On Thursday August 16th, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, passed away in Detroit, Michigan at age 76.
Franklin’s last performance was at a gala on November 7th, 2017 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Aretha Franklin was one of the most awarded woman to ever be in music, she was an outstanding singer and a greatly underestimated pianist.
She was nominated for Grammys 44 times and won 18 of those, her first being for her hit song “Respect.” On October 8th, 2014, Franklin became the first woman to have 100 hits on the Billboard’s Hot R&B song chart with the song “Rolling in the deep.”On November 9th, 2005, she was awarded the Medal of Freedom, an award for the highest civilian honor, by President George W. Bush.
She has also performed for numerous presidents in the past 50 years, her first being the inaugural gala for President Jimmy Carter in 1977. At President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, she performed “I Dream a Dream.” She also sang at President Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20th, 2009.
But the way Franklin got to the top of the charts is a better story than the achievement itself.
She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25th, 1942. Her father, Clarence LaVaughan (“C.L” Franklin), moved the family to Detroit where he was a minister and a widely known gospel singer. He was the minister of the New Bethel Baptist church where he and Aretha sang in the choir. Her father offered to teach her piano lessons, but instead, without knowing how to read music, she taught herself and began recording music at 14.
Aretha Franklin is said by many to be the greatest female singer ever, and she will be greatly missed. She earned herself the title “Queen of Soul” and made lives better with her empowering music.
I found the artical to be very informational and interesting. The wording and punctuating is very good, i didn’t find any mess ups.
I really like how you included they way she got into music and her accomplishments. I also admire the way you added quotes from her peers.
so sad 🙁 beautiful soul taken from us.