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Aretha Louise Franklin was born to Rev. Clarence LaVaughn "C.L." (Walker) Franklin and Barbara Vernice Siggers in Memphis, Tennessee March 25th, 1942.[4][2] She had several siblings, including Cecil, Carolyn, and Erma Franklin, some from both of her parents' extramarital relationships.[4][3]
While Aretha was very young, her family moved around, finally settling in Detroit, Michigan.[2] Her parents divorced when she was 6, and her mother moved to Buffalo, New York.[2]
Aretha dropped out of high school after having her first child at age 13.[3] Her next was born at age 15.[3]
Aretha married Ted White in 1961, but suffered abuse there and they were divorced in 1969.[2][3] They had a son, Ted White Jr.[3]
Aretha was married to Glynn Turman in 1978.[3] They divorced in 1984.[3]
Aretha loved her family fiercely and insisted they brought her the most joy in her life.[2]
Aretha began her singing career in her father's Baptist church singing gospel music.[2] She was taught to play piano by ear and often accompanied herself throughout her career.[4] She recorded her first gospel album at 14.[2] Aretha signed to Columbia Records in 1960.[2] After a few years, she landed at Atlantic Records and her popularity took off.[2]
In the 80's Aretha signed with Arista and Clive Davis.[2] Many of the singles she put out during those years that ended up on the radio were collaborations with other artists across the musical gamut.[2] She later moved to RCA.[3] Over her lifetime she had more than 100 singles on the Billboard charts, 17 of which were top 10 pop songs and 20 which were number 1 R&B hits.[3]
Aretha was the recipient of numerous awards, including the highest US civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and 18 Grammy awards, as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.[1][3] She was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was also honored as the Greatest Singer of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine.[1] She had honorary degrees from Yale, Princeton, and Harvard.[3]
Aretha was also an outspoken supporter of the civil rights movement, touring with Martin Luther King, Jr at the tender age of 16.[2] Her cover of Otis Redding's "Respect" became one of the anthems of the movement.[2]
Aretha Franklin passed away August 16th, 2018 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan after years battling pancreatic cancer.[4][5][2]
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Categories: This Day In History March 25 | This Day In History August 16 | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | Famous Musicians of the 20th Century | Grammy Award Winners of the 20th Century | Memphis, Tennessee | Musicians | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Songwriters | Recording Artists | US Black Heritage Project Managed Profiles | African-American Notables | Notables