I watched the movie, Cadillac Records tonight, and was blown away with the part about Etta James and Minnesota Fats. I think it is pretty cool. I have no idea how I could have played pool most of my life, and never have heard this. A great movie, with very good acting. If anyone is interested in this, search on AZ and goggle it, some interesting posts here on AZ.
Minnesota Fats
- Thread starter irock
- Start date
irock...Probably because Fats never acknowledged that Etta James was his daughter...and in those days there was no DNA testing available. The author R. Dyer wrote an article about it last year (or the year before), and published it in Billiards Digest. He did quite a bit of research, and in the end could only speculate that James was indeed Fats daughter. However, there is no proof.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Very doubtful that she is related to Fats in any way! VERY!
It was a cool movie.
It is kind of interesting how cyclical a forum is as time rolls by. :wink:
Here is a thread form this forum that may interest you, irock, entitled: Minnesota Fats, Muddy Waters, and Etta James
People have strong feelings in both camps as it pertains to whether Etta James is related to Minnesota Fats. Both lived in an era when prejudice existed in the U.S. between blacks and whites. Myself growing up in this time, it was difficult for both races.
Some people actually hid the fact that they were friends with the opposite race, for fear of being chastised by their friends and family. Thankfully, this logic today is not as prevalent, though it still exists in some regions of this country.
Heck, in my parents' era, it was not acceptable for different religions to marry. My dad was Catholic, my mom Presbyterian, and they held off getting married until my dad was getting ready to go overseas in World War II. It was frowned upon for two religions to marry.
According to Taters, a musician friend of Etta's mother: Well Etta's sons are good pool players. Knowing her mom prior to her passing - and seeing a picture of Fats with her, perhaps a case can be made. As you know, Minnesota Fats was a hustler and did spend alot of time in LA's South Central during that time. Which, besides being a community - was also a heady world of jazz night clubs, after hours joints and assorted other activities. Bassist, composer, and jazz legend Charles Mingus chronicles this period excellently in an autobiography.
Etta believes it. I don't believe DNA testing was done. Dorothy was also her name and she was a hoot. She passed a few years back. I have a bathrobe she made for me.
It has been expressed numerous times on this forum that Fats vehmently denied being Etta's biological father. For sure, he wasn't a father to her in real life. I still cannot help be see a strong resemblance between the two fo them.
As you can see in the movie, Etta did not have a very happy life growing up. Family -- real family with a mother and father who love you every day of your life, to include siblings -- is something that money cannot buy. Fame and being a celebrity doesn't mean squat if your heart is heavy.
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JAM...Sadly, even in this modern age, that's still VERY prevelant in many parts of the world...including right here in the good ole USA. I happen to agree with you that Etta is very likely Fat's daughter. He did occasionally 'run' with some negro women in his younger days...as the picture with Dorothy proves.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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I love ya Scott but Fats did not "run" with women of color, in his younger or older days. They just weren't his type. He liked white girls exclusively and Southerners the best. I spent a lot of time around Fats and a beautiful black woman didn't do anything for him. Me, maybe :wink:.
Just because Etta James has a similar shaped face (and that's about all) does not make her Fat's daughter. Nice try but no sale.
They don't look like Father and Daughter to me , there is no resemblance I see.
Daughter
If you study her face. You can see the similarities in both of their Faces.
I do believe she is his daughter. The two photos above are good to compare but I
have also seen other photos of her and she looks like Fats.
Just my opinion.
If you study her face. You can see the similarities in both of their Faces.
I do believe she is his daughter. The two photos above are good to compare but I
have also seen other photos of her and she looks like Fats.
Just my opinion.
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Glendale
Banned
If my math is correct, Fats would've been in his early-mid 20's while Etta's mom would've been 14 or something. It's been a while since I checked, so I may be off a bit....but I remember she had to have been very young! Anyways, I think it's true. They look very much alike, and the story's match up. But who knows?
Many people have expressed their opinion that they believe she does resemble Fats. If you read some of the literature written by those close to Etta's mother, there seems to be two sides to this story. I have my own belief and will hold onto my opinon. Of course, only a DNA test would be proof positive.
Funny, everywhere I go people tell me they know someone who looks like me. There is one big casino executive that is supposed to be my twin but I've never met him.
I am reminded of a quote from an unnamed non-pool entity but a famous womanizer.
"I love to be with women in their teenage years. After they hit their twenties," he said, "men have crapped on them and they then have a bad attitude."
Many people have expressed their opinion that they believe she does resemble Fats. If you read some of the literature written by those close to Etta's mother, there seems to be two sides to this story. I have my own belief and will hold onto my opinon. Of course, only a DNA test would be proof positive.
Any collectors out there have a spittoone from back in the day?
Great story I hope Oprah or Springer has his remains exhumed for a DNA test.
When you see him, he will probably barely resemble you. Bob Henning thinks i look exactly like Bob Dylan. No other living human has said that thankfully.
From the first day I logged on here I could swear you look just like someone I've met over the years, but I'll (still) be damned if I can remember who. Quite funny you should bring this up.
As for me, I get that I look like Bill gates a lot. (Lucky me.) I always tell them "not in the wallet"...
But I suppose that's better than what I get from my neice, who insists that I look like Chris Elliot in Cabin Boy. Man, am I screwed, huh?
Thanks for the heads up. I use this service all the time and have added it to my list. Rep for you
Am I the only one that hopes Fats could NOT reproduce? 