Franklins mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. [234] Franklin's biopic Respect was released in August 2021 in various countries. [54][55] Wexler decided that he wanted to take advantage of her gospel background; his philosophy in general was to encourage a "tenacious form of rhythm & blues that became increasingly identified as soul". [18] During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. Wilkerson passed away due to complications from COVID-19 in 2020. In 2020, he had supporting roles in the acclaimed features The Way Back and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Franklin's success expanded during the early 1970s, during which she recorded the multi-week R&B number one "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", as well as the top-ten singles "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", and "Day Dreaming". Her mother died when Aretha was 10. She had initially been asked to perform in honor of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, in which she appeared with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. [110][111] Franklin's final public performance was at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City during Elton John's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation on November 7, 2017. Trying to grow up is hurting, you know, she said. "Our last year in the studio together was the craziest. Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin. According to National Geographic, this recording "would catapult Franklin to fame". [124] On August 31, 1957, at the age of 15, Franklin had a second child fathered by Jordan, named Edward Derone Franklin[citation needed] after his father. Both stations were originally named after other people. The Queen of Soul died of pancreatic . Aretha Franklin was engaged to Willie Wilkerson (2012). While Franklin was pursuing her singing career and "hanging out with [friends]", her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma took turns raising her children. [51], Franklin was the mother of four sons. Her father, Clarence L. Franklin, was a Baptist minister, and her mother, Barbara, a musician. [122] She quietly and without fanfare supported Indigenous peoples' struggles worldwide, and numerous movements that supported Native American and First Nation cultural rights. Franklin and White, who was also her manager, married in 1961 when she was just 19 years old; but after seven years of marriage, they separated in 1968. Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. "They loved each other. [43], In November 1966, Franklin's Columbia recording contract expired; at that time, she owed the company money because record sales had not met expectations. [69], In January 1972, she returned to Gospel music in a two-night, live-church recording, with the album Amazing Grace, in which she reinterpreted standards such as Mahalia Jackson's "How I Got Over". [1] She had often been described as a great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience". Houston sang background on Franklin's hit "Ain't No Way". Turman and Franklin had both been previously married and entered their union with previous children. [187] Williams's eulogy was criticized for being "a political address that described children being in a home without a father as 'abortion after birth' and said black lives do not matter unless blacks stop killing each other". But no one appointed me her counselor and I simply shut up and supervised the session. [97] In doing so, she became the first woman to have 100 songs on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with the success of her cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep", which debuted at number 47 on the chart. [94] On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, and performed "Never Gonna Break My Faith", which had won her the Grammy for best Gospel performance[95] the year before. Clarence Franklin was born in 1955, when Aretha Franklin was just 12 years old. 'Respect' is as precise an artifact as a Ming vase. "[40], Also in 1980, Franklin gave a command performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth. [86][87], In 1995, she was selected to play Aunt Em in the Apollo Theater revival of The Wiz. They separated in 1982 partially due to the strain of maintaining a long-distance relationship and officially divorced in 1984. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. Franklin was married twice. He counted White as an enemy. [32] Record label owner Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and her elder sister Erma to sign with his Tamla label. Turman, 74, is best known for roles in Cooley High, The Wire, and House of Lies. Surrounded by sympathetic musicians playing spontaneous arrangements and devising the background vocals herself, Franklin refined a style associated with Ray Charlesa rousing mixture of gospel and rhythm and bluesand raised it to new heights. Theres nothing he wouldn't do for her. That was a huge blessing. 7 She Always Carried Her Purse. [31] In 1965, Checker Records released Songs of Faith, featuring the five tracks from the 1956 Spirituals album, with the addition of four previously unreleased recordings. Franklin only spent one day recording at FAME, as an altercation broke out between her manager and husband Ted White, studio owner Rick Hall, and a horn player, and sessions were abandoned. The follow-up, 1981's Love All the Hurt Away, included her famed duet of the title track with George Benson, while the album also included her Grammy-winning cover of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'". "In those years, Arethas story was pretty much a struggle over her career by two menour dad and Ted," Erma said. Donald and Aretha eventually split up and by 1961, she and Mr. Theodore Ted White were married. In 1974, she lost 40 pounds (18kg) on a very-low-calorie diet[150] and maintained her new weight until the end of the decade. Her most famous songs include Respect (1967), I Say a Little Prayer (1968), Chain of Fools (1967), and Until You Come Back to Me (Thats What Im Gonna Do) (1973). [166] However, she scheduled some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on her physician's advice. She was drinking so much, we thought she was on the verge of a breakdown, her sister Carolyn said in Ritzs biography. Franklin's half-brother Vaughn died in late 2002. [198] Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [44], In January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin's first album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo. [209] In 2018, Franklin was inducted in to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. [73], Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey, which featured production from Quincy Jones. [26][27], Just after her mother's death, Franklin began singing solos at New Bethel, debuting with the hymn "Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me". The Queen: Aretha Franklin She was a traumatized child, a teenage mother, a gospel prodigy and a civil-rights champion. Aretha Franklin's former love interest and longtime friend, Willie Wilkerson, Jr. has died from the COVID-19 virus at the age of 72. . Suspicion was drawn when the fake Franklin charged only a fraction of the expected rate to perform. By marrying Turman, Franklin became stepmother of Turman's three children. [76] "Davis was beguiling and had the golden touch", according to Rolling Stone. [177] Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton called her a "civil rights and humanitarian icon". [36] At the age of 16, Franklin went on tour with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and she would ultimately sing at his funeral in 1968. March 28, 1970) with 3rd ex-boyfriend, Ken Cunningham. Aretha is the kind of girl, youve got to love her hard, pianist Teddy Harris said. In 1960 she moved to New York City to pursue a career in secular music. During the phone conversation with MSNBC, Turman reflected on Aretha's life. [201] Following news of Franklin's surgery and recovery in February 2011, the Grammys ceremony paid tribute to the singer with a medley of her classics performed by Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, and Yolanda Adams. [121], Franklin was also a strong supporter of Native American rights. Though Franklin and Turman did several high-profile interviews with the intention of painting their married life as idyllic, things reportedly started to erode. Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, Faith Hill, Fantasia, the Clark Sisters, Ronald Isley, Angie Stone, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Holliday, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Shirley Caesar,[183] Shirma Rouse,[184] Stevie Wonder, Eric Holder, Gladys Knight, Cedric the Entertainer, Tyler Perry, Smokey Robinson, Yolanda Adams, and Rev. ", According to Respect, the late Detroit-based soul singer Harvey Fuqua was critical of White, though Ritz noted that "in Aretha's [own] book, there is not a hint of White's shady activities.". Updates? In one of her handwritten wills, discovered in 2019, Franklin revealed that the father was Edward Jordan. Amazing Grace (1972), a live recording of her performance with a choir at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, is considered one of the great gospel albums of any era. [37] Other influences in her youth included Marvin Gaye (who was a boyfriend of her sister), as well as Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, "two of Franklin's greatest influences". So I called Sam. When Rolling Stone listed the "Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums" in 2002 and again 2012, it listed Franklin's 1967, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, number one. [143], Franklin's music business friends included Dionne Warwick, Mavis Staples, and Cissy Houston, who began singing with Franklin as members of the Sweet Inspirations. [179] Thousands then paid their respects during the public lying-in-repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. 1. [129] He provided guitar backing for his mother's band during live concerts. [77][78] Franklin's first Arista album, Aretha (1980), featured the number-three R&B hit "United Together" and her Grammy-nominated cover of Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose". Ted White was Aretha Franklin's first husband and the father of her third son ( she'd had two children as a teenager). Franklin's final top 40 single was 1998's "A Rose Is Still a Rose". [151] She again lost weight in the early 1990s, before gaining some back. Aretha needed a man who could point her in a positive direction.. Whatever happened behind those closed doors, it wasnt long after that alleged incident that Franklin and White divorced. She called him all the time. Their talent takes over their lives and overwhelms everything else, Cecil said. She was a genius songwriter and singer but could never escape her sibling's shadow - and died at just 43. [180] The August 31 Homegoing Service held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, included multiple tributes by celebrities, politicians, friends and family members and was streamed by some news agencies[181] such as Fox News, CNN, The Word Network, BET and MSNBC. Aretha Franklin dies at 76. Aretha Franklin married Ted White when she was a teenager In the early 1960s, Franklin was an up-and-coming singer while White was a sandlot promoter who dabbled in Detroit real estate. [130] Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born in April 1970 and is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham.[131]. Aretha Franklin was married twice in her lifetime. [40], In April 2021, Aretha Franklin was featured in National Geographic magazine and in the previous month, the society began airing the third season of the television series Genius about her life and career. [157] On May 19, 2011, Franklin had her comeback show at the Chicago Theatre. Aretha went from strength to strength despite her circumstances, and it's that resilience that says: Life might break me today and tomorrow, but in the long run, I will not be forever broken, she said. And she doesnt want any reference to it., But now and then, she would drop hints that being the Queen of Soul was not easy on her own soul. Ken was also serious-minded about art and books and he loved all kinds of music. On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill with pancreatic cancer, the disease she was first diagnosed with in 2010, in a Detroit hospital. "He was a fixture at the clubs. Chicago Concert Reviews", "Elton John Celebrates 25 Years of His Foundation With Help From Bill Clinton, Aretha Franklin & Neil Patrick Harris", "The voice was incredible, but Aretha Franklin at the piano was also pure magic", "The Special Bond Between Aretha Franklin and Barack Obama", "Aretha Franklin Had a Huge Impact on the Civil Rights Movement", "Aretha Franklin, Civil Rights Stalwart: 'In Her Voice, We Could Feel Our History', "Aretha Franklin's History with Civil Rights, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Barack Obama", "Suzan Shown Harjo: Remembering a moment in time with the late Aretha Franklin", "Aretha Franklin's handwritten wills, if real, shed light on a titanic and complicated life", "Orgies, Attitudes And Anxieties: Biographer Paints Different Portrait Of Aretha Franklin", "Sam Cooke's Brother, Charles, Is Shot In Detroit", "Aretha Franklin's 'Forever Friend' Willie Wilkerson Dies of COVID-19 at 72", "Aretha Franklin to get married this summer | Celebrity Buzz", "Aretha Franklin Talks Turning 70 Years Old, Shares Update on Her Health", "Aretha Franklin Talks Faith, Miraculous Healing", "Why Aretha Franklin's legacy is inspiring others to write gospel music for the masses", "Aretha Franklin Plays the Longest National Anthem In U.S. History", "Aretha Franklin Sets The Record Straight On Her Health: 'I Don't Know Where Pancreatic Cancer Came From', "Aretha Franklin Has Died of Pancreatic Cancer: A Look at Her Health Over the Last Decade", "Aretha Franklin cancels 2 shows for undisclosed ailment", "Aretha Franklin taking June off, postponing shows", "Aretha Franklin cancels hometown show citing treatment", "Aretha Franklin not attending baseball luncheon", "Aretha Franklin Cancels September Show, Sparking Concerns Over Her Health", "Aretha Franklin happily sheds weight, embraces future", "Aretha Franklin Announces Retirement, Final Album", "Aretha Franklin said to be 'seriously ill', "Aretha Franklin 'gravely ill' in Detroit", "Stevie Wonder Visits Aretha Franklin As 'Queen of Soul' Rests in Hospice Care", "Aretha Franklin's newly discovered will complicates estate dispute", "This is what will happen to Aretha Franklin's estate", "Dressed like a 'resplendent' queen, Aretha Franklin rests in gold casket", "A note from the NET Research Foundation on the passing of Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul", "Aretha Franklin Died of Advanced Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Cancer. The album sold well over a million copies thanks to the hits "Freeway of Love", the title track, and "Another Night". 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. [190][191], Franklin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979, had her voice declared a Michigan "natural resource" in 1985,[192] and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. C.L. [233], On January 29, 2018, Gary Graff confirmed that Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic. Just one.". The concert included performances by Smokey Robinson, Janelle Mone, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Alessia Cara, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R., SZA, Brandi Carlile, Yolanda Adams and Shirley Caesar,[229][230] and was recorded for television, airing on March 10. She attended Northern High School. But the lyrics for one of her first big hits may have struck closer to her heart than many realized. [68] After being cleared of wrongdoing, Jones subsequently enjoyed a brief career of her own, during which she was herself the subject of an impersonation. She was praised for her arrangements and interpretations of other artists' hit songs. [210] The Aretha Franklin Post Office Building was named in 2021, and is located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin, over the direction of her career. Her family always had her back, with Franklin saying her dad was not judgmental, narrow or scolding about her youthful pregnancies. She eventually settled in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Encino, where she lived until 1982. Franklin also had an acclaimed guest role as a soul food restaurant proprietor and wife of Matt "Guitar" Murphy in the 1980 comedy musical The Blues Brothers. Children. [6] In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked Franklin number one on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". Aretha Franklin's first husband, Ted White, was allegedly abusive. The Respect singer was not married at the time of her passing, but she was in a serious relationship with her longtime partner,. Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (ne Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin. Aretha Franklin's first marriage was to Ted White. Before the year was out, Franklin scored her first with her hit-single rendition of the standard "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody". [178], A memorial service was held at New Bethel Baptist Church on August 19. The singer appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers before releasing the successful albums Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? The tribute concluded with a rendition of her 1968 hit, "A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)", performed by Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Andra Day and Yolanda Adams. She was awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [39][40], After turning 18, Franklin confided to her father that she aspired to follow Sam Cooke in recording pop music, and moved to New York. For other uses, see. Franklin and White separated in 1968 and their divorce was finalized a year later. Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. The album of the same name was released after the single. [119][120] Franklin and several other American icons declined to take part in performing at President Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration as a mass act of musical protest. Ted White [224][225], During the American Music Awards on October 9, 2018, the show was closed by bringing Gladys Knight, Donnie McClurkin, Ledisi, Cece Winans, and Mary Mary together to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin. A reluctant interviewee, Franklin kept her private life private, claiming that the popular perception associating her with the unhappiness of singers Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday was misinformed. He was kind of abusive., As for Franklin herself, all she ever said even in her very own autobiography was I didnt realize I was in way over my head, calling White a take-charge kind of guy., That taking charge seemed to overshadow both her personal and professional lives, exploding in a violent incident between White and producer Rick Hall that, according to Hall, turned into a full-blown fist fight., READ MORE: Inside the Lifelong Friendship of Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson. Was she ever married? [24] Serving as her manager, C. L. Franklin agreed to the move and helped to produce a two-song demo that soon was brought to the attention of Columbia Records, who agreed to sign her in 1960, as a "five-percent artist". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin, Aretha Franklin - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Aretha Franklin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1987). Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. [170] She was initially thought to have died without a will. Later . Franklin knew Ted was something of a shady character and thought the association would hurt Aretha. Producer Harvey Fuqua had harsher words: Anyone who didnt see Ted White as a straight-up pimp had to be deaf, dumb and blind, he told Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin biographer David Ritz. [165], In February 2017, Franklin announced in an interview with local Detroit television anchor Evrod Cassimy, that 2017 would be her final year touring. [34] While her album sales in the 1990s and 2000s failed to approach the numbers of previous decades, Franklin remained the Queen of Soul. [8] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Franklin number one on its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Columbia placed her with a variety of producers who marketed her to both adults (If Ever You Should Leave Me, 1963) and teens (Soulville, 1964). In addition, she received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1994, a National Medal of Arts in 1999, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Franklin, presided over the New Bethel Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, and was a minister of national influence. Not only did she rarely talk about their seven-year marriage, which began when she was 19, but a 1968 magazine story that alluded to trouble in their relationship led to her closing herself to major media interviews all together. [138] After six months at Henry Ford Hospital while still in a coma, C. L. was moved back to his home with 24-hour nursing care. They married six months after meeting While Franklin was still a teen when she met White, she was also a mother of two, having given birth to her first son Clarence when she was 12 and Edward. I asked my father if we could use his new car to go on Sam's tour.' Her father [the legendary Reverend C.L. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. [127] Franklin would visit them often. "There will be no wedding at this time.". It sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold certification. They separated in 1982 partially due to the strain of maintaining a long-distance relationship and officially. [citation needed], While Franklin canceled some concerts in 2017 due to health reasons, and during an outdoor Detroit show, she asked the audience to "keep me in your prayers", she was still garnering highly favorable reviews for her skill and showmanship. Theodore Richard White (March 25, 1931 - October 26, 2020) was an American businessman, songwriter, music manager and producer from Detroit, Michigan. He had been to our house during several parties. She denied that the ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer, as had been reported. Aretha Franklin's Granddaughter Performs Iconic Singer's 'Ain't No Way' for 'American Idol' Audition. In an interview with Oprah Daily, Erivo spoke about channeling Franklins ability to weather adversity in her performance. Following the surgery, Franklin lost 85 lbs. She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. "I knew Ted White, as did most entertainers in Detroit," Aretha's sister, the late singer Erma Franklin, said in the book. Her father, C.L. [15] After the separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit. [96] On September 29, 2014, Franklin performed to a standing ovation, with Cissy Houston as backup, a compilation of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" on the Late Show with David Letterman. After splitting with White, Franklin met Ken Cunningham in 1969. Somebody else is making her sing the blues., Over the years, other reports have backed up the Time allegations. The "all-star" group performed gospel songs, including renditions from Franklin's 1972 album, Amazing Grace. ", "Aretha Franklin inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015", "National Women's Hall of Fame Virtual Induction Series Inaugural Event December 10, 2020", "Sister Ree's Scrapbook, An Aretha Franklin Photo Gallery 13", "Aretha Franklin Biography and Interview", "Inez Andrews, Gospel Singer, Dies at 83", "Aretha Franklin: Lifelong commitment to Detroit", "Pickwick Group Ltd Aretha Franklin Songs Of Faith", "Obituary: Aretha Franklin, 16 August 2018", "Aretha Franklin: Remembering Her Many Ties To Chicago; She Became 'Queen Of Soul' Here", "Quincy Jones on Aretha Franklin: 'You Will Reign as the Queen Forever', "Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, Dead at 76", "Aretha Franklin Was the Defining Voice of the 20th Century", "Show 52 The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit.
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