Etta Cameron (born Ettamae Louvita Coakley; 21 November 1939 – 4 March 2010) was a
Bahamian–
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
singer.
She especially sang
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...
and
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
, and left her mark in the Danish music culture through her entire career from her arrival in Denmark in the 1970s. She was made a
Knight of Dannebrog
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in 1997.
Cameron was also well known as one of the judges in the first two seasons of ''
Scenen er din'', the Danish version of the American TV show ''
Star Search
''Star Search'' was an American television show that was produced by T.P.E./ Rysher Entertainment from 1983 to 1995, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Al Masini. A relaunch was produced by 2929 Productions from 2003 to 2004. On both versio ...
''.
Cameron was born in
Nassau
Nassau may refer to:
Places Bahamas
*Nassau, Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence
Canada
*Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1792
*Nassau Street (Winnipeg), ...
, Bahamas. From 1967 till 1972 she lived in
East Berlin
East Berlin was the ''de facto'' capital city of East Germany from 1949 to 1990. Formally, it was the Allied occupation zones in Germany, Soviet sector of Berlin, established in 1945. The American, British, and French sectors were known as ...
which she used as a base for getting performance commitments in Eastern and Western Europe. Popular claims that she had lost her passport and has thereafter been forced to stay in the GDR for five years have been proven wrong. In 1972 Cameron moved to Denmark.
["Eigentlich will Etta Cameron nur für ein paar Wochen bleiben, aber die Dinge bekommen eine ungeahnte Dynamik. ..Die DDR bietet ihr ideale Entfaltungsbedingungen und erweist sich als Sprungbrett: Von hier aus reist Etta Cameron durch ganz Europa, Ost wie West." ; " ..ihre Kinder schildern, wie es war, in Prenzlauer Berg zu wohnen und in Westberlin zur Schule zu gehen." ]
Her daughter
Debbie Cameron
Deborah (Debbie) Cameron (born September 14, 1958 in Miami, Florida) is a Danish-American singer of Bahamian descent who has had a career in music in Denmark.
Her career started in 1976, when she was awarded the prize "Most promising student" ...
, born in
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, Florida, in 1958, also moved to Denmark in 1978, where she, too, established a musical career, not least representing Denmark twice in the
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...
, in
1979
Events
January
* January 1
** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...
and
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...
along with
Tommy Seebach
Tommy Seebach (14 September 1949 – 31 March 2003), born Tommy Seebach Mortensen in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a popular Danish singer, composer, organist, pianist and producer. He is best known as front man of Sir Henry and his Butlers and for nu ...
.
Cameron died on 4 March 2010 in
Aarhus
Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately northwest ...
, Denmark, after a long illness.
Solo discography
The following albums have been published by Etta Cameron:
* ''Come together with Etta'' (1975)
* ''I'm a Woman'' (1976)
* ''Mayday'' (1980)
* ''Easy'' (1981)
* ''My Gospel'' (1987)
* ''A Gospel Concert with Etta Cameron'' (1995)
* ''Lovesongs'' (1995)
* ''Etta Cameron mit NDR Big Band'' (1996)
* ''Certainly Lord'' (1996)
* ''My Christmas'' (1996)
* Etta Cameron'' Ole Kock Hansen and Tuxedo Big Band (1998)
* ''A Gospel Concert with Etta Cameron vol. 2'' (1996)
* ''I Have a Dream'' (2000)
* ''Lady Be Good'' (2003)
* ''Her vil ties, her vil bies'' (2005)
* ''Spirituals'' (2008)
* ''Etta'' (2009)
Filmography
*''
Mit mir nich, Madam'' (1969)
*''
Peter von Scholten'' (1987)
*''
Mimi og madammerne'' (1998)
Literature
*'' Hun gav smerten vinger '' (English: She Gave the Pain Wings) (2007)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, Etta
1939 births
2010 deaths
Gospel singers
People from Nassau, Bahamas
Bahamian emigrants to Denmark