The Detroit International Riverfront is a tourist attraction and landmark of Detroit, Michigan , extending from the Ambassador Bridge in the west to Belle Isle in the east, for a total of 5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers) along the Detroit River . The International Riverfront encompasses a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock, a marina, a multitude of parks, restaurants, retail shops, skyscrapers , and high rise residential areas along with Huntington Place . The Marriott at the Renaissance Center and the Robert's Riverwalk Hotel are also situated along the International Riverfront.
124-533: Private companies and foundations together with the city, state, and federal government have contributed several hundred million dollars toward the riverfront development. Key public spaces in the International Riverfront, such as the RiverWalk, Dequindre Cut Greenway and Trail , William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor , and a cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza complement
248-479: A soul food restaurant proprietor and wife of Matt "Guitar" Murphy in the 1980 comedy musical The Blues Brothers . Franklin's first Arista album, Aretha (1980), featured the number-three R&B hit "United Together" and her Grammy-nominated cover of Redding's " I Can't Turn You Loose ". The follow-up, 1981's Love All the Hurt Away , included her famed duet of the title track with George Benson , while
372-461: A "five-percent artist". During this period, Franklin would be coached by choreographer Cholly Atkins to prepare for her pop performances. Before signing with Columbia, Sam Cooke tried to persuade Franklin's father to sign her with his label, RCA Victor , but she had already decided to go with Columbia. Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and her elder sister Erma to sign with his Tamla label, but C.L. Franklin turned Gordy down, as he felt Tamla
496-745: A "miraculous" recovery from her undisclosed illness but had to cancel shows and appearances until her health was at 100%, estimating she was about "85% healed". Franklin later returned to live performing, including a 2013 Christmas concert at Detroit's MotorCity Casino Hotel . She launched a multi-city tour in mid-2014, starting with a performance on June 14 in New York at Radio City Music Hall . In February 2017, Franklin announced in an interview with local Detroit television anchor Evrod Cassimy, that 2017 would be her final year touring. However, she scheduled some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on her physician's advice. On August 13, 2018, Franklin
620-500: A "younger sound" in her music, Who's Zoomin' Who? became her first Arista album to be certified platinum . The album sold well over a million copies thanks to the hits " Freeway of Love ", the title track, and "Another Night". The next year's Aretha album nearly matched this success with the hit singles " Jumpin' Jack Flash ", " Jimmy Lee " and " I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) ", her international number-one duet with George Michael . During that period, Franklin provided vocals to
744-567: A $ 10 million TIGER grant. Originally due to be completed in 2014, unexpected underground utilities delayed its opening. The completed extension opened to the public in April 2016. 42°20′27.73″N 83°1′54.92″W / 42.3410361°N 83.0319222°W / 42.3410361; -83.0319222 Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( / ə ˈ r iː θ ə / ə- REE -thə ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018)
868-653: A 1.2–mile section encompassing most of the Dequindre Cut, opened in 2009. Construction began in September 2013 to build the remaining greenway half mile section from Mack Avenue to Gratiot. This segment includes a trail entrance into Eastern Market along the northwest side of the Wilkins Street bridge. This extension is part of the Link Detroit project which is funded through various sources including
992-606: A Go-Go and Shindig! However, she struggled with commercial success while at Columbia. Label executive John H. Hammond later said he felt Columbia did not understand Franklin's early gospel background and failed to bring that aspect out further during her period there. In November 1966, Franklin's Columbia recording contract expired; at that time, she owed the company money because record sales had not met expectations. Producer Jerry Wexler convinced her to move to Atlantic Records . Wexler decided that he wanted to take advantage of her gospel background; his philosophy in general
1116-441: A Little Prayer " (1968), " Call Me " (1970), " Don't Play That Song (You Lied) " (1970), " Spanish Harlem " (1971), " Rock Steady " (1971), " Day Dreaming " (1972), " Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) " (1973), " Something He Can Feel " (1976), " Jump to It " (1982), " Freeway of Love " (1985), " Who's Zoomin' Who " (1985), " I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) " (a duet with George Michael , 1987) and " A Rose Is Still
1240-524: A Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), and Sparkle (1976), before experiencing problems with the record company. Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records . Her success continued with the albums Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985), Aretha (1986) and A Rose Is Still
1364-524: A Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. At the beginning of her career, Siouxsie Sioux named her as her favourite female singer. In 2010 Franklin was ranked first on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" and ninth on their list of " 100 Greatest Artists of All Time ". Following news of Franklin's surgery and recovery in February 2011, the Grammys ceremony paid tribute to
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#17327729465731488-583: A Rose (1998). Franklin is one of the best-selling music artists , with more than 75 million records sold worldwide. She charted 112 singles on the US Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 96 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. Her best-known hits include " I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) " (1967), " Respect " (1967), " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman " (1967), " Chain of Fools " (1967), " Ain't No Way " (1968), " Think " (1968), " I Say
1612-489: A Rose " (1998). Aside from music, she appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers . Franklin received numerous honors throughout her career. She won 18 Grammy Awards out of 44 nominations, including the first eight awards given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (1968–1975), as well as a Grammy Living Legend Award and Lifetime Achievement Award . She was also awarded the National Medal of Arts and
1736-403: A brief career of her own, during which she was herself the subject of an impersonation. Franklin's success further expanded during the early 1970s, during which she recorded the multi-week R&B number one " Don't Play That Song (You Lied) ", as well as the top-ten singles " Spanish Harlem ", " Rock Steady ", and " Day Dreaming ". Some of these releases were from the acclaimed albums Spirit in
1860-538: A butterfly garden. The River Walk is continuous from Joe Louis Arena to Milliken State Park with unfinished sections between the state park and River Place. From River Place the River Walk is then continuous through Mt Elliott Park to the former site of the Uniroyal Tire factory west of Belle Isle. The west riverfront promenade development is not expected to be completed before 2022. The west riverfront includes
1984-425: A coma, C. L. was moved back to his home with 24-hour nursing care. Aretha moved back to Detroit in late 1982 to assist with the care of her father, who died at Detroit's New Light Nursing Home on July 27, 1984. Franklin had a long friendship with Willie Wilkerson, a Vietnam War veteran and Detroit firefighter, who also helped in her work and cared for her when ill. In 2012 she announced plans to marry Wilkerson but
2108-528: A criminal impersonation scheme. Another woman performed at several Florida venues under the name Aretha Franklin. Suspicion was drawn when the fake Franklin charged only a fraction of the expected rate to perform. Franklin's lawyers contacted Florida authorities and uncovered a coercive scheme in which the singer, Vickie Jones , had been threatened with violence and constrained into impersonating her idol, whom she resembled closely both in voice and looks. After being cleared of wrongdoing, Jones subsequently enjoyed
2232-482: A gesture that honored the dead but castigated death itself". She returned to Detroit's Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day 2016 to once again perform the national anthem before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions . Seated behind the piano, wearing a black fur coat and Lions stocking cap, Franklin gave a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that lasted more than four minutes and featured
2356-542: A gospel singer"; Cleveland had been recruited by her father as a pianist for the Southern California Community Choir. After turning 18, Franklin confided to her father that she aspired to follow Sam Cooke in recording pop music, and moved to New York. Serving as her manager, C. L. Franklin agreed to the move and helped to produce a two-song demo that soon was brought to the attention of Columbia Records , who agreed to sign her in 1960, as
2480-494: A great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience". Franklin's voice was described as being a "powerful mezzo-soprano voice". She was praised for her arrangements and interpretations of other artists' hit songs. According to David Remnick , what "distinguishes her is not merely the breadth of her catalog or the cataract force of her vocal instrument; it's her musical intelligence, her way of singing behind
2604-559: A host of improvisations. Franklin released the album A Brand New Me in November 2017 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , which uses archived recordings from Franklin. While Franklin canceled some concerts in 2017 for health reasons, and during an outdoor Detroit show, she asked the audience to "keep me in your prayers", she was still garnering highly favorable reviews for her skill and showmanship. At
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#17327729465732728-613: A leg spasm. Franklin was a registered Democrat . While her estate had been estimated at $ 80 million, according to the New York Times , at her death it was valued at $ 18 million. Franklin had weight issues for many years. In 1974, she lost 40 pounds (18 kg) on a very-low-calorie diet and maintained her new weight until the end of the decade. She again lost weight in the early 1990s, before gaining some back. A former chain smoker who struggled with alcoholism, she quit smoking in 1992. She admitted in 1994 that her smoking
2852-424: A mass act of musical protest. Franklin was also a strong supporter of Native American rights. She quietly and without fanfare supported Indigenous peoples ' struggles worldwide, and numerous movements that supported Native American and First Nation cultural rights. Franklin moved to New York City from Detroit in the 1960s where she lived until relocating to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. She eventually settled in
2976-684: A new video visualizing the American human rights movement. This caused the song to enter the Billboard gospel charts at number one, giving Franklin the distinction of having had a number one record in every decade since the 1960s. On November 18, 2008, she performed " Respect " and " Chain of Fools " at Dancing with the Stars . On January 20, 2009, Franklin made international headlines for performing " My Country, 'Tis of Thee " at President Barack Obama 's inaugural ceremony with her church hat becoming
3100-893: A number of large factories, including the Detroit-Michigan Stove Plant, the United States Rubber Company Plant, and the Parke-Davis Research Laboratory . The tracks terminated at the Brush Street Station in downtown Detroit. By March 1930, sixteen of the crossings of the Dequindre Cut were finished, including the Chestnut Street Bridge ; the nearby Antietam Avenue Bridge was completed soon thereafter. These two bridges are particularly significant in their illustration of
3224-625: A pianist as "magic" and "inspirational". Musicians and professionals alike such as Elton John, Keith Richards , Carole King, and Clive Davis were fans of her piano performances. In 2015, President Barack Obama wrote the following regarding Franklin: 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. American history wells up when Aretha sings. That's why, when she sits down at
3348-483: A piano and sings 'A Natural Woman,' she can move me to tears—the same way that Ray Charles's version of 'America the Beautiful' will always be in my view the most patriotic piece of music ever performed—because it captures the fullness of the American experience, the view from the bottom as well as the top, the good and the bad, and the possibility of synthesis, reconciliation, transcendence. From her time growing up in
3472-508: A popular topic online. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University . In 2011, under her own label, Aretha's Records, she issued the album Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love . In 2014, Franklin was signed under RCA Records, controller of the Arista catalog and a sister label to Columbia via Sony Music Entertainment , and worked with Clive Davis. There were plans for her to record an album produced by Danger Mouse , who
3596-589: A telecast procession up Seven Mile Road , Franklin was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Franklin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979, had her voice declared a Michigan "natural resource" in 1985, and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded her a Grammy Legend Award in 1991, then
3720-581: Is a below-grade pathway, formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line, located on the east side of Detroit , Michigan , just west of St. Aubin Street. Much of the Cut has been converted to a greenway ; the colorful graffiti along the pathway has been left in place. The railroad line that once ran through the Dequindre Cut runs roughly northwest/southeast at street level through Hamtramck and on to Royal Oak . The Cut begins south of Mack Avenue and runs along
3844-493: Is distinct from the most common form of pancreatic cancer . Numerous celebrities in the entertainment industry and politicians paid tribute to Franklin, including former U.S. President Barack Obama who said she "helped define the American experience". Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton called her a "civil rights and humanitarian icon". A memorial service was held at her home church, New Bethel Baptist Church , on August 19. Thousands then paid their respects during
Detroit International Riverfront - Misplaced Pages Continue
3968-738: Is host to part of the Detroit International Jazz Festival held in Hart Plaza each Labor Day weekend. Hart Plaza is also the traditional location of rallies to celebrate championships won by Detroit's major sports teams. Both Detroit and Windsor have hosted the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on the International Riverfront. 42°19′39″N 83°02′37″W / 42.32750°N 83.04361°W / 42.32750; -83.04361 Dequindre Cut The Dequindre Cut
4092-556: Is located on the near east side of Detroit , at the foot of Chene Street, along the banks of the Detroit River . Located just east of William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor , it contains a 6,000-seat amphitheater where concerts are regularly scheduled every summer. Jazz , Classic Soul and Rhythm and Blues acts are the staples of the season. The park also includes park trails, the Chene Park Fountain, and
4216-534: Is named for the late U.S. Senator Philip Hart , opened in 1975 and has a capacity for about 40,000 people. At the center of the plaza is the Horace E. Dodge and Son Memorial Fountain, designed by Isamu Noguchi and Walter Budd in 1978. The historic Stroh River Place complex is a mixed-use residential development adjacent to the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel and Residence , the redeveloped site of
4340-690: Is not deemed offensive. The trail is one of the city's few public art parks and is a major attraction for urban photographers. The Renaissance Center , nicknamed the RenCen , is a group of seven interconnected skyscrapers in Detroit , Michigan , and the tallest building in Michigan since 1977. Located on the Detroit International Riverfront, the entire Renaissance Center complex is owned by General Motors . The central tower
4464-731: Is occupied by the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center , the tallest all-hotel skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere with the largest rooftop restaurant, called Coach Insignia. The complex contains many restaurants, a variety of shops, and the vehicle display known as GM World. GM donated its portion of the plaza and promenade to the Riverfront Conservancy upon completion. A cruise-ship passenger terminal stands on Hart Plaza, adjacent to
4588-505: The Ambassador Bridge to Belle Isle . The path is located directly on the river, sometimes bridging it. The path is 62 feet ( 18 + 3 ⁄ 4 m) wide in most places, with separate lanes for pedestrian and wheeled (such as bicycles or inline skate ) traffic. Pavilions, fishing piers and benches are located at intervals along the path. The east riverfront promenade connects an area known as Rivertown. It extends along
4712-582: The Billboard Hot 100, giving Franklin her first top-ten pop single. The song's B-side, " Do Right Woman, Do Right Man ", reached the R&B top 40, peaking at number 37. " Respect " was Otis Redding 's song but Aretha modified it with a "supercharged interlude featuring the emphatic spelling-out of the song's title". Her frenetic version was released in April and reached number one on both the R&B and pop charts. "Respect" became her signature song and
4836-687: The Detroit River and Western Lake Erie shoreline. Belle Isle Park is a 982 acres (397 ha; 1.534 sq mi) island state park in the Detroit River managed by the State of Michigan . Until November 12, 2013, it was a city-operated park operated by the City of Detroit Recreation Department. It connects to the city by the MacArthur Bridge . It is home to the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory (1904),
4960-600: The Finsbury Park Astoria and the Hammersmith Odeon on May 11 and May 12. In June 1968, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine in a portrait illustration by Boris Chaliapin . In March 1969, Franklin was unanimously voted winner of Académie du Jazz 's R&B award, Prix Otis Redding, for her albums Lady Soul , Aretha Now , and Aretha in Paris . That year, Franklin was the subject of
5084-744: The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Franklin was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1994, recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1999, recipient of the American Academy of Achievement 's Golden Plate Award presented by Awards Council member Coretta Scott King , and was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 by then President George W. Bush . She was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005, and
Detroit International Riverfront - Misplaced Pages Continue
5208-461: The Parke-Davis research laboratory, a National Historic Landmark located along the east riverfront promenade. The historic Dry Dock Complex is an additional redeveloped site along the east riverfront which includes residential units and retail. The Detroit International Riverfront includes a 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 -mile (8.8 km) promenade called the River Walk which is to extend from
5332-823: The Presidential Medal of Freedom . In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Her other inductions include the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and posthumously the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2019, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded her a posthumous special citation "for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". Aretha Louise Franklin
5456-834: The Ravinia Festival on September 3, 2017, she gave her last full concert. Franklin's final public performance was at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City during Elton John 's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation on November 7, 2017. According to Richie Unterberger , Franklin was "one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged". She had often been described as
5580-585: The architecture of the area. The area provides a venue for a variety of annual events and festivals including the Detroit Electronic Music Festival , Detroit Free Press International Marathon, the Detroit International Jazz Festival , Motor City Pride , the North American International Auto Show , River Days and Detroit China Festival. In February 2021, the Detroit International Riverfront
5704-584: The soundtrack to the film Sparkle with Curtis Mayfield . The album yielded Franklin's final top-40 hit of the decade, " Something He Can Feel ", which also peaked at number one on the R&B chart. Franklin's follow-up albums for Atlantic, including Sweet Passion (1977), Almighty Fire (1978) and La Diva (1979), bombed on the charts, and in 1979 Franklin left the company. On November 7, 1979, she guested The Mike Douglas Show with her yellow costume from her La Diva album, and sang "Ladies Only", "What If I Should Ever Need You" and " Yesterday " by
5828-716: The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater after the famous singer who died on August 16, 2018. The change took place before the 2019 season. Dequindre Cut Greenway is a non-motorized trail extending from the Detroit River northward, with the future potential to connect to the Ferndale-Birmingham greenway in Oakland County . The mile (1.6 km) long trail primarily connects the Lafayette Park neighborhood and Eastern Market to
5952-505: The Beatles . In 1980, after leaving Atlantic Records, Franklin signed with Clive Davis 's Arista Records . "Davis was beguiling and had the golden touch", according to Rolling Stone . "If anybody could rejuvenate Franklin's puzzlingly stuck career, it was Davis." Also in 1980, Franklin gave a command performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . Franklin also had an acclaimed guest role as
6076-548: The Cut between Woodbridge Street and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor along the International Riverfront . The greenway currently houses a paved path with separate lanes for both pedestrians and bicycles. Access ramps to the Cut have been constructed at Lafayette Street, Gratiot Avenue, and Wilkins Street. Graffiti on the bridge abutments along the trail were intentionally left in place during
6200-464: The Dark (released in August 1970, in which month she again performed at London's Hammersmith Odeon) and Young, Gifted and Black (released in early 1972). In 1971, Franklin became the first R&B performer to headline Fillmore West , later that year releasing the live album Aretha Live at Fillmore West . In January 1972, she returned to Gospel music in a two-night, live-church recording, with
6324-615: The Dequindre Cut was considered as a freeway access to their proposed riverfront location. However, the casinos were built elsewhere, leaving the fate of the Dequindre Cut open. In 2003, the GreenWays Initiative granted the Downtown Detroit Partnership $ 98,750 to put plans in motion to remake the Dequindre Cut as a greenway. The project was later funded by another $ 3.4 million in grants, and groundbreaking began in 2005. The first stretch of greenway,
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#17327729465736448-596: The Great Diva Classics , released in October 2014. In doing so, she became the first woman to have 100 songs on Billboard 's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with the success of her cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep", which debuted at number 47 on the chart. In December 2015, Franklin gave an acclaimed performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors during
6572-754: The International Riverfront project. Developers planned the initial east riverfront promenade investment at $ 559 million, which included contributions of $ 135 million from GM and $ 50 million from the Kresge foundation. The area contains the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge which is the only international wildlife preserve in North America , uniquely located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The Refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles (77 km) of
6696-596: The Lake Lounge bar. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy has connected the park to the Renaissance Center along a riverside promenade. The park was originally named for Charles Chene, a French immigrant who owned a strip of land along the shores of the Detroit River that extended into what is now just east of downtown. On September 4, 2018, Detroit City Council unanimously voted to rename Chene Park
6820-420: The Los Angeles neighborhood of Encino , where she lived until 1982. She then returned to the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills to be close to her ailing father and siblings. Franklin maintained a residence there until her death. Following an incident in 1984, she cited a fear of flying that prevented her from traveling overseas; she performed only in North America afterwards. Franklin was Baptist . Franklin
6944-408: The Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin , the latter of which reached number 69 on the Billboard chart. In the 1960s, during a performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, WVON radio personality Pervis Spann announced that Franklin should be crowned "the Queen of Soul". Spann ceremonially placed a crown on her head. By 1964, Franklin began recording more pop music, reaching the top 10 on
7068-410: The Near-East Riverfront, it covers 31 acres (13 ha) on the Detroit River , and includes a 52-slip harbor of refuge. A 63-foot (19 m) conical brick light tower marks the harbor entrance. The park's first phase opened in 2003, included refurbishing of the marina and construction of lighthouse. Construction on the second phase, adjacent to Rivard Plaza, to expand the park started in summer 2008 and
7192-499: The R&B chart with the ballad "Runnin' Out of Fools", in early 1965. She had two R&B charted singles in 1965 and 1966, with the songs " One Step Ahead " and "Cry Like a Baby", while also reaching the Easy Listening charts with the ballads " You Made Me Love You " and "(No, No) I'm Losing You". By the mid-1960s, Franklin was making $ 100,000 per year from countless performances in nightclubs and theaters. Also during that period, she appeared on rock-and-roll shows, such as Hollywood
7316-538: The R&B chart. Mostly produced by Clyde Otis , Franklin's Columbia recordings saw her performing in diverse genres, such as standards , vocal jazz , blues , doo-wop and rhythm and blues . Before the year was out, Franklin scored her first hit-single with her rendition of the standard " Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody ". By the end of 1961, Franklin was named as a "new-star female vocalist" in DownBeat magazine. In 1962, Columbia issued two more albums, The Electrifying Aretha Franklin and The Tender,
7440-413: The R&B chart. In 1989, Franklin filmed a music video for a remake of " Think ". In 1990, she sang " I Want to Be Happy ", " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman ", and " Someone Else's Eyes " at the MDA Labor Day Telethon . In 1995, she was selected to play Aunt Em in the Apollo Theater revival of The Wiz . Franklin's final top 40 single was 1998's " A Rose Is Still a Rose ". The album of
7564-410: The Renaissance Center. In 2003, General Motors completed a $ 500 million renovation of the Renaissance Center for its world headquarters which it had purchased in 1996. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill , Gensler, the Smith Group , and Ghafari Associates were among the architects for the renovation. The majority of the construction operations were led by Turner Construction Company. The renovation included
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#17327729465737688-421: The Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. She was the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year , performing at the Grammys days later. In 2019 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation "[f]or her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". Franklin was the first individual woman to receive
7812-411: The Riverwalk. The greenway utilizes half of the corridor, with a 20-foot (6.1 m) wide paved path with separate lanes for biking and walking. Construction of phase I of the Dequindre Cut Greenway, extending from the River one mile (1.6 km) north to Gratiot Avenue, is complete. Funded by MDOT's Transportation Enhancement Program and the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, this portion of
7936-399: The addition of "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood", were released on side one of the 1956 album, Spirituals . This was reissued by Battle Records in 1962, under the same title. In 1965, Checker Records released Songs of Faith , featuring the five tracks from the 1956 Spirituals album, with the addition of four previously unreleased recordings. Aretha was only 14 when Songs of Faith
8060-411: The addition of a five-story Wintergarden which provides access to the Detroit International Riverfront. Work continued in and around the complex until 2005. The Renaissance Center totals 5.5 million square feet (511,000 m), making it one of the world's largest office complexes. Philip A. Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit , is a city plaza along the Detroit River . It is located more or less on
8184-408: The age of 16, Franklin went on tour with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and she would ultimately sing at his funeral in 1968. Other influences in her youth included Marvin Gaye (who was a boyfriend of her sister), as well as Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, "two of Franklin's greatest influences". Also important was James Cleveland , known as the King of Gospel music, "who helped to focus her early career as
8308-410: The album Amazing Grace , in which she reinterpreted standards such as Mahalia Jackson's " How I Got Over ". Originally released in June 1972, Amazing Grace sold more than two million copies, and is one of bestselling gospel albums of all time. The live performances were filmed for a concert film directed by Sydney Pollack , but due to synching problems and Franklin's own attempts to prevent
8432-407: The album also included her Grammy-winning cover of Sam & Dave 's " Hold On, I'm Comin' ". Franklin achieved a gold record—for the first time in seven years—with the 1982 album Jump to It . The album's title track was her first top-40 single on the pop charts in six years. The following year, she released " Get It Right ", produced by Luther Vandross . In 1985, inspired by a desire to have
8556-439: The aria " Nessun dorma " as planned. The show's producers, desperate to fill the time slot, approached Franklin with their dilemma. She was a friend of Pavarotti and had sung the aria two nights prior at the annual MusiCares event. She asked to hear Pavarotti's rehearsal recording, and after listening, agreed that she could sing it in the tenor range that the orchestra was prepared to play in. Over one billion people worldwide saw
8680-449: The beat, of spraying a wash of notes over a single word or syllable, of constructing, moment by moment, the emotional power of a three-minute song. 'Respect' is as precise an artifact as a Ming vase." Describing Franklin's voice on her first album, Songs of Faith , released in 1956 when she was just 14, Jerry Wexler explained that it "was not that of a child but rather of an ecstatic hierophant ". Critic Randy Lewis assessed her skills as
8804-420: The city, particularly in the east-west direction. In 1923, the city of Detroit and the railroad began a plan to build 22 grade separations ; both parties agreed to share the cost. One of the tracks to be regraded was the line paralleling St. Aubin. These tracks ran from the northwest, where they connected with a network of other lines, to the southeast, where the tracks turned to parallel the river and supplied
8928-452: The construction of the greenway. The rail line was built in the 1830s by the Detroit and Pontiac Railroad , a predecessor of Canadian National Railway subsidiary Grand Trunk Western Railroad . By the 1920s, there were over 400 industries operating on Detroit's east side. However, the combination of the city's haphazard street plan, the expansion of large factories, and the substantial network of rail tracks conspired to slow traffic within
9052-463: The construction of the time and their relationship to the right-of-way below. As the century progressed, rail usage declined. Passenger service through the Cut was discontinued in 1982, and freight service continued only a few years beyond that. In 1998-2000, Canadian National sold the 3.5-mile section of track (including the Cut) south of their main line. During this time of abandonment, the Dequindre Cut
9176-491: The east edge of the Eastern Market . The grade separation gradually increases heading south. It eventually reaches and stays 25 feet beneath grade until it enters the riverfront area south of Jefferson Avenue . A substantial portion of the Cut has been converted into a greenway. The greenway runs from Mack Avenue south to Woodbridge Street, between Jefferson Avenue and the Detroit River . The Dequindre Trail connects
9300-541: The east riverfront area from the Huntington Place convention and exhibit facility to the Belle Isle State Park bridge and includes the Renaissance Center , GM Plaza and Promenade, William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor , Stroh River Place , Chene Park, Mt Elliott Park and Gabriel Richard Park. The river walk is designed to supplement new retail and residential development, and includes
9424-666: The engagement was quickly called off. Franklin's music business friends included Dionne Warwick , Mavis Staples , and Cissy Houston , who began singing with Franklin as members of the Sweet Inspirations . Houston sang background on Franklin's hit "Ain't No Way". Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston , in the early 1970s. She was made Whitney's honorary aunt (not a godmother as has been occasionally reported) and Whitney often referred to her as "Auntie Ree". Franklin had to cancel plans to perform at Whitney Houston's memorial service on February 18, 2012, due to
9548-734: The film's distribution after Hollywood refused to promote a dark-skinned black woman as a movie star at the time, the film's release was only realized by producer Alan Elliott in November 2018. Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey , which featured production from Quincy Jones . Despite the success of the single " Angel ", the album bombed upon its release in 1973. Franklin continued having R&B success with songs such as " Until You Come Back to Me " and " I'm in Love ", but by 1975 her albums and songs were no longer top sellers. After Jerry Wexler left Atlantic for Warner Bros. Records in 1976, Franklin worked on
9672-558: The four children they had together. When Aretha was two, the family relocated to Buffalo, New York . By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to Detroit, Michigan where he took over the pastorship of the New Bethel Baptist Church . The Franklins had a troubled marriage due to Mr. Franklin's infidelities, and they separated in 1948. At that time, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo with Aretha's half-brother, Vaughn. After
9796-544: The greenway sets the template for future phases and includes a 20-foot (6.1 m) bituminous path; access ramps for bicyclists, pedestrians and emergency vehicles; landscaping; lighting; signage and security cameras. The first phase of the trail officially opened May 14, 2009 with an opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Woodbridge Street entrance of the greenway between Orleans Street and St. Aubin Street. The Dequindre Cut Greenway phase II North project begins at
9920-539: The high-rise Riverfront Towers . The west riverfront promenade will eventually connect to River Rouge in the southwest side. William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor (formerly Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor ) is a state park in Michigan , and one of only two state parks located within an urban area. The park consist of the former city-owned St. Aubin Park and Marina. Located just east of downtown Detroit in
10044-621: The holiday album This Christmas, Aretha on DMI Records. On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, and performed " Never Gonna Break My Faith ", which had won her the Grammy for best Gospel performance the year before. Twelve years later, an unheard performance of " Never Gonna Break My Faith " was released in June 2020 to commemorate Juneteenth with
10168-439: The home of a prominent African-American preacher to the end of her life, Franklin was immersed and involved in the struggle for civil rights and women's rights . She provided money for civil rights groups, at times covering payroll, and performed at benefits and protests. When Angela Davis was jailed in 1970, Franklin told Jet : "Angela Davis must go free ... Black people will be free. I've been locked up (for disturbing
10292-506: The man with the "million-dollar voice". He earned thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country. His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward , James Cleveland , and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews . Martin Luther King Jr. , Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. Ward
10416-471: The most memorable" of the event openers by many artists. After 1988, "Franklin never again had huge hits", according to Rolling Stone . The 1991 album What You See is What You Sweat flopped on the charts. She returned to the charts in 1993 with the dance song "A Deeper Love" and returned to the top 40 with the song " Willing to Forgive " in 1994. That recording reached number 26 on the Hot 100 and number five on
10540-635: The multi-day festival the last week of June which draws about 3.5 million visitors during the week in order to commemorate each country's respective National holiday - ( US Independence Day on July 4 and Canada Day on July 1). The festival began in 1959. It is organized by the Parade Company, a well sponsored not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation. Traditionally, several days of events were planned, ending with one of
10664-407: The nation" by 1968. In 1968, Franklin issued the top-selling albums Lady Soul and Aretha Now , which included some of her most popular hit singles, including " Chain of Fools ", " Ain't No Way ", " Think ", and " I Say a Little Prayer ". That February, Franklin earned the first two of her Grammys, including the debut category for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance . On February 16, Franklin
10788-522: The newly renovated historic Alden Park Towers . Architect Eric J. Hill aided in its design. The first 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of continuous riverfront promenade and two of the four planned pavilions opened to the public on June 6, 2007. Rivard Plaza located at the foot of Rivard Street features a covered seating, a carousel, concessions and bike rentals. Richard Plaza located in Gabriel Richard Park features covered seating, concessions and
10912-471: The northern terminus of the phase I at Gratiot Avenue and continues for over one-half mile to Mack Avenue. The strategic plan for phase II provides a design approach and project budget that builds on the lessons learned in phase I construction. The Dequindre Cut is noted for the high quality graffiti covering the walls of the corridor. The Riverfront Conservancy which operates the greenway will permit current and future painted art work to remain as long as it
11036-770: The oldest conservatory in the United States, the Detroit Yacht Club , the Detroit Boat Club , the Dossin Great Lakes Museum , a Coast Guard post, and a municipal golf course. The park contains a Nature Center where visitors are able to traverse wooded trails and view wildlife natural habitats. The island includes a half-mile (800 m) swimming beach. The Aretha Franklin Amphitheater , formerly known as Chene Park ,
11160-593: The peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. Jail is hell to be in. 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." Her songs "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" became anthems of these movements for social change. Franklin and several other American icons declined to take part in performing at President Donald Trump 's 2017 inauguration as
11284-527: The performance, and she received an immediate standing ovation . She would go on to record the selection and perform it live several more times in the years to come. The last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015. A small boy was so touched by her performance that he came onto the stage and embraced her while Franklin
11408-453: The public lying-in-repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History . The August 31 Homegoing Service held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, included multiple tributes by celebrities, politicians, friends and family members and was streamed by some news agencies such as Fox News , CNN , The Word Network , BET and MSNBC . Among those who paid tribute to Aretha at
11532-424: The road with him, during his "gospel caravan" tours for her to perform in various churches. He also helped her sign her first recording deal with J.V.B. Records . Franklin was featured on vocals and piano. In 1956, J.V.B. released Franklin's first single, "Never Grow Old", backed with "You Grow Closer". "Precious Lord (Part One) " backed with "Precious Lord (Part Two) " followed in 1959. These four tracks, with
11656-473: The same name was released after the single. It sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold certification. That same year, Franklin received global praise after her 1998 Grammy Awards performance. She had initially been asked to perform in honor of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers , in which she appeared with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi . That evening, after the show had already begun, another performer, opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti became too ill to perform
11780-400: The section for honoree Carole King , who co-wrote the song. During the bridge of the song, Franklin dropped her fur coat to the stage, for which the audience rewarded her with a mid-performance standing ovation . Dropping the coat was symbolic according to "Rolling Stone": it "echoed back to those times when gospel queens would toss their furs on top of the coffins of other gospel queens —
11904-764: The separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit. Aretha's mother died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952, before Aretha's 10th birthday. Several women, including Aretha's grandmother, Rachel, and Mahalia Jackson , took turns helping with the children at the Franklin home. During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. She also attended public school in Detroit, going through her first year at Northern High School , but dropping out during her second year. Aretha's father's emotionally driven sermons resulted in his being known as
12028-602: The service were Ariana Grande , Bill Clinton , Rev. Al Sharpton , Louis Farrakhan , Faith Hill , Fantasia , the Clark Sisters , Ronald Isley , Angie Stone , Chaka Khan , Jennifer Holliday , Loretta Devine , Jennifer Hudson , Queen Latifah , Shirley Caesar , Shirma Rouse , Stevie Wonder , Eric Holder , Gladys Knight , Cedric the Entertainer , Tyler Perry , Smokey Robinson , Yolanda Adams , and Rev. Dr. William Barber II . At Franklin's request she
12152-474: The similarly themed festivals Movement (2003–2004), Fuse-In (2005) and currently, Movement: Detroit's Electronic Music Festival (2006–present) continue the DEMF's traditions, with each name change reflecting shifts in festival management. All of these festivals featured performances by musicians and DJs, and emphasized the progressive qualities of the culture surrounding electronic music. The International Riverfront
12276-546: The singer with a medley of her classics performed by Christina Aguilera , Florence Welch , Jennifer Hudson , Martina McBride , and Yolanda Adams . That same year, she was ranked 19th among the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time top artists . When Rolling Stone listed the "Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums" in 2002 and again 2012, it listed Franklin's 1967, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You , number one. Inducted to
12400-689: The site at which Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac landed in 1701 when he founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit , the settlement that became Detroit. In 2011, the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority opened its new cruise ship passenger terminal and dock at Hart Plaza, adjacent to the Renaissance Center, which receives major cruise ships such as the MS Columbus and the Yorktown. The 14-acre (5.7 ha) plaza, which
12524-502: The song " I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) ", backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section . Franklin only spent one day recording at FAME, as an altercation broke out between her manager and husband Ted White , studio owner Rick Hall , and a horn player, and sessions were abandoned. The song was released the following month and reached number one on the R&B chart, while also peaking at number nine on
12648-575: The surgery, Franklin lost 85 lbs.; however, she denied that she had undergone weight-loss surgery. On May 19, 2011, Franklin had her comeback show at the Chicago Theatre . In May 2013, Franklin canceled two performances because of an undisclosed medical treatment. Further concert cancellations followed in the summer and fall. During a phone interview with the Associated Press in late August 2013, Franklin stated that she had had
12772-519: The theme songs of the TV shows A Different World and Together . In 1987, she issued her third gospel album, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism , which was recorded at her late father's New Bethel church, followed by Through the Storm in 1989. In 1987, Franklin performed " America the Beautiful " at WWE 's Wrestlemania III ; one source states that "to this day her WrestleMania III performance might be
12896-552: The world's largest fireworks displays, sponsored by Target . In prior years, the fireworks display has been billed as the world's largest. On the Windsor side, there is a midway consisting of carnival rides and concessions during the festival. The Midway operates as stand-alone attraction at the end of June, beginning of July. The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) is an electronic dance music showcase held in Hart Plaza each Memorial Day weekend since 2000. In subsequent years,
13020-552: Was "messing with my voice", but after quitting smoking she said later, in 2003, that her weight "ballooned". In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor. Discussing the surgery in 2011, she quoted her doctor as saying that it would "add 15 to 20 years" to her life. She denied that the ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer , as had been reported. Franklin added, "I don't have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors ... The problem has been resolved". Following
13144-655: Was C. L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old member of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis where C. L. was pastor. Franklin's father and idol, described as "unorthodox on every level," knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. Franklin was performing at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada , on June 10, 1979, when her father, C. L., was shot twice at point-blank range in his Detroit home. After six months at Henry Ford Hospital while still in
13268-598: Was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the " Queen of Soul ", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time. As a child, Franklin was noticed for her gospel singing at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. At the age of 18, she was signed as a recording artist for Columbia Records . While her career did not immediately flourish, Franklin found acclaim and commercial success once she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. She recorded albums such as I Never Loved
13392-1213: Was born in April 1970 and is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham. Franklin was married twice. Her first husband was Ted White , whom she married in 1961 at the age of 18. She had actually seen White the first time at a party held at her house in 1954. After a contentious marriage that was marred by domestic abuse , Franklin separated from White in 1968 and divorced him in 1969. She married actor Glynn Turman , on April 11, 1978, at her father's church. By marrying Turman, Franklin became stepmother of Turman's three children. Franklin and Turman separated in 1982 after she returned to Michigan from California and they divorced in 1984. Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn , were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings. Following Franklin's divorce from Ted White, her brother Cecil became her manager and maintained that position until his death from lung cancer on December 26, 1989. Her sister Carolyn died in April 1988 from breast cancer and her eldest sister Erma died from throat cancer in September 2002. Franklin's half-brother Vaughn died in late 2002. Her half-sister, Carol Ellan Kelley (née Jennings; 1940–2019),
13516-428: Was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin . She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee . Her father was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi , while her mother was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. Both Mr. and Mrs. Franklin had children from prior relationships in addition to
13640-506: Was completed in summer 2009. In fall 2009, the state park was renamed in honor of former Michigan Governor William G. Milliken . Detroit River Days, a five-day festival on the International Riverfront, marked the 2007 opening of the riverfront promenade along the east river leading up to the Detroit-Windsor International Freedom Festival fireworks. Detroit and Windsor jointly celebrate
13764-566: Was eulogized by Rev. Jasper Williams Jr. of Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, as he had eulogized her father as well as speaking at other family memorials. Williams's eulogy was criticized for being "a political address that described children being in a home without a father as 'abortion after birth' and said black lives do not matter unless blacks stop killing each other". Franklin's nephew Vaughan complained of Williams: "He spoke for 50 minutes and at no time did he properly eulogize her." Following
13888-680: Was honored with a day named for her and was greeted by longtime friend Martin Luther King Jr., who gave her the SCLC Drum Beat Award for Musicians two months before his death. Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in late April/May 1968, including an appearance at the Concertgebouw , Amsterdam, where she played to a near-hysterical audience who covered the stage with flower petals. She performed two concerts in London, at
14012-603: Was later hailed as a civil rights and feminist anthem. Upon hearing her version, Otis Redding said admiringly: "That little girl done took my song away from me." Franklin's debut Atlantic album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You , also became commercially successful, later going gold. According to National Geographic , this recording "would catapult Franklin to fame". Franklin scored two additional top-ten singles in 1967, " Baby I Love You " and " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman ". Working with Wexler and Atlantic, Franklin had become "the most successful singer in
14136-533: Was not yet an established label. Franklin's first Columbia single, " Today I Sing the Blues ", was issued in September 1960 and later reached the top 10 of the Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart. In January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin's first album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo . The album featured her first single to chart the Billboard Hot 100, " Won't Be Long ", which also peaked at number 7 on
14260-436: Was pursuing her singing career and "hanging out with [friends]", her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma took turns raising her children. Franklin would visit them often. Her third child, Ted White Jr., was born to Franklin and her husband Theodore "Ted" White in February 1964 and is known professionally as Teddy Richards. He provided guitar backing for his mother's band during live concerts. Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham,
14384-569: Was recorded. During this time, Franklin would occasionally travel with the Soul Stirrers . As a young gospel singer, Franklin spent summers on the gospel circuit in Chicago and stayed with Mavis Staples ' family. According to music producer Quincy Jones , while Franklin was still young, Dinah Washington let him know that "Aretha was the 'next one ' ". Franklin and her father traveled to California, where she met singer Sam Cooke . At
14508-603: Was replaced with Babyface and Don Was when Danger Mouse left the project. On September 29, 2014, Franklin performed to a standing ovation, with Cissy Houston as backup, a compilation of Adele 's " Rolling in the Deep " and " Ain't No Mountain High Enough " on the Late Show with David Letterman . Franklin's cover of "Rolling in the Deep" was featured among nine other songs in her first RCA release, Aretha Franklin Sings
14632-504: Was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers , Detroit. She was under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. Stevie Wonder , Jesse Jackson and former husband Glynn Turman visited her on her deathbed. Franklin died at her home on August 16, 2018, aged 76. She was initially thought to have died without a will. The cause of death was a malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) , which
14756-436: Was romantically involved with Aretha's father from around 1949 until Ward's death in 1973, though Aretha "preferred to view them strictly as friends". Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha. Just after her mother's death, Franklin began singing solos at New Bethel Baptist Church , debuting with the hymn "Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me". When Franklin was 12, her father began managing her; he would take her on
14880-747: Was still singing. Her final Arista album, So Damn Happy , was released in 2003 and featured the Grammy-winning song "Wonderful". In 2004, Franklin announced that she was leaving Arista after more than 20 years with the label. To complete her Arista obligations, Franklin issued the duets compilation album Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen in 2007. In February 2006, she performed " The Star-Spangled Banner " with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL , held in her hometown of Detroit. In 2008, Franklin issued
15004-528: Was the mother of four sons. She first became pregnant at the age of 12 and gave birth to her first child, named Clarence after her father, on January 28, 1955. In one of her handwritten wills, discovered in 2019, Franklin revealed that the father was Edward Jordan. On August 31, 1957, at the age of 15, Franklin had a second child fathered by Jordan, named Edward Derone Franklin after his father. Franklin did not like to discuss her early pregnancies with interviewers. Both children took her family name. While Franklin
15128-601: Was to encourage a "tenacious form of rhythm & blues that became increasingly identified as soul". The Atlantic days would lead to a series of hits for Aretha Franklin from 1967 to early 1972; her rapport with Wexler helped in the creation of the majority of her peak recordings with Atlantic. The next seven years' achievements were less impressive. However, according to Rolling Stone , "they weren't as terrible as some claimed, they were pro forma and never reached for new heights". In January 1967, Franklin traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama , to record at FAME Studios and recorded
15252-553: Was used by graffiti artists, attracted by the concrete bridge abutments and overpasses which protected the art from the weather, as well as the out-of-the-way location. The resulting art included some graffiti masterpieces. These pieces of art have continued since the transformation of the railway, such as a pair of murals created by the Hygienic Dress League Corporation . In the late 1990s, when casinos were first authorized to be built in Detroit,
15376-462: Was voted best riverwalk in the United States by USA Today readers. It was selected a second time as the best riverwalk in the U.S. in 2022. In 1981, the City of Detroit purchased the site from Uniroyal for $ 5 million and then spent another $ 3.6 million to demolish structures and clear the site. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, helped raise funds for
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