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Aretha Louise Franklin was born on 25 March, 1942 in her family's home in Memphis, Tennessee. With a prominent Baptist minister father and accomplished piano singing mother, it seemed heaven sent that Aretha would become one of the world's best-selling artists with her combination of gospel, soul and rhythm and blues sound.
When Aretha was two, her large-blended family moved to Buffalo, New York before permanently living in Detroit. Her parents separated not long after and her mother and half-brother moved back to Buffalo. Aretha's mother passed away when she was ten and with the help of several women, they shared the raising of the Franklin children.
Following her mother's death, Aretha learned to play piano by ear and began singing solos. Her father began managing her and she toured with him while he did his gospel tours. Her father also helped sign her first recording deal, releasing her first live album Songs of Faith when she was just 14. Fortunate enough to be surrounded by influences like Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke she went on to tour with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when she was 16.
Columbia Records
Raised as a gospel singer, she aspired to record pop at 18 and decided to move to New York to follow her dreams. She was picked up by Columbia Records where she released her first single Today I Sing The Blues which reached the top 10 of the Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart almost instantly. Aretha's voice was out and her songs continued to hit the charts. By the end of her first year she was the new female star and was crowned "the Queen of Soul '' - literally! Radio personality Pervis Spann announced her "the Queen of Soul" during her Regal Theatre performance in Chicago and placed a crown upon her head.
By the mid 1960s Aretha was performing her chart hitting singles in nightclubs, theatres - even rocknroll shows. However with the success came a few struggles for Columbia was said to have not understood Aretha's gospel background and when her contract with them expired in 1966, she moved to Atlantic Records.
Atlantic Records
Atlantic wanted to nurture her gospel background and Producer Jerry Wexler encouraged her to sing in the form of rhythm & blues, which later became more identified as soul. Aretha enjoyed hit after hit in the late 60s which catapulted her fame to great heights with songs like: "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", "Baby I Love You", "Chain of Fools", "Think" and "Say a Little Prayer". Other huge hits which became song anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and helped encourage social change were: "Respect" and "You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".
Aretha returned to her Gospel roots in 1972 with a live-church recording of the album Amazing Grace which sold more than two million copies and is classed as the best-selling gospel album of all time. The live performance was in fact filmed, but due to the racial turmoil at the time was not released - that is until Alan Elliot discovered it later in 2018 and released it.
Growing up with a prominent African-American preacher father, Aretha chose from a young age to be active in the battle for civil and women's rights, providing money to causes wherever she could. When American political activist and scholar, Angela Davis was wrongfully jailed in 1970, Aretha spoke out demanding that she go free: "... I'm going to see her free if there is any justice in our courts, not because I believe in communism, but because she's a Black woman and she wants freedom for Black people."
Although Aretha did continue her song success, her career did begin to slow down. She tried her talents recording a film soundtrack for the movie Sparkle in 1976, and the song "Something He Can Feel" from it ended up being her final top 40 hit of the decade.
In 1980 Aretha decided to sign with Arista Records who Rolling Stone Magazine said to be the best in the business to rejuvenate her career. The same year she performed in London for Queen Elizabeth, performed as a soul food restaurant owner in the comedy musical smash, The Blues Brothers and released her first Arista Records album, Aretha. She was back! Next came two more albums Love All the Hurt Away and Jump to It - which saw her title track hit the top 40 pop charts again in almost six years.
End of an Era
In 1998, Aretha's final top 40 single "A Rose Is Still a Rose" and the album of the same name sold half a million copies.
Aretha continued taking audiences breath away with live performances such as her 1998 Grammy Awards Performance of "Nessun dorma". The song was supposed to be performed by Pavarotti but when he became too ill, she was asked to perform the song in his place. One billion people were said to have watched her receive a standing ovation after she sang the famous opera inside Radio City Music Hall, New York.
Aretha Franklin passed away in her home on 16 August, 2018 after her battle with pancreatic cancer. Her incredible six decade career saw her win 18 Grammy awards and she will always be noted as the first woman in history to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to these achievements, she received: National Medal of Arts in 1999, Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015, UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 (second women to do so) and awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation "for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades".
A musical icon, the Queen of Soul will also be remembered for her integral part in the Civil Rights movement and for her strong voice advocating racial and womens equality.
Rest in peace Aretha Franklin, thank you for your guiding light that will continue to inspire and empower others in your wake.
"Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and roll-the way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope." President Obama.
By Kirsten Jakubenko
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin
- https://time.com/5369587/aretha-franklin-civil-rights/
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/aretha-franklin-tribute-cover-story-queen-729053/
