Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) was an American singer. Her new style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, R&B, soul, rockand roll, jazz and gospel. Starting her career in 1954, she gained fame with hits such as "The Wallflower", "At Last", "Tell Momma", "Somethings got a Hold on Me", and "I'd rather go blind" for which she wrote the lyrics.

At Last! is the debut studio album by American blues and soul artist Etta James, which includes the title song "At Last". The album was released on Argo Records in November of 1960 and was produced by Phil and Leonard Chess. The original release contained four of James' hits on the Rhythm and Blues Records Chart between 1960 and 1961. It was her first of five studio albums James would release on the Argo label.

I'll Fly Away", is a hymn written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley and published in 1932 by the Hartford Music company in a collection titled Wonderful Message.  Brumley's writing was influenced in part by an older secular ballad. "I'll Fly Away" has been called the most recorded gospel song, and it is frequently used in worship services by Baptists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, the Churches of Christ and many Methodists. It appears in many hymnals where it is listed under the topics of eternal life, heaven and acceptance. It is a standard song at bluegrass jam sessions and is often performed at funerals.  

"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" is a 1909 historic American negro spiritual song. The earliest known recording was in 1909, by the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University.  It is also the anthem of the England National rugby union team.  In 2002, the Library of Congress honored the song as one of 50 recordings chosen that year to be added to the National Recording Registry. It was also included in the list of Songs of the Century, by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Have you seen the movie O Brother Where Art Thou?  Available on Netflix.  If you haven't seen it you might want to check it out. 

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 adventure comedy film written, produced, edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, and staring George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, with John Goodman, Holly Hunter and Charles Durning in supporting roles. Set in 1937 rural Mississippi during the Great Depression, the film's story is a modern satire loosely based on Homer's epic poem, Odyssey. The title of the film is a reference to the 1941 film Sullivan's Travels, in which the protagonist (a director) wants to film a fictional book about the Great Depression called O Brother, Where Art Thou?  wiki

                             The clip that follows is from the
             44th Grammy Awards Performance

           The Movie Characters
                     The Soggy Bottom Boys
George Clooney - as Ulysses Everett McGill, a man who is imprisoned for practicing law without a license. 

Tim Blake Nelson - as Delmar O'Donnell, a small-time crook imprisoned for robbing a Piggly Wiggly in Yazoo City

John turturro as Pete Hogwallop, a fellow criminal who reveals little about his past.

Chris Thomas King as Tommy Johnson, a skilled blues musician. He is the accompanying guitarist in the Soggy Bottom Boys. He claims he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his skill on guitar. 

In the clip following, the "Soggy Bottom Boys" learn that the song they recorded for a rundown small time operator for about $50 a couple of weeks ago, has somehow turned into a hit!!  They are totally shocked!  And it shows as they start singing "A Man of Constant Sorrow".  

This is also a total shock to Homer Stokes - a radical running against Pappy O'Daniel in the upcoming Gubernatorial election. The Soggy Bottom Boys have been running from the law and Homer tries to take advantage of their presence to make an arrest and political hay! . .  "these boys desecrated a fiery cross!" 

The incumbent Pappy O'Daniel, however, wisely uses the group's fame to tie up the election! 

Pete Fountain (born Pierre Dewey LaFontaine, Jr., July 3, 1930), is a world-renowned American clarinetist based in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He has played Jazz, Dixieland, Pop Jazz, Honky-Tonk Jazz, Pop, and Creole music.

The following clip:
Pete is playing the song that went gold for him in the 60s, 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee'. 

 "Uploaded on Nov 5, 2006.   Ever since Irving Fazola, clarinet players have tried to get what they call the 'Fat Dark Mellow Tone' and Pete Fountain flat nails it! This video was made around 1992". Youtube JimV33