“American history wells up when Aretha sings. 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”
– President Barack Obama at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors
She was the Queen of Soul and from 1956 to 2018, she brightened our world with her voice. She was our Queen Ree Ree, Aretha Franklin.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee to a Baptist minister, Aretha Louise Franklin got her start in singing as many others of her era: at church. When Aretha was five years old, the family relocated to Detroit (after a stint in Buffalo), where her father, C.L. Franklin became minister at New Bethel Baptist Church. At age 10, Aretha began singing at New Bethel and shortly thereafter, she began traveling with her father on his “gospel caravan” tours. Her first album, Spirituals, was recorded at New Bethel and released in 1956.
The 1960s brought Aretha secular and commercial success, including her first top 10 hit on the Billboard R&B charts in 1961, “Won’t Be Long.” After a stint under Columbia’s label, she jumped to Atlantic Records. In April 1967, the song that would become her signature, “Respect” was released and ultimately hit #1 on the R&B and Pop charts. The next year, two albums, Lady Soul and Aretha Now, dropped featuring some of her most popular songs: “Chain of Fools,” “Ain’t No Way,” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” Her first two Grammys followed.
The 1970s saw a return to her gospel roots with the release of Amazing Grace even as her R&B albums began to struggle on the charts. Her flagging career got a boost in 1980 with two career-altering moves: signing with Clive Davis and Artista Records and her guest role in the 1980 comedy The Blues Brothers. The chart-topping hits flowed, among them “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” “Freeway of Love,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” In 1987, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Queen Ree Ree was back on top.
While album sales declined in the 90s, and without singles really hitting the top of the charts, Aretha Franklin was still in her prime. During the 1998 Grammy Awards, at which she was tor perform in honor of The Blues Brothers film, Luciana Pavarotti called the producers (DURING THE BROADCAST) saying he was too ill to perform the opera aria “Nessun dorma.” Producers turned to the Queen. It so happened she had sung the selection two nights prior at the MusiCares event. After listening to the rehearsal recording of her friend, Pavarotti, (let that sink in: Aretha Franklin’s personal friend Luciano Pavarotti), she agreed to perform the aria during the broadcast. She earned an immediate standing ovation. She would perform the aria several more times, including for Pope Francis in Philadelphia in 2015.
Among other “Quintessential Aretha Performances”:
- Her rendition of “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee” at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration;
- a compilation of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” on the Late Show with David Letterman with Cissy Houston as backup;
- “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” to honor Carol King at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors (complete with discarding her fur on stage to a standing ovation);
- a 4+-minute rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a Thanksgiving 2016 game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, and
- Her final performance at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine during Elton John’s 25th anniversary Gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The list of awards and accolades Aretha Franklin garnered over the years fills its own Wikipedia page. In addition to her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, her voice was recognized as a “natural resource” in the state of Michigan. She amassed 44 Grammy nominations and 18 wins, plus the Grammy Legend Award in 1990, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, and the MusiCares Person of the Year in 2008. She was recognized with the Kennedy Center Honors in 1994, received the National Medal of the Arts in 1999, and in 2005, President George W. Bush presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also inducted in the UK Music Hall of Fame, the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
On August 16, 2018, Queen Aretha took leave of her Earthly existence. Her home-going ceremony in Detroit included multiple tributes from the likes of Chaka Kahn, President Bill Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Tyler Perry, Smokey Robinson, and Gladys Knight, among others. And while others may follow in her footsteps, there will only ever be one true Queen of Soul, our Queen Ree Ree.
And now some of our faves from the Queen:
