Misplaced Pages

#950049

90-541: This discography documents the releases of albums and singles by Aretha Franklin . Widely regarded as the "Queen of Soul", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling R&B female artists of all time. Billboard ranks her as the 34th Greatest Artist of all time. Franklin has scored 73 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 , the most among women for nearly 50 years until Nicki Minaj passed her in 2017. Billboard listed her as

180-479: 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

270-461: 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

360-745: 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

450-500: 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

540-606: 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

630-441: 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

720-524: 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

810-524: 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

900-583: 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

990-489: 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

SECTION 10

#1732782532951

1080-403: 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

1170-425: 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

1260-528: 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

1350-482: 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

1440-542: 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

1530-494: 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

1620-559: 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

1710-613: 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

1800-424: 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

1890-684: 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

SECTION 20

#1732782532951

1980-625: 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

2070-483: 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

2160-508: 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

2250-589: 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

2340-493: 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

2430-634: 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

2520-600: 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

2610-563: The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012, Franklin was described as "the voice of the civil rights movement, the voice of black America". Asteroid 249516 Aretha was named in her honor in 2014. The next year, Billboard named her the greatest female R&B artist of all time. In 2018, Franklin was inducted in to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame . Think (Aretha Franklin song) Billboard described

2700-744: 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

2790-823: 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

Aretha Franklin discography - Misplaced Pages Continue

2880-834: 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

2970-584: 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

3060-459: The 41st Top Gospel Artist of the 2010s. She has accumulated 20 No. 1 hits on Billboard ' s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs . Amazing Grace remains the biggest-selling live gospel album of all time, being certified 2× Platinum in the US. According to RIAA database, Franklin has sold 16.5 million albums and singles in the US (based on certifications). She is ranked first among female vocalists with

3150-505: 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

3240-464: 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

3330-596: 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

3420-543: 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

3510-707: 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

3600-562: 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

3690-592: 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,

Aretha Franklin discography - Misplaced Pages Continue

3780-549: 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

3870-525: 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

3960-525: The Storm . It was produced and arranged by Arif Mardin with his son Joe Mardin . She re-recorded the song for Mothers Against Drunk Driving as a public service announcement during the late 1980s. Katharine McPhee 's version of the song was released as a limited single from the American Idol 5: Encores (2006) album. The song became a minor Internet hit for McPhee—it was her first song to chart in

4050-452: 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

4140-574: 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

4230-461: 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

4320-407: 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

4410-439: 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

4500-449: 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

4590-666: 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

SECTION 50

#1732782532951

4680-734: 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

4770-558: 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

4860-519: 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

4950-439: 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

5040-719: The liner notes of Aretha Now . Musicians Production Franklin performed a new version of the song in a musical sequence of The Blues Brothers (1980). Because Franklin was not used to lip-syncing, this scene required a number of takes and considerable editing. A 3:15 version of the song appears on the film's soundtrack album. In addition to Franklin, the recording features the Blues Brothers band and backup vocals from Franklin's sister Carolyn and cousin Brenda Corbett. Franklin recorded an updated 3:38 version titled "Think (1989)" for her 1989 album Through

5130-442: 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

5220-707: The most Billboard chart hits during the rock era (1955–2012) with a total of 88 according to Joel Whitburn 's Record Research. In total cumulative weeks, Franklin is the fifth most successful female artist on the Billboard 200 with a total of 995 cumulative weeks on the chart behind Adele , Madonna , Barbra Streisand and Taylor Swift . Notes The following singles were released or re-released after Franklin left Columbia. Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( / ə ˈ r iː θ ə / ə- REE -thə ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018)

5310-471: 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

5400-407: 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

5490-593: 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

SECTION 60

#1732782532951

5580-584: 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

5670-453: 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

5760-424: 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

5850-473: 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

5940-400: 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 —

6030-764: 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

6120-602: 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

6210-485: 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

6300-407: The single as a "pulsating swinger with another wild performance" that had a similar feel to " Respect " and which it expected would quickly reach a million sales. Cash Box said it has "wailing lyrics of a hard-luck love affair" and "tremendous rhythmic drive." Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Credits are adapted from

6390-502: 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

6480-575: 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

6570-467: 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

6660-552: 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

6750-655: 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

6840-598: 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

6930-1213: 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),

7020-428: 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

7110-566: 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

7200-632: 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

7290-603: 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

7380-533: 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

7470-436: 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,

7560-514: 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

7650-603: 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

7740-504: 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

7830-436: 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

7920-695: 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

8010-528: 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

8100-601: 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

#950049