Rating: 
Summary: A Survivor's Story!
Review: Despite all odds, Miss Etta is still with us: read this book if you have the courage to learn what life 'on the road' was like for an entertainer in the 50's and 60's, with the difficulty enhanced tremendously for African-Americans. The debt today's divas owe Etta and others from 40 years ago will never be repaid. The book pulls no punches: white record label owners shafted their acts in every way imaginable, yet there's a snapshot of Leonard Chess that you'll be thankful for. Etta writes of doing heroin with Little Esther, being in and out of jail, being up and down, getting her "X" by joining the Black Muslims, touring with Little Richard, the dangers of driving through Dixie in the late 50's and early 60's with a blond 'do' (and a monkey).There's another reason to buy the book: you can dine out for weeks by sharing the story of Etta's father. The book includes a photo of the two of them side-by-side. Yup, amazing resemblance. And no, I'm not going to tell. Etta did the Letterman tv show a few weeks ago; is still making music. She's a national treasure. When she appeared in Dallas I slipped a note to a member of her crew to pass along, thanking her for all the music that has meant so much to me. If you've never heard Etta, look for that two cd set of her Chess recordings. One listen, and you'll be hunting for a pen and pad to send her the same kind of note.
Rating:
Summary: A Survivor's Story!
Review: Despite all odds, Miss Etta is still with us: read this book if you have the courage to learn what life 'on the road' was like for an entertainer in the 50's and 60's, with the difficulty enhanced tremendously for African-Americans. The debt today's divas owe Etta and others from 40 years ago will never be repaid. The book pulls no punches: white record label owners shafted their acts in every way imaginable, yet there's a snapshot of Leonard Chess that you'll be thankful for. Etta writes of doing heroin with Little Esther, being in and out of jail, being up and down, getting her "X" by joining the Black Muslims, touring with Little Richard, the dangers of driving through Dixie in the late 50's and early 60's with a blond 'do' (and a monkey). There's another reason to buy the book: you can dine out for weeks by sharing the story of Etta's father. The book includes a photo of the two of them side-by-side. Yup, amazing resemblance. And no, I'm not going to tell. Etta did the Letterman tv show a few weeks ago; is still making music. She's a national treasure. When she appeared in Dallas I slipped a note to a member of her crew to pass along, thanking her for all the music that has meant so much to me. If you've never heard Etta, look for that two cd set of her Chess recordings. One listen, and you'll be hunting for a pen and pad to send her the same kind of note.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical Rags to Riches Story
Review: Etta James. Powerful vocals and supremem attitude. This blues/jazz diva can only have a story that's as dramatic as her musical repetoire. The biogrpahy is an easy read but full of emotional impact from her youth to her dificult struggle with her weight while climbing up the ladder to success. Family members bob and weave in and out of her life while she struggles to keep her head above the waters of black society. Read about her survival and the road she took to make it there. Again, it is an easy read but the themes she brings up from her life are tough to handle. A true inspirational story, the life of Etta James will help any reader to appreciate her will to succeed and encourage all of us to strive to be our best.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical Rags to Riches Story
Review: Etta James. Powerful vocals and supremem attitude. This blues/jazz diva can only have a story that's as dramatic as her musical repetoire. The biogrpahy is an easy read but full of emotional impact from her youth to her dificult struggle with her weight while climbing up the ladder to success. Family members bob and weave in and out of her life while she struggles to keep her head above the waters of black society. Read about her survival and the road she took to make it there. Again, it is an easy read but the themes she brings up from her life are tough to handle. A true inspirational story, the life of Etta James will help any reader to appreciate her will to succeed and encourage all of us to strive to be our best.
Rating:
Summary: Deep!
Review: I didn't remember Etta James from my childhood. I heard of her story by reading the Amaon Web comments and then decided to purchase a copy of her autobiography. I can say that now I do remember hearing her sing "At Last" and that I am a true Etta James fan. She has written the most direct and gritty autobiography I have ever read. I thought Tina Turner and Billy Holiday was revealing in discussing their lives, but they have nothing on Etta. I'm still numb from the thoughts of her sad childhood and hard core adult life. Because of the interest I now have in Ms. James as an entertainer I will purchase a couple of her albums (CD'S)to get to get a better understanding of her music. She is a true legend.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best music biographies I've ever read
Review: I dont remember when was the last time I read such a honest autobiography - while others would be tempted to describe themselves in the best light,Etta James achieved to be likeable BECAUSE she is honest person.Everything she went through,happy times,bad times,brutal,funny and sad,she tells with such a original style that her talking voice almost leaps out from the pages.I read this book in 2 days without a break,what a original character,never afraid to say it as it is,even if occasionally her story may sound down-right depressing,then she makes it clear that she still have that life-saving sense of humour.Besides making me laugh and cry,Etta also describes music legends from different perspective - Chuck Berry,Jackie Wilson,Sam Cooke,James Brown,Ike & Tina,Aretha,Keith Richards,Mick Jagger,Bo Didley,Ray Charles,Jesse Belvin,Esther Phillips... Etta knew them all and paint the picture as we may never knew it,from the backstage.While Tina Turner's autobiography curiously lacks any personal comments,Etta James book is all about its subject,this is the woman who is not afraid to say what she thinks and what a story she have to tell!
Rating:
Summary: HER MUSIC COMES FROM WITHIN.
Review: I have always felt that Etta James ranked with the very best of R&B singers. She might not have had the chart hits as often as Aretha Franklin, but in my mind Etta's rendition of "At Last" rivals Aretha's best known hit: "Respect", for sheer power and raw emotion. I read her biography: "RAGE TO SURVIVE" in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. It told me in a very detailed way what I had always thought Etta James was about: Class, Talent, Courage, Craziness at times, and a real trooper in the game of life--the hand she was dealt was a rough one, but Etta survived!! And because she overcame countless obstacles, we know her and her music today. One of the 5 best biographies I have ever read! Thank you Etta James! Thank you for your music, and thank you for just being Etta James!
Rating:
Summary: Brutally honest, compelling and riveting. What a life!
Review: I have read lots of autobiographies, but Etta James takes the cake. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat to the point where you cannot put it down. I read it in one day. Etta is honest and truthful about her life and pulls no punches. She describes in explicit details the life on the road as an entertainer and how drugs can make or break you and gives insight into the entertainment industry, relating to mangement and royalties, especially as it related to African-American singers in the 60's and 70's. I recommend this book to every aspiring entertainer and to everyone. I listened to Etta's records as I read the book and tried to image the time and place. No one tells it like Etta! A MUST READ!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Understanding Etta James
Review: If you're going to see Etta, read this book first. It will put some perspective on where this Diva has come from and help you understand some of her stage comments. To make your experience finer, read it while listening to "Her Best-the Chess 50th Anniversary Collection" and her newest CD "Roll On". It's an honest and fresh read, very revealing and very scary as to how she survived racism, drug addiction and recovery. It also gives alot of insight on the R&B world players in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I'd recommend it as a supplemental text in feminist/african-american/sociology college courses. It may be too controversial for high school courses but it would certainly get students talking. It's also a great summer read.
Rating:
Summary: True Grit & Honest Story
Review: Loved reading Etta James' story. I didn't know much about her life, but was quickly drawn into the story line. Etta James was very candid and the story was written so well that you felt that she was sitting at a kitchen table telling her story. The Etta James story tells the successes and failures of the music industry. This is one of the best biographies which I have read.
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