Aretha Franklin
The queen of soul. Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis Tennessee on 25 March 1942 and then moved to Detroit Michigan. Aretha found her stage at the Bethal Baptist church as a young gospel singer where her father C.L. Franklin was a minister.
She started on her music career at the age of 18. She originally signed for Columbia records but her career did not immediately come to fruition. She then signed with Atlantic records in 1966. While she was with Atlantic, she sang the iconic songs I never loved a man the way I loved you, you make me feel like a natural woman, chain of fools and think. Her most iconic song which represented her was Respect.
She also was an actress and appeared as Mrs Murphy in the blues brothers movie alongside John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. When making Blues Brothers 2000 they again cast Aretha in the same role of Mrs Murphy.
She received honorary degrees from both Harvard university and New York university. She was also awarded honours doctorates in music from Yale, Princeton and Pennsylvania university.
In 2015 the then US President Barak Obama invited her to perform at the White House as he was one of her greatest fans. Barak was quoted as saying “ nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African American spiritual, the blues, r and b and rock and roll. The way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and hope. American history wells up in her voice when Aretha sings. That is why when she sits down at a piano and sings a natural woman, she moves me to tears.”
Aretha from her time growing up in the home of an American preacher was involved in the struggle with civil and women’s rights. She made financial contribution for both groups covering the payroll and performing at benefits and protests.
Her health was not of the best as she had weight issues, alcohol issues for many years. She lost weight using crash dieting and managed to maintain the weight loss until the early 90’s. She was also a former chain smoker which she later attributed her voice sound to. Unfortunately, we lost her august 13 2018.She was under hospice care surrounded by friends and family including Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson and her ex-husband Glynn Turman who was with her on her death bed. She was only 76. A memorial service was held at the Bethel Baptist church on 19 august. Among those who came to tribute Ariana Grande, l’il Kim, Gladys knight, Smokey Robinson.
A true legend who has moulded the face of music.
