Lady Sings the Blues

Kirk Baird

Friday, Oct. 5, 2001 | 7:51 a.m.

In 1995 legendary blues singer Etta James released the autobiography "Rage to Survive."

The title couldn't be more appropriate.

Over the course of her nearly 45-year career, James, 63, has done nothing but survive -- through bad relationships, drug and alcohol addiction, and a career that's been hot and cold.

Beginning in the late '50s with the single "The Wallflower" (originally titled "Roll With Me Henry"), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (class of '93) continued to release a string of hits throughout the '60s, including "All I Could Do is Cry," "Something's Got a Hold on Me," "At Last" and "Tell Mama."

In the '70s, however, even as her career began to wane due in large part to a heroin addiction, she was still considered an icon among other artists -- the Rolling Stones tapped her as the opening act for its1978 world tour.

By the mid-'80s, though, James, who performs tonight at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, began a career resurgence that has continued through her latest album, "Blue Gardenia," a collection of jazz standards and pop hits from the 1930s-'50s.

In a recent phone interview from James' home in Riverside, Calif., the Sun spoke with the singer whom Jerry Wexler, the legendary producer for Atlantic Records, once described as "the greatest of all modern blues singers."

Las Vegas Sun: You've established yourself as a R&B and jazz singer. But in 1997 you made a semi-country album, "Love's Been Rough on Me."

Etta James: I've never really heard a black woman sing country music. I've always considered rhythm and blues, in a way, country since some of it sounds country. I've noticed some of the country artists, they seem to think that when they are singing country songs, that they're singing rhythm and blues.

But I really like country music. I like the storyline. I like to believe what they talk about. Everything they sing about is true; it's true to life.

Sun: Is it important, then, for you to identify with the lyrics -- even if you didn't write the song?

EJ: I have to identify. I just don't sing a song. I like to really be able to relate to any song I sing, whether it's blues, jazz or anything. I want to be able to identify with what I'm singing about and not just sing it.

Sun: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum put "Tell Mama" in its list of 500 songs that shaped rock 'n' roll. Which is your favorite song you've recorded?

EJ: I think it would proably be "At Last." I could pick the songs, but I don't dare pick any others because everybody wants "At Last." I almost have to go with what everybody else likes and then I'll like it, too. But "Tell Mama," nah. I think it's more or less "At Last."

Sun: "Rage to Survive" is very forthcoming about the sordid aspects of your career. Was it difficult to be so candid?

EJ: It's pretty easy for me to open up. I'm pretty truthful and I don't really have anything to hide. If you don't have anything to hide, why not? Everybody wants to know everything about you anyway. Rather than having a thousand reporters calling you asking you the same thing over and over again, they can get the book and can read and hear things they would never know.

Sun: When you think of some of today's female pop stars, such as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, it seems they're more about hitting the high note than delivering any warmth or soul to the song.

EJ: I never have liked that. Where's the soul there? I'm not saying that about Whitney or Mariah. Some singers think the higher they can go, the greater. If it's like that, what they should do is be opera singers.

Sun: Looking back on your career, it seems to have been a roller coaster -- with highs and lows. At this point, though, you've been experiencing a career resurgence since the mid-'80s. That's got to make you feel good.

EJ: I'm not one of those people who's all jumping and down and clapping my hands together. I'm 63 years old. I thank God that I'm able to be there. With all the other things that I've done, I could have very easily not been around. I'm very happy to still be here and be singing and be playing. It seems I get more (fans) every time I get a record out.

Sun: Why is that?

EJ: I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm a good girl now and I don't do all the bad things (laughs). I don't drink, I don't do drugs -- I don't do any of that stuff that I used to do. I've got two chidlren and I've got four grandkids. I think the time comes in your life that you just decide that you've got to straighten up and do right. That's what I'm doing.

Sun: When you were just beginning your career, is this how you would have wanted it to turn out?

EJ: This is exactly the way I wanted. I never thought it would be. I wanted to be a singer and I wanted to be singing in front of people.