James was born on January 25, 1938, to 14-year-old Dorothy Hawkins in Los Angeles, California. James conjectured that she was the offspring of pool player Rudolf “Minnesota Fats” Wanderone, whom she briefly met in 1987, even though her father has never been identified.
James lived with a number of foster parents, most notably “Sarge” and “Mama” Lu. Her mother was constantly gone from their Watts apartment because she was involved with several other men. Her mother was known as “the Mystery Lady” by James.
Etta James children: Meet Donto James, Sametto James
Artis Mills and James were wed from 1969 till her death in 2012.
Donto James and Sametto James, James’ two sons, were born to various dads.
When Donto James was six years old in 1974, his mother, R&B legend Etta James, had been sentenced to drug treatment rather than prison on a heroin conviction. Donto James visited his mother in the Tarzana Psychiatric Hospital.
Donto played the drums in Montreux in 1993, and Sametto played the bass guitar around 2003, among other performances and tours. Both were musicians and eventually performed professionally with their mother.
