Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin is an American singer, songwriter and pianist commonly referred to as
"The Queen of Soul". Although renowned for her soul recordings, Franklin is also adept
at jazz, rock, blues, pop, R&B and gospel. She is widely acclaimed for her passionate
vocal style and powerful range. In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone
ranked Franklin 1 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time. Aretha Franklin was
born March 25, 1942 in Memphis. Franklin grew up in Detroit, where her father, Rev.
C.L. Franklin, served as pastor at the New Bethel Baptist Church. one of the most
influential and important voices in the history of popular music. Aretha began singing
church music at an early age. Her mother Barbara was also a gospel singer and deserted
the family when Aretha was six and died four years later. Aretha and her sisters Carolyn
and Erma sang regularly at their father's church and Aretha's first recordings( The Gospel
Sound of Aretha Franklin) were made there when she was 14. The person that influence
was her aunt, Clara Ward, a renowned singer of sacred music. Many future stars
including Smokey Robinson knew the family and in the '50s Berry Gordy Jr. tried to sign
Aretha to his Motown label but Reverend Franklin refused. Aretha ended up being signed
with Columbia Records in 1960 after A&R man John Hammond heard a demo she cut in
New York. She remained at Columbia for six years, cutting ten albums that failed to fully
tap into her capabilities. Jerry Wexler was waiting in the wings to sign Franklin when her
contract with Columbia expired. In 1966 she signed with Atlantic. With the help of
producer Jerry Wexler, arranger Arif Mardin and engineer Tom Dowd, Franklin began to
make the records that would reshape soul music. Her most productive period ran from
1967 through 1972. The revelations began with her first Atlantic single, “I Never Loved a
Man (the Way I
"The Queen of Soul". Although renowned for her soul recordings, Franklin is also adept
at jazz, rock, blues, pop, R&B and gospel. She is widely acclaimed for her passionate
vocal style and powerful range. In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone
ranked Franklin 1 on its list of The Greatest Singers of All Time. Aretha Franklin was
born March 25, 1942 in Memphis. Franklin grew up in Detroit, where her father, Rev.
C.L. Franklin, served as pastor at the New Bethel Baptist Church. one of the most
influential and important voices in the history of popular music. Aretha began singing
church music at an early age. Her mother Barbara was also a gospel singer and deserted
the family when Aretha was six and died four years later. Aretha and her sisters Carolyn
and Erma sang regularly at their father's church and Aretha's first recordings( The Gospel
Sound of Aretha Franklin) were made there when she was 14. The person that influence
was her aunt, Clara Ward, a renowned singer of sacred music. Many future stars
including Smokey Robinson knew the family and in the '50s Berry Gordy Jr. tried to sign
Aretha to his Motown label but Reverend Franklin refused. Aretha ended up being signed
with Columbia Records in 1960 after A&R man John Hammond heard a demo she cut in
New York. She remained at Columbia for six years, cutting ten albums that failed to fully
tap into her capabilities. Jerry Wexler was waiting in the wings to sign Franklin when her
contract with Columbia expired. In 1966 she signed with Atlantic. With the help of
producer Jerry Wexler, arranger Arif Mardin and engineer Tom Dowd, Franklin began to
make the records that would reshape soul music. Her most productive period ran from
1967 through 1972. The revelations began with her first Atlantic single, “I Never Loved a
Man (the Way I