ETTA JAMES & THE ROOTS BAND May 17, 2008

She has won three Grammy Awards, W.D. Handy Awards, has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. When you say ‘matriarch of blues,’ you think of Etta James…and when you think Etta James, you think “At Last,” a signature song that is etched in her lineup of all-time hits. And, at last, Etta James & The Roots Band will make an appearance at Marin Center to reprise a career that spans almost 50 years. Opening for Etta James is Blues singer Earl Thomas, who wrote James’ hit “I Sing the Blues” and has played European music festivals with such artists as Elvis Costello and B.B. King. The performance will be on Saturday, May 17, 8 p.m. at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Tickets are $60, $40 and $25; Premium seats are $85 and can be ordered through the Marin Center Box Office at 415-499-6800 or visit www.marincenter.org.

From her humble roots over 45 years ago, when she began her career by recording her first live album on a one-track tape machine that sat in the middle of the floor, to the crescendo of her career and now a bio-pic in production, starring Beyonce as the legendary blues woman, Etta James has seen her career take its highs and lows -- swings that make the blues the blues. Her first R&B hit, “Roll with Me, Henry” put James on the musical map in 1954. But it was her 19961 break-through hit, “At Last,” that reached #2 on the R&B charts and #22 on the Pop charts that carved her name in musical history. In the 60s, she racked up 28 Hot 100 hits and a dozen R&B Top 10 hits. With heart-felt ballads such as “If I Can’t Have You” and “All I Could Do Was Cry” and soulful rock songs like “Security” and “Tell Mama,” she established herself as an artist that could cover every musical base. After a slight derailment in the 70s, Etta jumped back on track in 1981 with her rendition of Randy Newman’s “God’s Song,” followed by her 1988 album “Seven Year Itch,” which proved her comeback a reality. She stepped into the soul genre in 1992 with her release of “The Right Time” and began recording more jazz music. In 2003, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked her #62 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. She continues to tour and perform at jazz and blues festivals across the country.

Official Website: http://www.marincenter.org