Aretha franklin brief biography example

American singer (1942–2018)

"Aretha" and "Queen of Soul" redirect here. For other uses, see Aretha (disambiguation) and Queen of Soul (disambiguation).

Aretha Louise Franklin (ə-REE-thə; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Queen of Soul", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time.

As a child, Franklin was noticed for her gospel singing at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. At the age of 18, she was signed as a recording artist for Columbia Records. While her career did not immediately flourish, Franklin found acclaim and commercial success once she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. She recorded albums such as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), and Sparkle (1976), before experiencing problems with the record company. Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records. Her success continued with the albu

Aretha Franklin’s voice may be deeply familiar to millions, but her origin story is lesser known—and that was by the Queen of Soul’s design. When the singer-songwriter commissioned a memoir, 1999’s From These Roots, it largely glossed over traumatic milestones in the performer’s life, including the death of Aretha’s mother, when the singer was only 10; Aretha’s pregnancy at 12 years old; her first marriage; and her alleged battles with alcohol.

The book was so sanitized that its ghostwriter, David Ritz, eventually admitted his disappointment, claiming it contained “enormous gaps and oversights.” About 15 years later, Ritz convinced Franklin to let him write a more honest biography, 2014’s Respect—bolstered by interviews with Franklin’s family members and contemporaries like Ray Charles, Billy Preston, and Luther Vandross. (“Mr. Ritz managed to persuade Ms. Franklin that if she didn’t let him write his own gloves-off story,” explained The New York Times, “someone more meanspirited would do it.” Even so, after Respect was published, Aretha called the book “full of lies.”)

Franklin’s formative coming-of-age traumas are depicted (or referenced in PG-13-appropriate detail) in Respect, the biopic directed by Liesl Tommy, written by Tracey Scott Wilson, and starring Jennifer Hudson, in theaters. “Her childhood had so much heartbreak that helps you understand how she was able to sing with such emotional intensity, and how she was able to bring so much pain and power to the renditions of the songs she chose to sing,” said Tommy in an interview with Vanity Fair. Or as Ritz put it in his 2014 biography, “The most traumatic parts of Aretha’s life would produce her most moving music.”

Ahead, the real-life tragedies that fueled Aretha’s music—with commentary by Tommy and Wilson.

Her Parents’ Split

You’d never know from Franklin’s account of her childhood, but the singer-songwriter’s parents had a complicated marriage. Aretha’s father, Reverend C.L.

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She was a trailblazer

Aretha Franklin - 'The Queen of Soul' - was a trailblazer. Aretha is one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history, the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1981 and was rated by Rolling Stone as the top spot in their 2010 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".

It's hard to understate the impact of the American singer, musician and civil rights activist. Join us as we take a deep-dive into Aretha's incredible talent and legendary career.

Where was Aretha Franklin from?

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, to the famous Baptist preacher C. L. Franklin and Barbara Sigger Franklin in 1942, Aretha began her career as a gospel singer in Detroit in her father's church, where she was also friends and neighbours with Berry Gordy Jr and Smokey Robinson.

Aretha was considered a child prodigy from an early age, leading to a series of gospel recordings before she landed her first recording contract with Columbia, with whom she released her 1961 debut 'Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo' at the age of 19.

How did Aretha Franklin become famous?

However, it wasn't until Aretha joined Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records, that Aretha fully unlocked her full, soul-filled musical potential from 1967 to 1979, releasing hits such as 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)' (1967), 'Respect' (1967), 'Think' (1968) and 'I Say a Little Prayer' (1968).

Her chart dominance during this time soon earned her the title 'Queen of Soul' whilst simultaneously becoming a leading symbol in the civil rights movement, even singing at Martin Luther King Jr's funeral.

In the 1970s, the singer began working with producers such as Quincy Jones and Curtis Mayfield, before her career started to fade

(1942-2018)

Who Was Aretha Franklin?

A gifted singer and pianist, Aretha Franklin toured with her father's traveling revival show and later visited New York, where she signed with Columbia Records. Franklin went on to release several popular singles, many of which are now considered classics. In 1987 she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2008 she won her 18th Grammy Award, making her one of the most honored artists in Grammy history.

Early Life and Career

The fourth of five children, Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Baptist preacher Reverend Clarence La Vaughan "C. L." Franklin and Barbara Siggers Franklin, a gospel singer.

Franklin's parents separated by the time she was six, and four years later her mother succumbed to a heart attack. Guided by C. L.'s preaching assignments, the family relocated to Detroit, Michigan. C. L. eventually landed at New Bethel Baptist Church, where he gained national renown as a preacher.

Franklin's musical gifts became apparent at an early age. Largely self-taught, she was regarded as a child prodigy. A gifted pianist with a powerful voice, Franklin got her start singing in front of her father's congregation.

By the age of 14, she had recorded some of her earliest tracks at his church, which were released by a small label as the album Songs of Faith in 1956. She also performed with C. L.'s traveling revival show and, while on tour, befriended gospel greats such as Mahalia Jackson, Sam Cooke and Clara Ward.

Children

At the age of 12, she became a mother for the first time with a son, Clarence. A second child, Edward, followed two years later — with both sons taking her family's name. Franklin would later have two more sons: Ted White, Jr. and Kecalf Cunningham.

Albums and Songs

'Aretha'

After a brief hiatus, Franklin returned to performing and followed heroes such as Cooke and Dinah Washin