In the 1970s, Etta James’ stage presence was a fascinating paradox of vulnerability and raw, aggressive power. While the decade was a period of intense personal struggle for her, it also captured her at what many critics consider the height of her “earthy” vocal powers.

By the 1970s, the “little girl” quality of her early career had vanished, replaced by a deeper, whiskey-cured growl. On stage, she was often described as the “Earth Mother”—a powerhouse who commanded the room with a feisty, no-nonsense personality.

Performances were often gritty and “churchy,” blending gospel-infused passion with the “hot-blooded eroticism” of the blues. She was known for intense audience engagement. In smaller venues, like the nightclubs she played in Oakland, she was known to drop to her knees and sing directly to fans at the front tables.

Her 1970s sets moved away from the orchestral “At Last” polish toward a tougher, more eclectic sound. She leaned heavily into funky R&B and swampy rock. Key live tracks from this era included nine-minute-plus versions of “Respect Yourself” and her own anthem “W-O-M-A-N.”

She didn’t just sing the songs; she “worked” them, often extending tracks into long, improvisational grooves that allowed her band to stretch out while she manipulated the crowd’s energy with sass and verve.

It’s important to note that her 1970s performances were often a “comeback” effort. She spent the early part of the decade battling addiction and was in and out of rehab. By 1974, after a stint in a psychiatric hospital and rehab, her performances took on a new level of “survivalist” energy.

In 1971, Lennox began studying on a three-year Music Performance degree course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. It is one of a small number of quite elite British music conservatories predominantly for classical music study at third level. At college in London she studied flute, piano and harpsichord for nearly three years. Although Lennox studied for close to the duration of the course she did not finish her studies at the college. She found the amount of time devoted to music practice required to become a professional classical musician obsessive and felt that she was unconnected with the “whole cultural aspect.” Lennox lived on a student grant and worked at part-time jobs for extra money. She was unhappy with the direction she was going in and doubted her own talent when compared to her student contemporaries while at the Royal Academy and deliberated on what other direction she could take.

Lennox’s flute teacher’s final report stated: “Ann has not always been sure of where to direct her efforts, though lately she has been more committed. She is very, very able, however.” Two years later, Lennox reported to the academy: “I have had to work as a waitress, barmaid, and shop assistant to keep me when not in musical work.” Lennox attended the Dalcroze Eurhythmics Spring Course of 1974. She also played and sang with a few bands, such as Windsong, during the period of her course.

In 2017, the academy awarded her an honorary degree of Doctorate. In her acceptance speech of her honorary Doctorate, Lennox said, “Many of my life experiences can be described as unconventional, idiosyncratic and synchronistic – as this event [graduation ceremony] proves to be no exception. By rights, I feel I’m not entitled to be here – but as John Lennon once famously said… ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.’”

Born in 1943, Tate spent the 1950s moving across the United States. Her schooling during this decade included Texas and Washington. She attended South Shaver Elementary in Pasadena, Texas, until 1955, followed by Chief Joseph Junior High and Columbia High School in Richland, Washington.

Because her family moved six times before she was 16, she found it difficult to maintain long-term friendships and was described by family as shy and lacking self-confidence. Despite her shyness, Tate began entering pageants in the late 1950s, which served as a prelude to her modeling and acting career. At age 16, she won the title of Miss Richland in Washington. She also won the title of Miss Autorama in Richland, which showcased her “classic 1950s style” of polished hair and modest glamour.

By the very end of the decade (late 1959), Tate’s family moved to El Paso, Texas, where she briefly attended Irvin High School before her father was relocated to Italy in early 1960. It was in Italy that she finally began her professional journey, working as a film extra and catching the attention of Hollywood producers.