Etta James Dies At Age 73

R&B legend Etta James died today at a Riverside hospital of complications from leukemia at age 73.

James died at 8 a.m. at Parkview Community Hospital, according to the Riverside County Coroner's Office. Flowers will be placed on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 11 a.m. today.

The Los Angeles-born artist was best known for such hits as "At Last," "Tell Mama" and "Loser Weepers." She would have been 74 on Wednesday.

She performed at the in Palm Desert after a stay at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage in the late 1990s, according to MyDesert.com.

Born Jamesetta Hawkins on Jan. 25, 1938, Etta began singing gospel in her church choir as a child and recorded her first album in 1954, at age 16.

She had a prosperous solo career through the 1950s, and despite battles with drug addiction, hit her peak in the 1960s, recording popular ballads that included her signature "At Last."

During her 40-plus-year career, she won four Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards, touring with such notables as Little Richard and Otis Redding. She earned a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Her early career was depicted in the 2008 film "Cadillac Records," which portrayed the lives of some of America's music legends. James was played by Beyonce Knowles.

James retreated from stage appearances in 2009, appearing on national television for the last time that year in an episode of "Dancing with the Stars," during which she sang.

She made her home in Riverside for the last two decades.

The singer's $1 million estate has been the subject of a legal tug-of- war between her son, Donto James, and husband of 42 years, Artis Mills, who is not the young man's father.

James was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. She also had dementia and a kidney deficiency and exhibited symptoms of organic brain syndrome.

-City News Service and Patch Staff contributed to this report.