Long Live the Queen!

Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, passes away at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.

Thursday, August 16, 2018, will go down as one of the saddest days in music history. Early that morning the world received the news that our beloved Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, passed away at the age of 76 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Although it was not confirmed until after her death, there has been speculation since 2011 that the frequent cancellation of performances was due to her declining health. She will be greatly missed. There has been an overabundance of love shown towards our Queen across social media.

“There was a GENIUS that walked this Earth. She was a BLACK WOMAN. She gave us the BLUE PRINT. She RAISED THE BAR. She LAID THE FOUNDATION and her name was QUEEN ARETHA FRANKLIN. We could not forget you if we tried. I am infinitely THANKFUL.”

– Janelle Monae via twitter

Aretha was born in Memphis, TN, March 25, 1942, to her father C.L. Franklin, a minister and her mother Barbara Siggers, an accomplished singer and pianist. Aretha learned to play the piano by ear shortly after her mother’s death at age 10 and began singing in her father’s church choir by age 12. It was then that her talent blossomed, and she started her journey in music.

She would soon start accompanying her father to church services to sing and would eventually sign a record deal with JVB Records. Her first album “Songs of Faith”, released in 1956, showcased her powerful voice and vocal abilities. She was later signed to Columbia records in 1960 at age 18. Her first single with Columbia Records, entitled “Today I Sing the Blues” made its way to #10 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart. Her song “Won’t Be Long” reached the Billboard Hot 100 R&B charts, holding the #7 spot in 1961. In 1967, she released her version of “Respect”, originally recorded by the late Otis Redding. Aretha’s version of the song was from a woman’s point of view, demanding respect from their husbands and society. “Respect” took on a life of its own, being used as the anthem for civil rights as well as women’s feminist movements. “Respect” would carry Franklin to the #1 spot of the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of her career, Queen Franklin racked up 18 Grammy Awards, 3 American Music Awards, and became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. 

Outside of music, Aretha Franklin was a conduit of service for her community. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr for civil rights for black Americans, supported The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, and most recently performed with Elton John to support the Elton John AIDs Foundation. Her life and memory will forever live on. On August 28 and 29, 2018 the fans of Aretha Franklin will be able to attend a public viewing at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit Michigan from 9 AM to 9 PM on both days. Although she is gone, she will remain in our hearts. Long Live the Queen of Soul.