The “Matriarch of the Blues”, Etta James, died on Friday morning. She toured with Little Richard while still a minor and had her first hit at 15. She was a six time Grammy winner and one of the few artists to be inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame.

She will be forever known for the classic song, “At Last” – originally written for the Glen Miller Orchestra in the 1940’s. She first recorded it in 1961 and it is still one of the most achingly beautiful renditions of a love song you’ll ever hear.

When you hear Adele, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce et al try and wring emotion out of a song, you’re hearing Etta James. And she did it better.