Erasmus James (born November 4, 1982) is an American football defensive end for the New Mexico Stars of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at University of Wisconsin, and earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings 18th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Vikings and the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).

James was born in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. He attended McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida, and was a standout in football and basketball. Despite not playing football until his senior year, he posted 14 sacks, and 53 tackles (23 for losses) in his only season.

James attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and played for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. He played on the defensive line alongside teammate Anttaj Hawthorne. He finished his career with 124 tackles (25.5 for losses), 18 sacks, 28 quarterback hurries, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and six pass deflections. James was nicknamed "The Eraser," due to his ability to sack the quarterback. James was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American following his senior season in 2004.

Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins; January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012) was an American singer. Her style spanned a variety of music genres including blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, gospel and jazz. Starting her career in the mid-1950s, she gained fame with hits such as "Dance With Me, Henry", "At Last", "Tell Mama", and "I'd Rather Go Blind" for which she wrote the lyrics. She faced a number of personal problems, including drug addiction, before making a musical resurgence in the late 1980s with the album The Seven Year Itch.

James is regarded as having bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and is the winner of six Grammys and 17 Blues Music Awards. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall of Fame in both 1999 and 2008.Rolling Stone ranked James number 22 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and number 62 on the list of the 100 Greatest Artists.

Jamesetta Hawkins was born on January 25, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, to Dorothy Hawkins, who was only 14 at the time. Her father has never been identified. James speculated that her father was the pool player, Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and met him briefly in 1987. Due to her mother being often absent from their Watts apartment, conducting relationships with various men, James lived with a series of foster parents, most notably "Sarge" and "Mama" Lu. James referred to her mother as "the Mystery Lady".