Soul legend Etta James dies

US soul legend Etta James has died at the age of 73.
She was diagnosed with leukaemia and passed away from complications relating to the cancer.
Perhaps best known for singing At Last, I’d Rather go Blind and Tell Mama, James only just released her final album, The Dreamer, in November last year.
However, she announced that the critically acclaimed album would be her last and it was revealed that she had chronic leukaemia and hepatitis C.
Since news of her death came last Friday (January 20th), floods of tributes have come in for the singer, who inspired many female artists.
Beyonce, who portrayed James in the 2008 film Cadillac Records, said on her official website: “This is a huge loss. 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 artist. 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.”
Beyonce famously sang a version of At Last at the inauguration of President Obama in 2008.
Other artists to offer their tributes include Aretha Franklin, who said that James was “one of the great soul singers of our generation. An American original!”.
Pop star Pink also wrote on Twitter of how James had inspired her and others.
During her career, James released her first, somewhat controversial, album At Last! in 1961, before facing personal addiction problems. She made a comeback in the late 1980s and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
She is listed as number 22 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.