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Etta James improving, taken off respirator

Etta James performs during the 2006 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans in a Saturday, April 29, 2006 file photo. James was in stable condition Thursday, July 26, 2007, after being hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in los Angeles, Calif., for complications from abdominal surgery she had last month, her manager said. She had to cancel upcoming tour dates with B.B. King and Al Green, her manager said.
December 31, 2011 12:00:00 AM PST
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --
Blues legend Etta James is showing signs of improvement at a Riverside hospital.

James' manager says the singer is breathing on her own again and her blood pressure is normal after being hooked up to a respirator about 10 days ago.

James, a six-time Grammy award winner, reportedly has incurable, chronic leukemia and dementia.

The 73-year-old is perhaps best known for her song, "At Last."