Stars pay tribute as legendary R&B singer laid to rest

Rhythm & blues legend Etta James was remembered at a service attended by hundreds of friends, family and fans as a woman who triumphed against all odds to break down cultural and musical barriers in a style that was unfailingly honest.

The Reverend Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist, eulogised James in a rousing speech, describing her remarkable rise from poverty and pain to become a woman whose music became an enduring anthem for weddings and adverts.

Perhaps most famously, President Barack Obama and the first lady shared their first inaugural ball dance to At Last sung by Beyoncé, who portrayed James in the film Cadillac Records.