Etta James Dead: ‘At Last’ Singer Dies from Cancer, Best Songs Before Death [VIDEOS]

Etta James, legendary blues singer with classics like At Last, Something's Got a Hold on Me and The Wallflower, is dead at age 73 after a battle with terminal cancer leading up to her death.

James died at a California hospital Friday, as confirmed by her longtime friend and manger Lupe De Leon. De Leon told CNN that she died from the complications of Leukemia, which she was diagnosed with in 2010, with her husband, Artis Mills, and sons by her side.

This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world, De Leon told CNN. She was a true original who could sing it all -- her music defied category. I worked with Etta for over 30 years. She was my friend and I will miss her always.

James would have turned 74-years-old on Wednesday. She was hospitalized in December for breathing issues stemming from leukemia but was sent home on Jan. 5. Her doctor said James was considered terminally ill, and could only communicate with nods and simple words.

James lived a tumultuous, from kicking a heroin addiction, to winning six Grammys, to being diagnosed with dementia and hepatitis C, to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

James' first hit was The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry), which was No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1955. She joined Chess Records in 1060 and came out with the infamous At Last in 1960. After a long disappearance, James came back in 1967 with an album Call My Name. James also made another comeback record in 1989 with The Seven Year Itch.

Etta James' final album, The Dreamer, was released in Nov. 2011.

At Last