She lived an "out there" lifestyle that included at times self destructive drugs and alcohol. I'm glad she survived that.
Before your time Super Head and almost before mine. But I like female Blues singers of old. They could croon. They have
real tallent that was not manufactured by a record company. Entertainment was her voice, not some crazy dancing, light show as endless costume changes. They were not that kind of diva. Not that Maddona and Lady Gaga don't have tallent. But these Blues singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, and of course Billie Holiday had "it". Google them and check out videos and have a listen to of some of their stuff.
Also check out this movie if you ever get a chance: Cabin in the Sky
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035703/ Great musical by Vincent Minnelli. One of the first all color, all black cast musicals. Great, Great movie that I really enjoyed. Besides the singing, some of the dancing was fantastic. Micheal Jackson must have studied it. There is an early "moon walk" in it. Google Cabin in the Sky and check the clips from it. Look for a young James Earl Jones with his districtive voice.
P.S. Lena Horne was the first black woman, looks wise, I fell in love with back in my youth
She was always a knock out with thoose big pearly whites.
RIP Etta