Aretha Louise Franklin (1942 - 2018)

Ancestors

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Family 1.2 Queen of Soul 1.3 Legacy 2 Sources

Biography

Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," was known around the world for her amazing vocal abilities and soulful music style. She was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.^[1][2][3]

Family

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]

Queen of Soul

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]

Legacy

Aretha Franklin passed away August 16th, 2018 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan after years battling pancreatic cancer.^[4][5][2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Aretha Franklin Biography, www.arethafranklin.net, accessed 16 Aug 2018
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14} Wolk, Douglas, and David Browne, "Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, Dies at 76", Rolling Stone Magazine (online), 16 Aug 2018
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11} Pareles, Jon, "Aretha Franklin, The 'Queen of Soul', Dead at 76", New York Times, online, 16 Aug 2018
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Wikipedia:Aretha Franklin
5. ↑ Chuck, Elizabeth and Johnson, Alex. (2018). Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, dies at age 76. NBC News. Accessed 16 August 2018.

See also:

• "Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, dead at 76." CBC News, August 16, 2018.
• Mihalcik, Carrie; Kooser, Amanda, "Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul, dies at 76." C|Net News, August 16, 2018.
• Business and Financial News, Liberal News and Politics 22 April 2013 - search for Aretha

• News article from DailyMail.com
• Wikipedia: Aretha Franklin
• WikiData: Q125121 Wikidata Information Reasonator enwiki Ancestors (about wikidata)

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