Etta James By jazzkay Jan 25, 1938 Happy Birthday Jamesetta Hawkins Period: Jan 25, 1938 to Jan 20, 2012 timespan Mar 12, 1960 Signed with Chess Records Apr 12, 1990 NACCP image award for outstanding performancess Jul 12, 1999 Grammy Awards Sep 12, 2003 AutoBography Jan 12, 2008 Diagnosed with Alzheimers Apr 12, 2008 Grammy awards Nov 12, 2008 Cadillac Records was played on screen Apr 12, 2010 Cancer Patient Jan 20, 2012 Death