On Thursday August 16, 2018, we lost one of the greatest soul singers of all time, Aretha Franklin, popularly known as The Queen of Soul. Ms. Franklin was 76 years old. She was a legend and her career accomplishments should never be forgotten, even by the younger generation.
Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of Barbara and Clarence LaVaughn Franklin.
Aretha began her professional career in the early 1960’s. In the beginning it was hard as she tried to find her voice away from Gospel music, which she sang as a child. Consistency would pay off however, as her first mega hit was just a few years away.
Franklin became a household name for her hit “Respect” in 1967 right after leaving Columbia Records for Atlantic Records. The song would also garner Aretha her first Grammy Awards. “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” became an anthem for feminism and teaching people how to treat each other.
Franklin’s legacy is one that will be remembered in many ways. Franklin had the honor of being inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, just on of many honors she has in her career.
“Franklin … passed away on Thursday morning, August 16 at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit, MI, surrounded by family and loved ones. Franklin’s official cause of death was due to advance pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type.”
A lot of times we as fans may overstate the word legend when it comes to certain musicians and entertainers, but Aretha Franklin definitely deserves to be remembered as one.
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