In Memoriam: "At Last" Etta James

After a battle with leukemia, blues legend Etta James died today at the age of 73. Her successful recording career spanned more than five decades and 28 studio albums, eventually earning her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. Her signature hit was the 1961 R&B cover "At Last," a recipient of the Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1999 and the soundtrack to President Obama's first dance at his inauguration ball. With its cascading chorus of violins, the song has a dreamy, timeless quality that makes it impossible to forget. But the real triumph is James' vocal performance, both hypnotizing in its nonchalant romanticism and awe-inspiring in its raw power. It's the stuff that classics are made of. A