Etta James R.I.P.

ETTA JAMES: Celebrities Share Their Reaction

A wide range of stars have commented on the death Friday morning of Etta James at the age 73.

• Aretha Franklin: "Etta James was one of the great soul singers of our generation. An American original! I loved 'Pushover,' 'At Last' and almost any- and everything she recorded!!! When Etta SUNG, you heard it!"
• Darlene Love: "I will continue to honor my fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Etta James in all of my upcoming shows by performing her classic hit 'At Last'."
• Graham Nash: "One of the biggest smiles I remember was on the face of my friend Ahmet Ertegun, founder and moving force behind Atlantic Records, as I introduced him to Etta... I was working at Conway Studios in Hollywood at the same time that Etta was making a record... Strangley enough, Ahmet had never ever met Etta but he was a huge fan and was positively spell bound at the thought of meeting her... I'd never seen Ahmet so tongue-tied."
• Bryan Adams: "Etta James .... one of the best voices of all time ....RIP."
• Paul Rodgers of Bad Company: "A fine lady. A musical angel. Her spirit lives on in her music and will continue to inspire."
• Former Yes singer Jon Anderson: "An amazing woman, I saw her sing so many years ago, total voice of power and truth.....her voice will live forever, as will she."
• David Clayton-Thomas of Blood Sweat and Tears: "I recorded a duet with Etta around 1971 on a solo album for RCA, [it] was the Sam & Dave classic 'When Somethin' Is Wrong With My Baby.' What a treat to sing with her... she will be missed."
• Mary Wilson of The Supremes: "I listened to her all my life. My CD collection has three shelves of her CDs. Florence Ballard used to sing her music all the time. Florence had a voice similar to Etta's, rough, raw but [one that] could also be tender and sweet. She was a big star to those of us in the black community when I was growing up. Someone with her talent should have been a huge star, even now. I do not think we celebrate our own heroes the way other countries do their stars; they knight them. We celebrate them after they die."
• Slash of Guns 'n' Roses: "Etta James was one of the most iconic, influential blues singers of all time. Male or female. It's really as simple as that. She was the bar. Nobody is going to replace that voice."
• Peter Rivera of Rare Earth: "Etta was one of my first influences. I loved her song 'Trust In Me' and I couldn't stop playing it. She had a style that was on a par with Ray [Charles] and will always be remembered as a pure soul class singer."
• Helen Reddy: "Sorry that I never got to know Etta -- a wonderful talent. Her 'At Last' never failed to bring me to tears. She is irreplaceable."
• Deborah Bonham, sister of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham: "From an early age I would listen to Etta sing -- her passion and soul, strength and vulnerability made her unique, she lived her songs and made you live them with her... a true inspiration."
• Florence LaRue of The Fifth Dimension: "Etta James was a good example of being true to one's self. This honesty was reflected in her singing. Though others tried to imitate her style, she never copied anyone else, but made the song she was singing hers! What a talent!!!"
• Shannon Tweed-Simmons, the wife of Gene Simmons: "Etta James, you have been an inspiration to my family for our lifetime. Thank you, RIP."
• Actress Jessica Alba (via Twitter): "You are a legend and one of my all time faves -- thank you for giving us all the gift of song. What a voice!"
• Guitarist Dennis Coffey: "Her performance on 'At Last' was legendary. She was a great singer."
• Actress Kirstie Alley (via Twitter): "At last my love has come along... my lonely days are over....RIP Etta James."
• Actress Melissa Gilbert (via Twitter): "At Last... Rest well Etta. You will be missed but, your music is eternal."