UnCultured

Etta James Dies at 73 

Following a battle with leukemia, singing legend Etta James has died at the age of 73. Known for iconic songs like “At Last” and “Spoonful,” James was a throwback to an older, more glamorous era of singing stardom, a diva who built the model for Aretha and countless others. She was an enduring figure, one who struggled with drugs and weight but never lost her stature in the canon nor her recognizable voice. Remaining active with a new album released in November 2011, she announced just a month later that she was terminally ill. “This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world,” her longtime manager Lupe De Leon said. “She was a true original who could sing it all — her music defied category.”