Was Rudolf Wanderone Etta James' Father?

[Renegade]

"Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American blues, soul, R&B, rock & roll and jazz singer and songwriter. She is the winner of four Grammys, seventeen Blues Music Awards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (in 1993), the Blues Hall of Fame (in 2001), and the Grammy Hall of Fame (in both 1999 and 2008). Having her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer in the 1950s and 60s, she is best known for her 1961 ballad "At Last", classified as a "timeless classic"[citation needed] and which has featured in many movies and television commercials.

Biography

Early life and career

Jamesetta was born in Los Angeles, California to an unmarried 14-year-old African-American mother, Dorothy Hawkins. According to Etta, her mother claimed that her father was the white Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and that they received financial support from him on the condition that they keep his paternity a secret. This seems unlikely, though it has not been definitively disproved. Etta was born in Los Angeles in 1938. At the time, Wanderone was known to be managing a pool hall in Washington, D.C. and had not yet become known to be the cross-country traveller he later became."


I know the article says that it's unlikely but.....

 

[poolplayer2093]

You never heard this before?

they actually talked about it in "cadillac records". if you look at the pictures i'd say she's probably right.

 

[JAM]

"Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins on January 25, 1938) is an American blues, soul, R&B, rock & roll and jazz singer and songwriter. She is the winner of four Grammys, seventeen Blues Music Awards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (in 1993), the Blues Hall of Fame (in 2001), and the Grammy Hall of Fame (in both 1999 and 2008). Having her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer in the 1950s and 60s, she is best known for her 1961 ballad "At Last", classified as a "timeless classic"[citation needed] and which has featured in many movies and television commercials.

Biography

Early life and career

Jamesetta was born in Los Angeles, California to an unmarried 14-year-old African-American mother, Dorothy Hawkins. According to Etta, her mother claimed that her father was the white Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and that they received financial support from him on the condition that they keep his paternity a secret. This seems unlikely, though it has not been definitively disproved. Etta was born in Los Angeles in 1938. At the time, Wanderone was known to be managing a pool hall in Washington, D.C. and had not yet become known to be the cross-country traveller he later became."


I know the article says that it's unlikely but.....

I personally think she is his biological daughter, but there is a strong group who state they knew Fats and that he would not have sex with women of color, so who knows.

If you would like to read more, here is an AzBilliards thread from 2008 when the movie first came out: Minnesota Fats, Muddy Waters, and Etta James thread.

It is a fascinating topic. I have spent some time reading about it, and the resemblance is just unreal.

Sadly, it was reported that earlier this year by her son that Etta James, who is 72 now, suffers from Alzheimer's and has been hospitalized: "Alzheimer's, Infection, Son Says"

 

[JAM]

I have personal reasons why this topic has fascinated me for years. Somehow I am drawn to reading more and more, and the more and more I read, the more I am convinced that she is his daughter. I think it haunted Etta her entire life.

Etta James suffered from substance abuse during her younger years, and she also had battles with obesity. She did end up getting her stomach stapled to lose weight, and that she did successfully.

Here's a great picture of when she was feeling better. :smile:

 

[poolplayer2093]

I personally think she is his biological daughter, but there is a strong group who state they knew Fats and that he would not have sex with women of color, so who knows.

If you would like to read more, here is an AzBilliards thread from 2008 when the movie first came out: Minnesota Fats, Muddy Waters, and Etta James thread.

It is a fascinating topic. I have spent some time reading about it, and the resemblance is just unreal.

Sadly, it was reported that earlier this year by her son that Etta James, who is 72 now, suffers from Alzheimer's and has been hospitalized: "Alzheimer's, Infection, Son Says"

i hear it was socially taboo to have sex with women of color back then so i can see why he'd deny it.

slave owners denied it too

 

[JAM]

She did experience medical problems with her stomach surgery. She was supposed to go on tour with B.B. King and Al Green, but ended up in Cedars-Sinai medical Center in 2007. I would have paid money to see that concert.

Here is a shot of her in 2007 after she lost all her weight.

 

[JAM]

Everybody always seems to remember Etta James' song, "At Last," but my all-time fave is "I'd Rather Go Blind." Man, I get chills every time I hear her sing it: Original Etta James Singing "I'd Rather Go Blind."

Here she is years later singing the same song with Dr. John. She's still got it. I still get the chills: Etta and Dr. John

 

[poolplayer2093]

Everybody always seems to remember Etta James' song, "At Last," but my all-time fave is "I'd Rather Go Blind." Man, I get chills every time I hear her sing it: Original Etta James Singing "I'd Rather Go Blind."

Here she is years later singing the same song with Dr. John. She's still got it. I still get the chills: Etta and Dr. John

that is an amazing song!

 

[JAM]

This is one of her last concerts. The tone of her voice and the range she can hit, the lows as well as the highs, she is, without a doubt, one of the best vocal artists ever: Recent: Etta singing "At Last.'

Here she is singing "At Last" in the middle of her career. Check out the introduction by none other than Wolfman Jack. She looks just like Minnesota Fats in this concert, IMO: Etta singing "At Last" in middle of her career.

Here's Etta singing "At Last" at the time it put her on the number-one slot on the charts; Young Etta singing "At Last."

 

[JAM]

that is an amazing song!

I have always loved that song. Others have done it, but nobody -- and I mean nobody -- can sing that song like Etta. She's got the pipes.

 

[JAM]

What I love about Etta is that she is not inhibited by anything and can do all music. Check her out in this rock and roll ditty: Chuck Berry and Etta James tearing up the stage.

Maybe she is his biological daughter and mabye she is not, but, man, she sure does look just like Minnesota Fat in this video. Another similarity they share is they're both born entertainers. :grin-square:

Keith Richards is jamming in the background

She gives it her all, no matter what.

 

[oldzilla]

I have always loved that song. Others have done it, but nobody -- and I mean nobody -- can sing that song like Etta. She's got the pipes. [/B][/I]

I think Beyonce did a great job playing her part in the movie "cadillac Records. Don't you ?

 

[poolplayer2093]

I have always loved that song. Others have done it, but nobody -- and I mean nobody -- can sing that song like Etta. She's got the pipes. [/B][/I]

I think Beyonce did a great job playing her part in the movie "cadillac Records. Don't you ?

i thought she did a piss poor job. the girl just can't act. she sang well enough though

 

[JAM]

I think Beyonce did a great job playing her part in the movie "Cadillac Records. Don't you ?

I liked the movie a lot. Of course, I'm a music buff. I grew up during the Motown era, but Etta James had a style all her own.

Beyonce is a really great singer, but she doesn't sing the blues like Etta. Beyonce's specialty in music is more modern, I guess you'd say. She is an excellent entertainer and can make a mean video.

Just like Minnesota Fats, there will never be another Etta James. She is one of a kind.

Man, I'm sure glad Etta got rid of those eyebrows, though, when she got older.

 

[kevpull]

Etta and Fats

Couple Etta's claims with the resemblance and I think it more than coincidence. Who in their right mind would claim that Fats is their father except a light-skinned, overweight black woman who just happens to look just like him? BTW I love Beyonce but everyone knows she cannot act. That is not why people pay to see her for.

 

[LC3]

I was fascinated when I first read that Minnesota Fats was rumored to be Etta James' father. The resemblance is certainly there.

Of all the music fads I've gone through and CD's I've owned, Etta James has always been one of my favorites.

 

[richiebalto]

Everybody always seems to remember Etta James' song, "At Last," but my all-time fave is "I'd Rather Go Blind." Man, I get chills every time I hear her sing it: Original Etta James Singing "I'd Rather Go Blind."

Here she is years later singing the same song with Dr. John. She's still got it. I still get the chills: Etta and Dr. John

she looks just like fats in this picture

 

[jersey jer]

I'm at work. And on my mobile so I can't do it but I really think somebody should put up some side by side pics

 

[JAM]

I'm at work. And on my mobile so I can't do it but I really think somebody should put up some side by side pics

Here is one side-by-side I did in the above-referenced link from 2008. They have the same facial shape, especially around the chin.

 

[dabarbr]

Here is one side-by-side I did in the above-referenced link from 2008. They have the same facial shape, especially around the chin.

Looks like it to me. Case closed!!