Adele Honors Etta James, Along With Justin Bieber and Kelly Clarkson
A public viewing for Etta James will be held Friday, for those who would like to pay tribute to the R&B legend, although many artists have already found their own way to honor their fellow musician.
In her Radio City Music Hall performance over the weekend, Kelly Clarkson paid tribute by singing "I'd Rather Go Blind" in honor of Etta James. Adele, who announced she was taking a singing break to give her vocal chords a rest, also paid tribute to James on her website.
"What a lady Etta James was. She was the ultimate original. Her voice was breath taking and her songs are reflections we all recognise in some way or another," Adele wrote.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"It's an honour every time I hear her voice. I saw her at BB Kings in New York a few years ago, and it was something I will remember forever. Thank you to Etta James. And i send all my love to her family and friends."
Even Justin Bieber took to Twitter to write his condolences for James. "RIP to the great Etta James," he tweeted.
Etta James began her career in the mid 1950's, possibly best known for singing "At Last." During her career she won six Grammy's and 17 Blues Music Awards. She is said to have connected rhythm and blues with rock and roll, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. She was also inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and twice, into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Friday's public viewing will be held in the evening at Inglewood Cemetery in Inglewood, California according to CNN. James suffered dementia and hepatitis C. She was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2010, her death attributed to complications from the disease. Wednesday would have marked her 74th birthday.
