The Queen of Soul Music
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul Music, has died at the age of 76. She was a music legend who inspired generations with her powerful voice and unforgettable songs.
Early Life
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn “C. L.” Franklin. She was the fourth of five children. Her father, C. L. Franklin, was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi, who was later diagnosed with glaucoma and moved his family to Memphis in 1927 to work as a pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church.
Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence Leonard Franklin. Her father, Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (1915–1984), was an itinerant minister; her mother, Barbara, was a Gospel singer. Both parents frequently performed at the church operated by Aretha’s grandparents, New Bethel Baptist. As a child Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. WhenAretha was 10 years old she joined her father’s traveling church choir known as “The Soul Stirrers” which toured throughout the South. At the age of 18 she embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but only achieving modest success. Following a two-year break from music, Franklin returned to the studio in January 1966 with producer Jerry Wexler to begin recording I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You.
Moved to Detroit with family at the age of five
The Queen of Soul was born in Shelby, Mississippi in 1942. When she was five years old, her family moved to Detroit, where her father worked as a Baptist minister and her mother as a domestic worker. Aretha’s family lived in a small house on the city’s west side. Although conditions were cramped, the household was always full of music. Aretha’s father led the church choir and played piano, and her sisters taught her gospel songs at home. Aretha began singing in her father’s church when she was eight years old.
Career
Aretha Franklin began her career as a gospel singer at her father’s church in Detroit. When she was 18, she signed with Columbia Records and released her first album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo. The album was not successful, but her next two albums, Aretha Arrives and Lady Soul, were huge commercial successes. Aretha won her first Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording for her song “Respect”. She went on to win a total of 18 Grammy Awards.
Signed with Columbia Records in 1960
Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 25, 1942, the fourth of five children of C. L. Franklin and Barbara Siggers-Franklin. Devoutly religious parents who both preached at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit inspired and nurtured her musical talent. When Aretha was two years old, her family moved to Detroit where her father took over the pastorship of New Bethel Baptist Church. Music played an important role in the life of the church, and Aretha began singing solos at an early age. Although often absent from his pulpit because he was touring with various gospel groups, C. L. Franklin instilled in all his children a love for music and a sense of self-respect and accomplishment.
In 1960, after finishing high school, Aretha enrolled at the conservatory of Julliard in New York City but returned to Detroit after just one semester when Columbia Records came calling. She signed with the label that year and released her first album, “Songs of Faith,” recorded live at New Bethel Baptist Church with Reverend C.L. Franklin leading the congregation in song. The album was a commercial flop but helped to establish her as a talented young singer with a solid gospel foundation.
Released first album, “Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo”, in 1961
Aretha’s career began when she was signed to Columbia Records in 1960. She released her first album, “Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo”, in 1961. The album was not a commercial success, but it did include her first hit single, “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody”. Aretha subsequently left Columbia and recorded a series of albums for Atlantic Records. Her first Atlantic album, “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You”, was released in 1967. It included the hit singles “Respect” and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”. Aretha’s 1968 album, “Lady Soul”, reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart and included the singles “Chain of Fools” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”.
Moved to Atlantic Records in 1967
Atlantic Records moved Aretha Franklin to their adult contemporary division in 1967, which had been newly formed to focus on pop-oriented soul artists and material. They felt that her gospel roots would turn off mainstream audiences, and that the edgier Atlantic sound would better position her for success. The label gave her complete creative control over her recordings, which resulted in some of the most iconic songs in music history.
Notable Songs
Though Aretha Franklin had a number of hit songs over her more than 50 year career, she will be most remembered for a select few. According to Billboard, these songs are “Respect”, “I Say a Little Prayer”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Think”, and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”. Let’s take a closer look at some of these hits.
“Respect”
Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” is a song that was originally released by soul singer Otis Redding in 1965. However, Franklin’s version of the song, which was released in 1967, became an anthem for the Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation movements. The song is about a man asking his woman for respect, but Franklin puts her own spin on it, making it clear that she is in charge.
“Respect” was written by Redding as a response to the disrespect he felt from his wife at the time. Franklin changed the perspective of the song to be about a woman demanding respect from her man. The opening line, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me,” is now an iconic phrase that is synonymous with Franklin herself.
The song peaked at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts, making Franklin the first woman to achieve this feat. It has since been covered by many artists, including Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Christina Aguilera.
“Natural Woman”
Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” was co-written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, with input from Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler. The song was recorded by Atlantic in New York City in 1967, with Atlantic producer Arif Mardin and engineer Tom Dowd overseeing the session.
The recording features King on piano, Charlie McCoy on guitar, Bernard Purdie on drums, Ernie Isley on electric guitar, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Don Covay on maracas. The horn section arrangement is by Bert DeCoteaux with additional arrangement by David Van DePitte.
The song was released as a single in October 1967 and reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it number seventy-two on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
“I Say a Little Prayer”
“I Say a Little Prayer” is a 1967 hit song recorded by Dionne Warwick, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
The song charted at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in December 1967, and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1968. It reached number one in South Africa, and peaked at number three in the United Kingdom. In 2001, the song was recorded by British soul singer Lisa Stansfield. In 2002, “I Say a Little Prayer” was inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Later Life
Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father C. L. Franklin was minister. In 1960, at the age of 18, she embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but only achieved modest success. Following her signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Spanish Harlem”, and “Think”.
Retired from touring in 2017
In 2017, Franklin announced her retirement from touring, saying she would “be recording new music” instead. On February 27, 2018, Franklin performed for the last time at a free concert in New York’s Central Park.
Died on August 16, 2018
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul music, died on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at her home in Detroit, Michigan. She was 76 years old.
The cause of death was pancreatic cancer.
Franklin had been battling cancer for a number of years and had cancelled several concert dates due to ill health. In February 2017, she announced that she would be retiring from touring.
Franklin was one of the most important and influential musicians of the 20th century. She won 18 Grammy Awards and her music was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Aretha Franklin will be remembered as one of the greatest singers of all time.
