leonard chess and etta james leonard chess and etta james

When Jamesetta's adoptive mother died, Dorothy reappeared and took her 12-year-old daughter to San Francisco. 2 What happened to the owner of Chess Records? Thank you, Wayne. Theyoung superstar made adecent job of portraying her as a foul-mouthed, two-fisted singer, yet lacked the raging bull quality that made James sounforgettable. During her hospitalization, her son Donto revealed to the public that she had been previously diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008. Money matters: Though Leonard Chess (Adrien Brody) . Thanks for the share.. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. In October 1969, Leonard Chess died and by 1972, the only part of Chess Records still operating in Chicago was the recording studio, Ter-Mar Studios. "[citation needed] In 1954, James recorded and was credited as co-author for "The Wallflower" (a title change to the aforementioned song, "Work with Me, Annie"), which was released in early 1955. December 4, 2008 1 Did Leonard Chess really die in his car? James sang background vocals for her labelmate Chuck Berry on his "Back in the U.S.A."[20][21], Her debut album, At Last!, was released in late 1960 and was noted for its varied selection of music, from jazz standards to blues to doo-wop and rhythm and blues (R&B). Etta James, one of the great American pop singers of the last half-century, died this morning. Other details are missing or rearranged. Rage to Survive, James's autobiography, was published in 1995 and proved as blistering as her singing. The album took the same direction as her first, covering jazz and pop standards and with strings on many of the songs. Confronting Satan in a Dark Spanish Castle, sung by Beyoncto Barack and Michelle Obama. Phil Chess, co-founder of the iconic Chicago blues and rock 'n' roll label Chess Records, died Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz. I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back [19] Chess Records co-founder Leonard Chess envisioned James as a classic ballad stylist who had potential to cross over to the pop charts and soon surrounded the singer with violins and other string instruments. Thereafter (until the massive success of At Last) the hits stopped coming, though the quality of James work did not diminish an iota. Cadillac Records is a 2008 American biographical drama film written and directed by Darnell Martin.The film explores the musical era from the early 1940s to the late 1960s, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and a few of the musicians who recorded for Chess Records.. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. What are the 4 main characteristics is shared by all living things? It opens with James rather notorious Roll With Me Henry, recorded when she was just 16. James' 1973 album, exhibiting a mixture of musical styles, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Early life 5 How many children did Leonard Chess have with Revetta Sloan? Who was the singer that played Etta James? Leonard and Phil Chess were two Polish immigrant brothers that founded Chess Records. And, in 2008, Rolling Stone ranked her at number 22 in its rock-focused list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Also included are her near-orgiastic reading of Lieber and Stollers Tears of Joy and the sunny Come What May, which finds James is a slightly mellower groove, presaging her Chess work that commenced just a couple of years later. [51] She was in the Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital for 17 months, starting at the age of 36, and went through a great struggle at the start of treatment. Between this internal tug of war and growing up in a business that didnt cater much to a growing teenager, Ettas life journey was surrounded by upheaval and survival. They auditioned for the maverick R&B band leader Johnny Otis. She performed at the Playboy Jazz Festival in 1990, 1997, 2004, and 2007. First, a key spoiler: Cadillac Records is not the story of Chess Records, the blues label started in Chicago in 1950 by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess that featured among its stable of. It's all too much and not enough; either make the epic the story deserves or don't bother. James had been at Chess Records since 1960 and Leonard Chess wanted her to record a new album for his Cadet Records subsidiary. All rights reserved. James won six Grammy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Martin tells the story elliptically with the occasional bold proclamation ("I don't know what the fuck it is," Chess says of Waters' music, "but I'm recording it!") Chess was born to Polish-Jewish parents in Motal, now in Belarus. The life of Ms. Etta James is as fascinating as her voice, complicated as her vocal interpretations and raw as her passion. Adrien, who played Leonard Chess, is considered to be one of the greatest male actors in the entertainment world. (portrayed by Alessandro Nivola)[14] which are also fictional accounts of the ascent (and descent) of the label itself and the personnel who were involved or recorded at Chess Records. James participated with the rap singer Def Jef on the song "Droppin' Rhymes on Drums", which mixed James's jazz vocals with hip-hop. [7] In 1950, the Chess brothers renamed the company Chess Records. As a teenager on tours with Otis, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Ike and Tina Turner and Little Richard, James encountered and quickly embraced much debauchery. The Chess brothers moved the company away from black pop and jazz and other genres into down home blues music with artists such as Muddy Waters. [6] In 1947, Leonard became associated with Aristocrat Records, increasing his share in the company over time; eventually he and Phil would acquire complete control. Privacy Policy In fact, as truly great as that song is, James recorded another that was even betterand its one she co-wrote, although, for tax reasons, she gave songwriting credit to her then boyfriend. Thank you for saying what I have been thinking for years. Another version, performed by Christina Aguilera, was in the 2010 film Burlesque. Like most of her tone-deaf predecessors, Martin feels the need to make the truth more entertaining and ends up desecrating the history books. [9], James received her first professional vocal training at the age of five from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at the St. Paul Baptist Church in South-Central Los Angeles. Revetta passed away in 1983, at age 64 in California, United States of America. Music industry historian John Broven has written that "Leonard Chess was the dynamo behind Chess Records, the label that, along with Atlantic and Sun, has come to epitomize the independent record business. [58] In 1974, James was sentenced to drug treatment instead of serving time in prison. It produced two hit singles, "Fool That I Am" and "Don't Cry Baby".[23]. [citation needed], In 1975, James opened up for comedian Richard Pryor at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles.[26]. The New York Times went so far as to describe James as the Powerful Voice Behind At Last in the headline of the papers obituary. The title was changed to the less evocative The Wallflower and, despite its notoriety (or, more likely, because of it), it soared to number 1 on the R&B charts. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Leonard Chess Lejzor Szmuel Czy (March 12, 1917 - October 16, 1969), best known as Leonard Sam Chess, was a Polish-American record company executive and the co-founder of Chess Records. All rights reserved. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. (Muddy Waters' first trip to the UK was in 1958, not 1967; it is also unlikely that Leonard Chess and Etta James had a love affair. [11], Sarge, like the musical director for the choir, was also abusive. A life long lover of music, Hope is a graduate of Full Sail University where she studied music engineering. The follow-up, Good Rockin' Daddy, reached No 12 in the R&B charts in November 1955. Musician Bobby Murray toured with James for over 20 years. Dorothy was a hustler and showed no inclination to change her lifestyle. In 2003, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. [5] The family name was changed to Chess, with Lejzor becoming Leonard and Fiszel becoming Philip. [60] She died on January 20, 2012, five days before her 74th birthday, at Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside, California. No wonder Martin doesn't let the audience hear more than snatches of tunessave for Knowles' three extended numbers, clearly intended to sell the soundtrack. Yes. Now if youre looking for a name to sell movie tickets, I can definitely see the follow the money rationale. What did Leonard Chess son say about Etta James? From her first R&B hit, in 1955, the risqu Roll With Me Henry cut when she was only 15 through a series of classic 1960s soul sides (thelush ballad At Last, theraucous house rocker Tell Mama and the emotional agony of I'd Rather Go Blind), then a series of critically acclaimed 1970s and 1980s albums that won her a broad rock audience, to more recent albums of jazz vocals, James proved capable of developing and changing asan artist. When paired with the right producer and material, she delivered superb albums: Seven Year Itch (1989), Matriarch of the Blues (2000) and even her swansong The Dreamer (2011) find her interpreting lyrics with grace and venom. The Slate Group LLC. In more recent years,[when?] Leonard and his brother Phil became involved in the black nightclub scene on the South Side of Chicago in 1938 running a series of jazz clubs, culminating in the Macomba Lounge. Although her father has never been identified,[9] James speculated that she was the daughter of pool player Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, whom she met briefly in 1987. In Otis's version, she came to his hotel after one of his performances in the city and persuaded him to audition her. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Where is the border between Italy and France? Joplin had admired James and had covered "Tell Mama" in concert. [10][11] On October 16, 1969, a few months after selling his namesake label to General Recorded Tape, Leonard Chess died of a heart attack. An elite fanclub ensured James sang at the Los Angeles Olympics opening ceremony in 1984, appeared in Taylor Hackford's celebrated Chuck Berry feature Hail! She was placed on probation and ordered to pay a $500 fine. What happened between Etta James and Leonard Chess? James believed that King's hit single "Sweet Sixteen" was about her. The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. "It never happened." He. This brought her to yet another audience. What is also in question is why writer/director, Darnell Martin would write the role of Etta James with Beyonce in mind as stated in the New York Times. In fact, Phil, who was also left out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame proceedings upon Leonard's introduction as a pioneer in 1987, is never mentioned at all. down the road. After leaving treatment, however, her substance abuse continued, particularly after she developed a relationship with a man who was also using drugs. [36] The film included "At Last," performed by Beyonce. But in this version of the taletold in flashback, with overwrought narration provided by Cedric the Entertainer as Chess producer, session musician and house songwriter Willie Dixonthere is no Phil Chess, only Leonard, played by an actor, Adrien Brody, who, with his anachronistically tousled hair and Forever Fonzie wardrobe, looks as much like Leonard Chess as he does, well, Howlin' Wolf. As Etta so candidly stated to the New York Posts Page Six in 2007, she is going to have a hill to climb, because Etta James aint been no angel!. In 2008, James was portrayed by Beyonc Knowles in the film Cadillac Records, a fictional account of Chess Records, James's label for 18 years, about how label founder and producer Leonard Chess helped the careers of James and others. Just 52 years old, the elder brother had died of a heart attack in his car less than two blocks from the Chess headquarters. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Just 52 years old, the elder brother had died of a heart attack in his car less than two blocks from the Chess headquarters. Phillips supplied Chess with recordings by Howlin' Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and Doctor Ross among others. Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer who performed in various genres, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and soul. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001. Eventually, the two men meetduring a never-happened brawl at the Macomba, instigated by hell-raising harp player Little Walter (Columbus Short)and form a partnership, then a friendship. In 1950, Mama Lu died, and James's biological mother took her to the Fillmore district of San Francisco. Etta was definitely one of the greats! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The film Cadillac Records, a heavily fictionalised biopic about Chess Records, attracted wide attention due to Beyonc's appearance asJames. How to Market Your Business with Webinars. [59], James was hospitalized in January 2010 to treat an infection caused by MRSA, a bacterium resistant to many antibiotics. I was blind in my love life, and I was blind in my personal ways.