Rage To Survive

What a story from my favorite female vocalist! I was really taken aback by the honesty and sincerity of this woman! She spoke so candidly about her triumphs, struggles and many people along the way. This may be the most honest and detailed autobiography I have EVER read! This stands as a shining example of how and why to write. Most that I have read have clearly been nothing but a money grab. Lots to enjoy!

I'll be the first one to admit, I'm not a huge lover of books, but when I find one that holds my interest, I become engulfed in the story and it becomes hard for me to put it down. This book proves that point very well. This book is not only a must read for Etta James fans but it also should be recommended to anyone who enjoys reading about overcoming obstacles. Etta's story is so powerful and thrilling, that I firmly believe she was put on this earth for something far too great to measure. I have never read an autobiography more brutally honest than this one. Too many times in autobiographies (especially those by singers/entertainers) the author paints themselves in the best light possible, this is not a normal autobiography. In this book Etta tells us candid, dark tales of her life that seem so outrageous it leaves the reader questioning whether Etta is making this stuff up! During the time I was reading this book I learned so much about Etta as a person and the impression she made on me was as a caring yet honest person who unfortunately got caught up in the pitfalls of life and thankfully made it out with her life, barely! Etta's had many close calls and I'm sure she thanks the lord for giving her the strength to make it through them.Another reason to get this book is for her often times brutally honest nature about fellow celebrities including Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Bo Diddley and many others; Etta's descriptions of them are at times very candid. In one of the chapters Etta tells of the egotistical nature of James Brown and Marvin Gaye, But even when engaging in these unflattering remarks, Etta doesn't come off as mean, But instead as honest; Etta holds no punches on herself and others and if that means pissing someone off, then so be it! That's the way Etta comes off in this book.I should also mention that Previous to me reading this book I also purchased the Etta James  Gold  collection, To make me better appreciate Etta as a singer and after reading this book, I must recommend that collection as a companion piece to this book, To fully experience the "Etta effect". Sadly earlier this year I was shocked to learn that Etta has been diagnosed with the incurable Alzheimer's disease, so there's a chance Etta won't be here much longer. Get this book while Etta's still here with us and learn about this amazing woman before it's too late!

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.

Like many others, I was introduced to Etta James through great songs, like, "At Last," "I Just Wanna Make Love To You," "I'm a W-O-M-A-N," and "All I Could Do is Cry." The woman couldn't just sing the blues - she also lived them. That is beautifully illustrated, here, in Rage to Survive: The Etta James. Born to a humble background and a young mother, young Jamesetta Hawkins faced poverty, racism (she was biracial) and also early stardom as a firebrand of a singer. Her talent was made evident early. So was her penchant for mixing it up with deviant and destructive behavior.Etta does not a bat an eye or withhold anything in this amazing account of her soaring ups and plummeting downs. Etta didn't just dabble or "experiment" with drugs - she subsisted on them like they were her food, part of her very being and they shaped the decisions she made with relationships, living arrangements and many other day-to-day factors. In and out of jail, rehab centers and the arms of bad ass men, this sassy, sexy, sultry songbird lived life to the hilt, before her passing, earlier this year. She also leaves a legacy, with shoes no one can ever fill for eternity. Often imitated, never replicated. Read about her rage to survive. It will shift your way of viewing this amazing woman. A hell of a writer.

Reading this book opened my eyes to this great singer. For a person who loves music I just started to listen to Miss Etta wow the raw gut feeling in her music is the same raw gut feeling Ifelt in her book.The way the book describes her is an example of the way she sang Raw AND FULL OF EMOTION truly one of America's great singers. If you want to know Etta read this book the movie doesn't do her justice. I urge anybody interested in music to read this book

The Etta James story is one of the most interesting biographies that I have ever read. It was full of names and music that I've known all of my life, and so many other details that I had absolutely no idea about! If you, dear reader, are curious about the tragedies, hilarity, gut-wrenching truths behind what made Etta James the quintessential artist that she is, don't let another day go by without purchasing and reading this riveting book!

This is a story of survival. It's a pity that most of her problems are self inflicted but you have to read this book to understand her situation. Bad choices in men seems to be her downfall and her mother Dorothy must share the blame. But whatever the lady's condition she gave her all when recording and performing live. Her music is her legacy to the world and her story needs to be told read.I couldn't put it down and now have an almost complete collection of her recorded works and a better understanding of what it was like growing up fast in those troubled times of segregation. Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and her soul sister Aretha come alive as they inter-weave through her life and although it is not a totally happy 'Suzy Creamcheese' (as she puts it) life it 's real and tough. One of the best autobigraphies I've read..

bought mainly to read about her place in the blues genre but frankly she came across as a wasteful cow, and it put me off so i merely reference the names of the other greats she name drops in the book. Strangely she's not mentioned in their books!

I found the book very interesting,it gave an honest history of Etta's life,warts and alland an insight into the black music scene of the late 50's and 60's.If you have not listenedto Etta you are missing a great talent who can sing rock,rythem&blues,blues & jazz.I recommend this book and any of her recordings.

Great item , very reasonably priced. Arrived promptly and well packaged.

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic! Her story is fascinating and this is really well written!