When I started working on this article, “Women of Soul,” I was initially doing research on another article, “
Women of Motown”. To my surprise, I discovered that many of the women who were on our most popular soul music singers list were not signed to this top-selling funk and soul music label. In order to make this a more comprehensive and complete article, I had to widen the parameters a bit. After all, what would a “Women in Soul” article be without Aretha? Or Etta James? Or Patti Labelle? Along with Diana Ross, these were the women who broke down the barriers for females in soul music genre.
Etta James
Upon hearing the first powerful notes of “At Last”, you just knew
Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins) was going to be a force to be reckoned with. James received her first professional vocal training at the age of five from James Earle Hines, the choir director of her church in Watts. Allegedly...
