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Aretha Franklin

Birth name: Aretha Louise Franklin
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018
Years Active: 1954 – 2018

Known as “the Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin was one of many Soul singers who started singing as a youngster in church. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee but her family eventually settled in Detroit, Michigan where her father, Reverend Clarence LaVaughn “C.L.” Franklin, was a popular Baptist minister.

Franklin’s father often entertained popular Gospel stars, including the legendary Mahalia Jackson. Many of the Gospel artists that visited both the Franklin home and Rev. Franklin’s church, including Jackson, encouraged and coached the young Aretha. Following their encouraging lead, Franklin’s talent blossomed. At the age of 19, and now a known singer within the Gospel music community, Franklin made her first album for the Columbia label after being signed by legendary talent scout John Hammond. Her recordings for the label, aimed at the Pop and Jazz market, met with some success, but failed to connect with a wide audience.

In 1967, Franklin signed to Atlantic Records, which had a strong history of success releasing R&B and Soul music. At Atlantic, and with producer Jerry Wexler, she was matched with stellar musicians and songs that authentically connected with her creative instincts, tremendous singing, and incredible musicianship. The result was a string of major hits and enduring Soul classics, including “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “I Say A Little Prayer,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” As Franklin moved into the 1970s, her career continued prosper and she brought more musical styles into her sound, including Funk and Dance. But during that decade she also returned to Gospel. In 1972, she recorded an album live at a church in Los Angeles with a choir, rhythm section, and another Gospel star, James Cleveland, accompanying her on piano. Released that same year, Amazing Grace is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed Gospel albums of all time.

In the early 1980s, Franklin left Atlantic and signed with a new record label, Arista. The transition found her delving into a more Pop style and the albums included hit singles, and an album cover designed by Andy Warhol. While her record sales began to wane starting in the 1990s, she continued to release recordings and perform live throughout the next three decades. She also continued to win awards. All told, Franklin achieved 45 Top 40 singles and earned 18 Grammy Awards and 26 nominations.

In 1994, Franklin was a Kennedy Center Honoree and she was awarded the the National Medal of the Arts in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2005. In January 2009, Franklin sang at the 56th Presidential Inauguration for incoming president, Barack Obama. Additionally, she received honorary degrees from a dozen colleges and universities, including: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and the New England Conservatory of Music. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine published a list of the Greatest Singers of All Time, and Aretha Franklin was named No. 1. Franklin died in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan in 2018 at the age of 76. Her decades-long career has influenced countless musicians, singers, and songwriters.