Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin, widely known as the Queen of Soul, built one of American music's defining vocal careers across gospel, R&B, soul, pop and jazz. Twice named by Rolling Stone as the greatest singer of all time, she sold more than 75 million records worldwide and placed 112 singles on the US Billboard charts, including 20 number-one R&B hits.

Born on March 25, 1942, Franklin was raised in Detroit, where she first drew notice singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church. Her father, C. L. Franklin, was the church's minister. At 18, she signed to Columbia Records and began recording professionally, though her early releases didn't immediately bring major commercial success.

Her breakthrough came after she joined Atlantic Records in 1966. The label became the setting for a run of landmark late-1960s and 1970s albums, including I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Lady Soul, Aretha Now, Young, Gifted and Black, Amazing Grace and Sparkle. Her version of “Respect” became her signature recording, while “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Rock Steady” and “Day Dreaming” further defined her catalog. Her work retained the force and phrasing of her gospel roots while moving easily between intimate ballads, hard-driving soul and polished pop arrangements.

Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records, where albums including Jump to It, Who's Zoomin' Who?, Aretha and A Rose Is Still a Rose revived her recording career. “Freeway of Love” became one of the era's major singles, and her duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” added another major hit. She also appeared in the 1980 musical-comedy film The Blues Brothers.

Her honors reflected both the length and scale of her work. Franklin won 18 Grammy Awards from 44 nominations, including the first eight awards presented for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, from 1968 through 1975. She also received the Grammy Living Legend Award, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1987, she became the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later inductions included the UK Music Hall of Fame and Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2019, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded her a posthumous special citation for her contribution to American music and culture over more than five decades.

Franklin died on August 16, 2018. Her recordings remain a central document of modern American vocal music, carried by a voice equally suited to church-rooted intensity, supple improvisation and direct, commanding song interpretation.