Originally Posted by
Perdita
Etta Jams has died at the age of 73.
The singer passed away in a hospital in Riverside, California after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2010, according to her longtime friend and manager Lupe De Leon.
James was with her husband Artis Mills and her sons when she died from complications with leukaemia, and would have turned 74 on Wednesday (January 25).
"This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world," De Leon said in statement.
"She was a true original who could sing it all - her music defied category. I worked with Etta for over 30 years. She was my friend and I will miss her always."
James first appeared on the music scene in 1955, but didn't release her debut album - titled At Last! - until 1961.
Throughout her career, she opened concerts for The Rolling Stones, won six Grammy Awards and was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame back in 1993.
RIP Etta