Aretha Franklin – Queen of Soul

Having sold over 75 million records, Aretha Franklin was twice ranked ninth on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. A singer, pianist and songwriter, Aretha Franklin was known as the “Queen of Soul” for her distinctive vocal style and musical diversity.

Aretha Franklin

Early influences

During her forty-year career, Aretha Franklin has earned the title of Queen of Soul, one of the most famous and respected female singers in the world. She is a major influence on artists such as Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Laurytha Hill. She is known for her powerful, soulful voice. She is also known for her work on gospel music, which she learned by ear. She has also won numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy Awards.

Aretha Franklin is a singer, actress, and songwriter. Her songs speak of the pent-up frustrations of both men and women. She has had twenty number one hits on the R&B chart and earned 18 Grammy Awards. She was also the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. During her career, she has sold twelve million singles and earned many other awards.

Aretha Franklin began her musical career at age nine or ten, singing in her father’s church. She was influenced by gospel singers like Sam Cooke and Clara Ward. In her teenage years, Aretha toured in her father’s gospel caravan. She also began learning the piano by ear.

At age eighteen, Aretha Franklin signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in New York. Her first single, “Rock-a-Bye”, was a hit on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart. In 1962, Aretha released her first international hit, “Rock-a-Bye, Your Baby with a Dixie Melody”. It also reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.

Aretha Franklin has won many other awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She also won the Kennedy Center Honors in 1994 and was the first woman to be inducted into the Blues Brothers Hall of Fame in 1980. Her most successful album, Aretha, sold more than two million copies.

Aretha Franklin was crowned the Queen of Soul by Chicago DJ Pervis Spann in 1967. Her music reflected the militancy of African Americans in challenging racial oppression. She is often credited with changing the sound of popular music. Her song “Respect” became the anthem of the women’s movement.

Gospel album

Whether you are new to Aretha Franklin or have been listening to her since she first hit the scene in 1967, you probably already know that she was one of the best gospel singers of all time. And you probably know that she released the Amazing Grace gospel album. However, you may not know much about the album. You may have also heard that this album has a lot of hidden gems. And you might not be aware that the album was actually produced with the help of a team of talented musicians.

The Amazing Grace album is a testament to the power of gospel music. It is a reimagining of classic gospel songs. It includes hymns, spirituals, and contemporary song craft. It also includes divine ad-libs.

Aretha Franklin released the album in 1972. In doing so, she created the biggest selling live gospel album of all time. The album features the song “I’m in the Church” and the title track. The title track is almost 11 minutes long and is one of the most powerful songs that Aretha ever recorded.

The title track was the first song that Aretha recorded when she became a singer. She had already recorded gospel albums for Columbia and Atlantic Records. But her album with this title track was one of the first albums she recorded in her own church.

The album was recorded over two nights at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The interior of the church is filled with a magnificent fresco of Christ’s baptism. The church also features a gospel choir. The album also features a documentary about Aretha.

There is no way to tell whether or not the movie is better than the album. The video was filmed by Sydney Pollack, and the film was intended to be a TV special. But the film never came to fruition. The soundtrack, however, is still available to listen to online.

Amazing Grace is also the only gospel album that Aretha recorded after receiving a Grammy Award. She credited Jerry Wexler for the album.

Commercial success

During her lifetime, Aretha Franklin became one of the most famous musicians in the world, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. She is known for her powerful voice and for having an exceptional ability to wow audiences. In addition to her music, she was an influential activist for civil rights. She was also an actress and received several awards during her career. In honor of her contributions to the music industry, Aretha Franklin received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. She was also a recipient of the Prix Otis Redding for her performance in Paris.

Aretha Franklin started her music career as a gospel singer. She and her family met gospel singer Sam Cooke in California. Later, she worked with Charles “Cholly” Atkins, who helped her gain a powerful stage presence.

Aretha Franklin signed with Columbia Records in 1960. She also signed with Atlantic Records in 1967. After a string of successful albums with Columbia, Franklin moved to New York City to work on major-label recordings. She also toured Europe and Latin America in the early 1970s. She achieved modest success in the early 1970s, but her popularity was waning by the late 1970s.

In the early 1990s, Franklin returned to the charts with the dance song “A Deeper Love”. She also performed at the Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth. In 1991, she received the Grammy Legend Award. She also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. In addition to her musical career, Aretha Franklin was also an actress and a songwriter.

In the late 1990s, Aretha Franklin performed in front of President Barack Obama. She also toured the United States. She released a number of songs including the title track from her 2014 album, Rolling in the Deep.

In 1993, Aretha Franklin received the Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Respect”. She also won the Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year. She also received the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1968 and 1975. During her career, Aretha Franklin has received 18 Grammy Awards.

Death

Known as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin died on August 16, 2018. The singer’s cause of death was advanced pancreatic cancer. Her oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips, said that she died at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit, Michigan.

Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 25, 1942. Her father, Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, was a preacher and gospel singer who was known as a traveling minister. He took his family to Detroit when Aretha was four, where he worked at the New Bethel Baptist Church.

Aretha Franklin first made a name for herself as a gospel singer, but later broke into the pop music scene, scoring hits like “Respect” and “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman.” She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. She earned 18 Grammys and sold more than 75 million records worldwide.

Her first album, Aretha, was released in 1961. It included two R&B Top Ten singles. Aretha Franklin remained with Atlantic Records until 1979. Then she retreated to her hometown of Detroit.

Franklin’s mother, Barbara, left the family when Aretha was six. When Aretha was 10, Barbara died, leaving Aretha to be raised by her father.

Aretha Franklin was married to actor Glynn Turman in 1978. They had four sons. They divorced in 1984. In 2005, Aretha Franklin received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her sons also approved the appointment of her cousin, Sabrina Owens, as her estate executor. If any of the wills are accepted, the sons could lose their inheritance.

Franklin died on August 16, 2018, at home in Detroit, MI. Her funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days. She was a pioneering singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. She will be remembered as a legendary performer and an inspirational figure for generations of music lovers. She died at age 76.

Aretha Franklin’s family has expressed their sadness and grief. They are hoping for peace and prayers for their beloved daughter and mother. Survivors include her four sons, including Clarence Franklin, Edward Franklin, Ted White Jr., and Teddy Richards.

Frequently Asked Questions

icon

Aretha Franklin Date of Birth is  Mar 25, 1942 – Aug 16, 2018

icon

Aretha Franklin Net Worth is $80 Million

icon

Aretha Franklin Height is 165 cm