Etta James | 1990

Etta James at the Playboy Jazz Festival in June 1990. Early in her career, she fell under the positive and negative influences of musicians she revered such as <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PECLB002412" title="Billie Holiday" href="/topic/entertainment/music/billie-holiday-PECLB002412.topic">Billie Holiday</a> as well as some with whom she crossed paths on the road, including <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PECLB000944" title="Ray Charles" href="/topic/entertainment/music/ray-charles-PECLB000944.topic">Ray Charles</a> and <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PECLB000309" title="Chet Baker" href="/topic/entertainment/music/chet-baker-PECLB000309.topic">Chet Baker</a>, all of whom struggled with addiction. "All of my role models at that time, the ones I looked up to most, were <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="HEDAR00191" title="Heroin" href="/topic/health/drugs-medicines/heroin-HEDAR00191.topic">heroin</a> addicts," she told The Times in 1993. "I think subconsciously I thought that was a cool thing."

( Los Angeles Times )

Etta James at the Playboy Jazz Festival in June 1990. Early in her career, she fell under the positive and negative influences of musicians she revered such as Billie Holiday as well as some with whom she crossed paths on the road, including Ray Charles and Chet Baker, all of whom struggled with addiction. "All of my role models at that time, the ones I looked up to most, were heroin addicts," she told The Times in 1993. "I think subconsciously I thought that was a cool thing."

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