Full circle

“It all comes full circle at some point” … Back in the early 1980’s, I was invited by club owner, Ted Wilebski, to perform with the one and only Etta James. Etta agreed to play at Wilebski’s (now known as “(The Blues Saloon”)”) provided that Ted put together a local back-up band for her. One night, I got a call from Ted, asking me if I’d like to play in concert with Etta James. There was only one answer for this! I performed two shows with Etta that year, only to receive a call the following year from Ted, asking me if I’d like to do two more shows with this great legend. He said that Etta asked specifically for me. This was “music to my ears.”

About 15 years passed, and I received a call from my musician friend, Jean Verstraete, a harmonica player and a writer for “The Blues News.” Etta was performing at an outdoor concert in Minneapolis and Jean, as a reporter, had an extra back-stage pass for me. We got to the concert early. Etta’s manager shouted out that Etta was not feeling her best. She was going ahead with her show, but she was not going to be doing any interviews. I approached her manager and politely said “I think if Etta knew I was here, she’d want to say a quick ‘hello.’ “I played sax with her 20 years ago.” He asked, “Is your name ‘Rose?’ I said “yes,” and he took me back
stage and said “Come on back. She talks about you quite often.”

Etta was very happy to see me and said she would have taken me out after the show if she would have been feeling better. I had my picture taken with her, and I began to walk away. I then heard her shout out my name. I walked back towards her, and she said “Rose, I want you to know that I get your Christmas card every year, and I look forward to receiving one each year. I’m sorry that I’ve never been able to send one to you.” I just smiled and said “That’s okay.”

I vividly remember decorating my house for Christmas the year Etta passed away. I looked out my big picture window to take in the most beautiful snowfall I have ever seen. In selecting a Christmas CD to listen to, I came across Etta’s CD. I put it in my CD player and quickly realized that I was not going to be able to send her a card anymore. I sat down on my couch and texted my sister, Nancy, about my feelings of sadness. The very moment I texted the words “Christmas card,” Etta’s one-of-a-kind singing voice came shining through, loud and crystal clear … “With every Christmas card I write … May your days be merry … and bright … and may all your Christmases be white.” No doubt, I got my first Christmas card from the late, Great Etta James … sent from up above … I think SQuire Rushnell, the author of “When God Winks” and “Divine Alignment,” would most definitely agree with me … This was a true “God Wink.”