 2010, according to her long-time friend and manager, Lupe De Leon, and died in hospital in Riverside, California.

Last month, Etta - who had battled dementia and kidney disease during the past few years - was admitted to hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties but was discharged on January 6.

Lupe said at the time: "She is at home with her husband and her family by her side. Her condition remains stable. We think it's best for her to be at home."

Etta first had a chart hit in her teens with The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry) in 1955. She then joined Chess Records in 1960 and had a string of R&B and pop hits including All I Could Do Was Cry, My Dearest Darling, Trust in Me and Don't Cry, Baby.

The singer always felt she had a sad quality to most of her songs, telling CNN in 2002: "Most of the songs I sing, they have that blue feeling to it. They have that sorry feeling. And I don't know what I'm sorry about. I don't!"

battled drug addiction

Etta's own life was not without tragedy and she battled drug addiction through much of her career.

After a low period she launched a comeback in the 1970s and later performed at the opening ceremony of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Etta was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and continued to perform into the '90s.

She said at the time: "I want to thank God for allowing me to come such a long way. I never thought about a hall of fame - I never thought about anything like that."

Etta's later work is highly regarded and she won Grammys in 2003 for her album Lets Roll and in 2004 for Blues to the Bone.

The 2008 film Cadillac Records told the story of Chess Records and featured Beyoncé Knowles in the role of Etta.

In paying tribute to Etta, Beyoné said she felt "fortunate" to have met Etta James.

The singer-and-actress says she always remember Etta fondly. She said in a statement: "Etta James was one of the greatest vocalists of our time. I am so fortunate to have met such a queen. Her musical contributions will last a lifetime. Playing Etta James taught me so much about myself, and singing her music inspired me to be a stronger artiste. When she effortlessly opened her mouth, you could hear her pain and triumph. Her deeply emotional way of delivering a song told her story with no filter. She was fearless, and had guts. She will be missed."

Earlier, Beyonce's former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland also paid tribute to Etta.

She tweeted: "CLASSIC. ONE OF A KIND. PURE SOUL. ETTA JAMES! Thank You for gracing us with your incredible talent & presence! (sic)"

A conservatorship hearing over the singer's $1 million estate was conducted earlier this week with the singer's son, Donto James, asking to be conservator rather than her husband, Artis Mills.

- Source: BANG Showbiz