For Vika Bull, capturing Etta James is a labour of love

MELBOURNE singer Vika Bull sees something of herself in American soul and blues legend Etta James.

220113 Vika Bull

MELBOURNE singer Vika Bull sees something of herself in American soul and blues legend Etta James. "It's that trying to act tough, putting on a 'don't mess with me' attitude," she said.

Bull is rehearsing for her lead role in At Last: The Etta James Story, which has its Australian premiere in Moonee Ponds, Victoria, on February 15.

Bull, who has enjoyed success over the past 25 years as a performer, mainly alongside her sister Linda, admits she isn't really a toughie, but she's hoping to bring something of James's character as well as her talent to the show, which will run also in Melbourne and Sydney.

At Last documents James's career spanning almost 50 years and tells the story of her turbulent life, plagued by drug addiction at the peak of her success.

The veteran American star, whose hits include At Last, Something's Got a Hold On Me and I'd Rather Go Blind, died a year ago aged 73. "It's not dull," Bull said of the story. "She had it tough. The story deals with that, but it comes across that she was always a fighter and also had a great sense of humour. You don't come away from it thinking 'poor Etta'.

"She stuffed up, but she came through. You have to admire someone like that."

The role -- as singer and narrator -- is a labour of love for Bull, who discovered James's music at the start of her own career.

"I've loved her singing since I first heard her," said Bull. "A guy in my first band gave me some of her records and I was hooked. She and Ruth Brown and Aretha Franklin . . . they were the three singers who had a big influence on me when I started out."

That influence can be heard on some of the albums Vika and Linda have made together. There's common ground, too, in the gospel music that James and Bull were raised on. "I hope people like it," she said. "I think they will because the songs are great and her story is so interesting. I just hope I don't stuff it up."

At Last is being presented by Melbourne producers Simon Myers and Moira Bennett. Myers has been responsible for a string of similar musical tributes, not all of them commercially successful.

The Man in Black, in which singer Tex Perkins performed highlights from the career of Johnny Cash, was a box office and critical high point.

Following four shows in Moonee Ponds, At Last: The Etta James Story begins a two-week run at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre on February 19 and one week at Sydney Opera House from April 30.