Aretha Franklin, born Mar. 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, later raised in Detroit, Michigan, is often viewed as one of the most successful vocalists in the history of music. She was named as the greatest singer of all time not once, but twice by Rolling Stone (according to this Rolling Stone list and this Rolling Stone List). Known as the “Queen of Soul,” Franklin’s career lasted over six decades and included a long list of hits and a significant influence on soul, R&B, gospel, and pop music. Her repertoire includes; I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You”, “Respect”, “Chain of Fools” and 109 other singles that charted on the US Billboard charts.
At a young age Franklin was encouraged to start singing by her father who was a preacher and gospel singer at the church they attended. Franklin’s professional career took off when she signed with Columbia Records in 1960, but it was her shift to Atlantic Records in 1967 that started her rise to fame.
Throughout her life, Franklin was heavily involved in the fight for civil rights and women’s rights. She supported civil rights organizations financially, even covering payroll on occasion, and she performed at multiple benefit events and protests for both causes. (according to this article by TIME’s magazine)
Franklin later made history on Jan. 3, 1987 as the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (according to this small essay). She died in 2018 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer
“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right” – Aretha Franklin
BrainyQuote.com
If you’d like to learn more about Aretha Franklin, please click the following links:
https://www.arethafranklin.net/
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2f9ecbed-27be-40e6-abca-6de49d50299e
