The music industry has had the good fortune to work with several legendary figures over the years. Aretha Louise Franklin was one of those honored legends. Towards the end of the 1960s, and for the rest of her life, she was given the title of "The Queen of Soul."
At the age of 76, Aretha Louise Franklin passed away at her home in Detroit, Michigan, on Thursday, August 16, 2018. She was without a doubt a phenomenal singer, songwriter, and pianist throughout her life and career. Regarding music, she reportedly said:
Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It is transporting for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It is uplifting, it is encouraging, it’s strengthening.
Aretha Franklin's true musical roots were found in gospel music, even though she became well known for her commercial success after signing with Atlantic Records and releasing songs like "Respect," "Chain of Fools," "Think," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "Don't Play That Song (You Lied")," and "Spanish Harlem." Every song she sung and performed on the piano, whether it was a secular or religious tune, demonstrated this.
Earlier Years
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin at 406 Lucy Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother was a gifted pianist and singer, while her father was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi.
Her father accepted the position of minister at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, and moved the family there permanently in 1946. From 1946 until his retirement in 1979, he was the minister and was dubbed "The Million Dollar Voice." It was at New Bethel Baptist Church where Aretha began her career, as a young child, singing gospel music.
Her parents separated in 1948. Before Aretha turned 10 years old, on March 7, 1952, her mother passed away from a heart attack. At the Franklin home, several women, including Mahalia Jackson, a well-known gospel singer, and Aretha's grandmother Rachel, took turns looking after the kids. During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear.
Aretha’s roots in the gospel continued to grow. With his emotionally charged sermons, her father rose to prominence as a preacher, collecting thousands of dollars to deliver messages in various churches across the nation. His popularity led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, and gospel singers Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews were among those who paid the house a visit. Clara Ward served as a role model to the young Aretha.
The Beginning of an Incredible Music Career
Aretha made her solo debut at New Bethel Baptist Church shortly after her mother passed away, singing the song "Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me." When she was 12 years old, her father started managing her career and she accompanied him on his "gospel caravan" trips, playing the piano and singing in other churches. In 1956, after her father assisted her in securing her first recording contract with J.V.B. Records, her debut album, Songs of Faith, was released. During this time, she occasionally traveled with The Soul Stirrers, a gospel singing group.
Aretha initially met the legendary singer Sam Cooke when she and her father visited California in 1958. When she was 16 years old, she joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on tour. On April 9, 1968, when she was 26 years old, she performed a song at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral in Atlanta, Georgia.
Aretha traveled to New York after turning 18 and expressed to her father that she wanted to record pop music like Sam Cooke. Her career in secular music begun, and the rest is history—and what majestic history it is.
She Never Lost Sight of Where She Came From
Aretha Louise Franklin maintained her gospel roots over the course of her immense popularity and fame, even when playing in front of prominent dignitaries and audiences around the world. For her third live album, she recorded a complete two-album compilation of the gospel songs she grew up with. The album titled Amazing Grace was released on June 1st, 1972, by Atlantic Records. The album ultimately achieved a double platinum certification after selling more than two million copies in the US alone.
As of 2017, Amazing Grace is both the best-selling live gospel music album of all time, as well as the album with the most sales throughout Aretha's entire fifty-plus year recording career. Aretha won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance in recognition of the album.
The two-disc album was recorded in January 1972 at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. Warner Bros. delayed the release of a film documenting the making of the album that would have followed the release of the album. In 1999, Amazing Grace was remastered and re-released as a two-compact disc set with many unreleased takes.
Although "The Queen of Soul" passed away far too young, her musical legacy, which includes both secular and religious music, will endure for many years to come. Gladys Knight-McDowell, the Empress of Soul, wrote a note to Aretha in which she said:
Well, my sister our Father in Heaven has called you home, but we are so very grateful to him for blessing you with such an awesome gift to share with us. Your music set a standard for every single lady in this industry to rise to. You have touched minds, hearts, and spirits, including my own.
Yes, we are sisters and we squabbled as sisters do, but we also loved, supported, and laughed together through our lifetime. I pray you have a smooth journey Ree Ree and hopefully I’ll get to sing with you in the Heavenly choir if I make it. Love you, Gladys.
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