René Marie Remembers Etta James

Rene Marie

Etta James

The sound system is an expensive one, the kind that lets you hear every nuance of a singer’s voice: its raspiness and breathiness; its aches, longing and loneliness. And Lawd, ha’ mercy, this woman’s voice reveals an ache in me I didn’t know I had, when she sings those first few lyrics a cappella: “I … want … a …”

“Have mercy,” I think. “What does this woman want? Somebody please give it to her!”