" The Composer " is a 1969 song released for Diana Ross & the Supremes by the Motown label.
123-770: Written and produced by Smokey Robinson , the song is featured on their album Let the Sunshine In and peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the United States in May 1969. It was not released as a single in the UK. As with many Diana Ross & the Supremes singles recorded between 1968 and 1969, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong did not sing on the record but rather Motown session singers The Andantes . "The Composer"
246-474: A soul food restaurant proprietor and wife of Matt "Guitar" Murphy in the 1980 comedy musical The Blues Brothers . 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 ". The follow-up, 1981's Love All the Hurt Away , included her famed duet of the title track with George Benson , while
369-630: A writer's block after his close collaborator (and fellow Miracle), Marv Tarplin , who joined him on the road in 1973 after Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a tune he had composed on his guitar. Robinson later wrote the lyrics that became his first solo top ten Pop single, " Cruisin' ". The song hit number one in Cash Box and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 . It also became his first solo number one in New Zealand . Robinson would follow
492-461: A "five-percent artist". During this period, Franklin would be coached by choreographer Cholly Atkins to prepare for her pop performances. Before signing with Columbia, Sam Cooke tried to persuade Franklin's father to sign her with his label, RCA Victor , but she had already decided to go with Columbia. Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and her elder sister Erma to sign with his Tamla label, but C.L. Franklin turned Gordy down, as he felt Tamla
615-740: A "miraculous" recovery from her undisclosed illness but had to cancel shows and appearances until her health was at 100%, estimating she was about "85% healed". Franklin later returned to live performing, including a 2013 Christmas concert at Detroit's MotorCity Casino Hotel . She launched a multi-city tour in mid-2014, starting with a performance on June 14 in New York at Radio City Music Hall . In February 2017, Franklin announced in an interview with local Detroit television anchor Evrod Cassimy, that 2017 would be her final year touring. However, she scheduled some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on her physician's advice. On August 13, 2018, Franklin
738-500: A "younger sound" in her music, Who's Zoomin' Who? became her first Arista album to be certified platinum . The album sold well over a million copies thanks to the hits " Freeway of Love ", the title track, and "Another Night". The next year's Aretha album nearly matched this success with the hit singles " Jumpin' Jack Flash ", " Jimmy Lee " and " I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) ", her international number-one duet with George Michael . During that period, Franklin provided vocals to
861-606: A Go-Go and Shindig! However, she struggled with commercial success while at Columbia. Label executive John H. Hammond later said he felt Columbia did not understand Franklin's early gospel background and failed to bring that aspect out further during her period there. In November 1966, Franklin's Columbia recording contract expired; at that time, she owed the company money because record sales had not met expectations. Producer Jerry Wexler convinced her to move to Atlantic Records . Wexler decided that he wanted to take advantage of her gospel background; his philosophy in general
984-441: A Little Prayer " (1968), " Call Me " (1970), " Don't Play That Song (You Lied) " (1970), " Spanish Harlem " (1971), " Rock Steady " (1971), " Day Dreaming " (1972), " Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) " (1973), " Something He Can Feel " (1976), " Jump to It " (1982), " Freeway of Love " (1985), " Who's Zoomin' Who " (1985), " I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) " (a duet with George Michael , 1987) and " A Rose Is Still
1107-517: A Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), and Sparkle (1976), before experiencing problems with the record company. Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records . Her success continued with the albums Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985), Aretha (1986) and A Rose Is Still
1230-420: A Mirage " and " More Love " peaked in the top twenty. In 1965, the Miracles were the first Motown group to change their name when they released their 1965 album Going to a Go-Go as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Between 1962 and 1966, Robinson was also one of the major songwriters and producers for Motown, penning many hit singles such as " Two Lovers ", " The One Who Really Loves You ", " You Beat Me to
1353-514: A Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. At the beginning of her career, Siouxsie Sioux named her as her favourite female singer. In 2010 Franklin was ranked first on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" and ninth on their list of " 100 Greatest Artists of All Time ". Following news of Franklin's surgery and recovery in February 2011, the Grammys ceremony paid tribute to
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#17330856286931476-577: A Rose (1998). Franklin is one of the best-selling music artists , with more than 75 million records sold worldwide. She charted 112 singles on the US Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 96 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. Her best-known hits include " I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) " (1967), " Respect " (1967), " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman " (1967), " Chain of Fools " (1967), " Ain't No Way " (1968), " Think " (1968), " I Say
1599-482: A Rose " (1998). Aside from music, she appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers . Franklin received numerous honors throughout her career. She won 18 Grammy Awards out of 44 nominations, including the first eight awards given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (1968–1975), as well as a Grammy Living Legend Award and Lifetime Achievement Award . She was also awarded the National Medal of Arts and
1722-403: A brief career of her own, during which she was herself the subject of an impersonation. Franklin's success further 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 ". Some of these releases were from the acclaimed albums Spirit in
1845-425: A coma, C. L. was moved back to his home with 24-hour nursing care. Aretha moved back to Detroit in late 1982 to assist with the care of her father, who died at Detroit's New Light Nursing Home on July 27, 1984. Franklin had a long friendship with Willie Wilkerson, a Vietnam War veteran and Detroit firefighter, who also helped in her work and cared for her when ill. In 2012 she announced plans to marry Wilkerson but
1968-528: A criminal impersonation scheme. Another woman performed at several Florida venues under the name Aretha Franklin. Suspicion was drawn when the fake Franklin charged only a fraction of the expected rate to perform. Franklin's lawyers contacted Florida authorities and uncovered a coercive scheme in which the singer, Vickie Jones , had been threatened with violence and constrained into impersonating her idol, whom she resembled closely both in voice and looks. After being cleared of wrongdoing, Jones subsequently enjoyed
2091-548: A designated arts mentor under Turnaround Arts. On July 31, 2018, Robinson appeared on the Fox network's show Beat Shazam as a special guest. Robinson appeared on the song "Make It Better" from Anderson Paak 's 2019 album Ventura . In 2023, Robinson announced that he would release his first album in almost a decade in April 2023. The nine-track album will be called Gasms , and will feature entirely new music. The first single from
2214-474: A gesture that honored the dead but castigated death itself". She returned to Detroit's Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day 2016 to once again perform the national anthem before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions . Seated behind the piano, wearing a black fur coat and Lions stocking cap, Franklin gave a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that lasted more than four minutes and featured
2337-528: A gospel singer"; Cleveland had been recruited by her father as a pianist for the Southern California Community Choir. After turning 18, Franklin confided to her father that she aspired to follow Sam Cooke in recording pop music, and moved to New York. 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
2460-494: A great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience". Franklin's voice was described as being a "powerful mezzo-soprano voice". She was praised for her arrangements and interpretations of other artists' hit songs. According to David Remnick , what "distinguishes her is not merely the breadth of her catalog or the cataract force of her vocal instrument; it's her musical intelligence, her way of singing behind
2583-542: A host of improvisations. Franklin released the album A Brand New Me in November 2017 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , which uses archived recordings from Franklin. While Franklin canceled some concerts in 2017 for 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. At
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#17330856286932706-511: A job he had taken on by the mid-1960s after Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position. However, the success of the group's "Tears of a Clown" made Robinson stay with the group until 1972. His last performance with the group was in July 1972 in Washington, D.C. After a year of retirement , Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the eponymous Smokey album, in 1973. The album included
2829-606: A leg spasm. Franklin was a registered Democrat . While her estate had been estimated at $ 80 million, according to the New York Times , at her death it was valued at $ 18 million. Franklin had weight issues for many years. In 1974, she lost 40 pounds (18 kg) on a very-low-calorie diet and maintained her new weight until the end of the decade. She again lost weight in the early 1990s, before gaining some back. A former chain smoker who struggled with alcoholism, she quit smoking in 1992. She admitted in 1994 that her smoking
2952-424: A mass act of musical protest. Franklin was also a strong supporter of Native American rights. She quietly and without fanfare supported Indigenous peoples ' struggles worldwide, and numerous movements that supported Native American and First Nation cultural rights. Franklin moved to New York City from Detroit in the 1960s where she lived until relocating to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. She eventually settled in
3075-670: A new video visualizing the American human rights movement. This caused the song to enter the Billboard gospel charts at number one, giving Franklin the distinction of having had a number one record in every decade since the 1960s. On November 18, 2008, she performed " Respect " and " Chain of Fools " at Dancing with the Stars . On January 20, 2009, Franklin made international headlines for performing " My Country, 'Tis of Thee " at President Barack Obama 's inaugural ceremony with her church hat becoming
3198-500: A partnership with George Tobin and with Tobin, Robinson released his next several Motown albums, Yes It's You Lady , which produced the hit "Tell Me Tomorrow", Touch the Sky and Essar . In 1983, Robinson teamed up with fellow Motown label mate Rick James recording the R&;B ballad, " Ebony Eyes ". In 1987, following a period of personal and professional issues, Robinson made a comeback with
3321-617: A pianist as "magic" and "inspirational". Musicians and professionals alike such as Elton John, Keith Richards , Carole King, and Clive Davis were fans of her piano performances. In 2015, President Barack Obama wrote the following regarding Franklin: Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R. & B., rock and roll—the way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. American history wells up when Aretha sings. That's why, when she sits down at
3444-478: A piano and sings 'A Natural Woman,' she can move me to tears—the same way that Ray Charles's version of 'America the Beautiful' will always be in my view the most patriotic piece of music ever performed—because it captures the fullness of the American experience, the view from the bottom as well as the top, the good and the bad, and the possibility of synthesis, reconciliation, transcendence. From her time growing up in
3567-504: A popular topic online. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University . In 2011, under her own label, Aretha's Records, she issued the album Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love . In 2014, Franklin was signed under RCA Records, controller of the Arista catalog and a sister label to Columbia via Sony Music Entertainment , and worked with Clive Davis. There were plans for her to record an album produced by Danger Mouse , who
3690-656: A similar approach with his next album, Warm Thoughts , which produced another top 40 hit, "Let Me Be the Clock", though it did not repeat the success of "Cruisin'". In 1981, Robinson topped the charts again with another sensual ballad, " Being with You ", which was another number one hit in Cash Box and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart , becoming his most successful single to date. The Gold-plus parent album sparked
3813-543: A solo artist (1983) and as a member of The Miracles (2009). In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame . William Robinson Jr. was born to an African-American father and a mother of African-American and French descent in a poor family in the North End area of Detroit, Michigan . He had two maternal half-sisters, and his parents divorced when he was three years old. Robinson's ancestry
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3936-573: A telecast procession up Seven Mile Road , Franklin was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Franklin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979, had her voice declared a Michigan "natural resource" in 1985, and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded her a Grammy Legend Award in 1991, then
4059-502: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Smokey Robinson William " Smokey " Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive . He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles , for which he was also chief songwriter and producer. He led the group from its 1955 origins, when they were called The Five Chimes, until 1972, when he retired from
4182-421: Is also part Nigerian , Scandinavian , Portuguese , and Cherokee . His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child. In 2012, Robinson explained: My Uncle Claude was my favorite uncle. He was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which
4305-493: Is distinct from the most common form of pancreatic cancer . Numerous celebrities in the entertainment industry and politicians paid tribute to Franklin, including former U.S. President Barack Obama who said she "helped define the American experience". Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton called her a "civil rights and humanitarian icon". A memorial service was held at her home church, New Bethel Baptist Church , on August 19. Thousands then paid their respects during
4428-429: Is one of only a few Supremes releases that was not performed on any television show. The song was rerecorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for their 1969 album, Time Out for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles . Cash Box described it as "a sumptuous love song filled with the imagery of ' I Hear a Symphony '" and "standout production touches." This 1960s R&B / soul music song-related article
4551-547: Is the current owner and host of the SiriusXM channel Soul Town , a station that plays R&B and soul hits from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Released under the banner Smokey's Soul Town , Robinson occasionally appears on the channel, recalling his best moments with Motown and meeting other artists as well as pick his favorite songs during that time period. On February 22, 1983, Smokey was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Four years later, in 1987, Robinson
4674-468: The Billboard Hot 100, giving Franklin her first top-ten pop single. The song's B-side, " Do Right Woman, Do Right Man ", reached the R&B top 40, peaking at number 37. " Respect " was Otis Redding 's song but Aretha modified it with a "supercharged interlude featuring the emphatic spelling-out of the song's title". Her frenetic version was released in April and reached number one on both the R&B and pop charts. "Respect" became her signature song and
4797-579: The Finsbury Park Astoria and the Hammersmith Odeon on May 11 and May 12. In June 1968, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine in a portrait illustration by Boris Chaliapin . In March 1969, Franklin was unanimously voted winner of Académie du Jazz 's R&B award, Prix Otis Redding, for her albums Lady Soul , Aretha Now , and Aretha in Paris . That year, Franklin was the subject of
4920-708: The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Franklin was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1994, recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1999, recipient of the American Academy of Achievement 's Golden Plate Award presented by Awards Council member Coretta Scott King , and was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 by then President George W. Bush . She was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005, and
5043-786: The Presidential Medal of Freedom . In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . Her other inductions include the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and posthumously the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2019, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded her a posthumous special citation "for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". Aretha Louise Franklin
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5166-799: The Ravinia Festival on September 3, 2017, she gave her last full concert. 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. According to Richie Unterberger , Franklin was "one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged". She had often been described as
5289-584: The soundtrack to the film Sparkle with Curtis Mayfield . The album yielded Franklin's final top-40 hit of the decade, " Something He Can Feel ", which also peaked at number one on the R&B chart. Franklin's follow-up albums for Atlantic, including Sweet Passion (1977), Almighty Fire (1978) and La Diva (1979), bombed on the charts, and in 1979 Franklin left the company. On November 7, 1979, she guested The Mike Douglas Show with her yellow costume from her La Diva album, and sang "Ladies Only", "What If I Should Ever Need You" and " Yesterday " by
5412-521: The American children's animated series ToddWorld for Discovery Kids , TLC and Mike Young Productions. Two years later, Robinson released the standards album, Timeless Love , in 2006 on Universal Records. In 2009, he issued the album, Time Flies When You're Having Fun on his own label, Robso Records. It reached number 59 on the Billboard album chart, his highest showing since One Heartbeat . He subsequently released "Now And Then" in 2010, which peaked at number 131. Smokey & Friends
5535-500: The Beatles . In 1980, after leaving Atlantic Records, Franklin signed with Clive Davis 's Arista Records . "Davis was beguiling and had the golden touch", according to Rolling Stone . "If anybody could rejuvenate Franklin's puzzlingly stuck career, it was Davis." Also in 1980, Franklin gave a command performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . Franklin also had an acclaimed guest role as
5658-460: The Dark (released in August 1970, in which month she again performed at London's Hammersmith Odeon) and Young, Gifted and Black (released in early 1972). In 1971, Franklin became the first R&B performer to headline Fillmore West , later that year releasing the live album Aretha Live at Fillmore West . In January 1972, she returned to Gospel music in a two-night, live-church recording, with
5781-578: The Great Diva Classics , released in October 2014. 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. In December 2015, Franklin gave an acclaimed performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors during
5904-630: The Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards . In 2005, Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa . In December 2006 Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees, along with Dolly Parton , Zubin Mehta , Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber . On March 20, 2009,
6027-530: The Los Angeles neighborhood of Encino , where she lived until 1982. She then returned to the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills to be close to her ailing father and siblings. Franklin maintained a residence there until her death. Following an incident in 1984, she cited a fear of flying that prevented her from traveling overseas; she performed only in North America afterwards. Franklin was Baptist . Franklin
6150-482: The Miracles were finally honored as a group with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with original Miracles members Bobby Rogers , Pete Moore , (Bobby's cousin) Claudette Rogers , and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the late Ronnie White , whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well. Smokey's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singer Billy Griffin ,
6273-553: The Miracles as lead singer, chief songwriter and producer, including several top ten hits such as " You've Really Got a Hold on Me ", " Mickey's Monkey ", " I Second That Emotion ", " Baby Baby Don't Cry " and the group's only number-one hit during their Robinson years, " The Tears of a Clown ". Other notable hits such as " Ooo Baby Baby ", " Going to a Go-Go ", the multi-award-winning " The Tracks of My Tears ", " (Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need ", " The Love I Saw in You Was Just
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#17330856286936396-459: The Miracles tribute song, "Sweet Harmony", and the hit ballad "Baby Come Close". In 1974, Robinson's second album, Pure Smokey , was released but failed to produce hits. Robinson struggled to compete with his former collaborators Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks , as all three had multiple hit singles during this period. Former Beatle George Harrison featured
6519-473: The Miracles' release of their first record. Gordy formed Tamla Records , which was later reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles became one of the first acts signed to the label, although they had actually been with Gordy since before the formation of Motown Records. In late 1960, the group recorded their first hit single, " Shop Around ", which became Motown's first million-selling hit record. Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 top forty hits with
6642-677: The Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin , the latter of which reached number 69 on the Billboard chart. In the 1960s, during a performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, WVON radio personality Pervis Spann announced that Franklin should be crowned "the Queen of Soul". Spann ceremonially placed a crown on her head. By 1964, Franklin began recording more pop music, reaching the top 10 on
6765-745: The Punch " and " My Guy " for Mary Wells ; " The Way You Do The Things You Do ", " My Girl ", " Since I Lost My Baby " , " It's Growing " , and " Get Ready " for the Temptations ; " Still Water (Love) " for the Four Tops ; " When I'm Gone " and " Operator " for Brenda Holloway ; " Don't Mess With Bill ", " The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game " and " My Baby Must Be a Magician " for the Marvelettes ; and " I'll Be Doggone " and " Ain't That Peculiar " for Marvin Gaye . After
6888-555: The R&B chart with the ballad "Runnin' Out of Fools", in early 1965. She had two R&B charted singles in 1965 and 1966, with the songs " One Step Ahead " and "Cry Like a Baby", while also reaching the Easy Listening charts with the ballads " You Made Me Love You " and "(No, No) I'm Losing You". By the mid-1960s, Franklin was making $ 100,000 per year from countless performances in nightclubs and theaters. Also during that period, she appeared on rock-and-roll shows, such as Hollywood
7011-587: The R&B chart. Mostly produced by Clyde Otis , Franklin's Columbia recordings saw her performing in diverse genres, such as standards , vocal jazz , blues , doo-wop and rhythm and blues . Before the year was out, Franklin scored her first hit-single with her rendition of the standard " Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody ". By the end of 1961, Franklin was named as a "new-star female vocalist" in DownBeat magazine. In 1962, Columbia issued two more albums, The Electrifying Aretha Franklin and The Tender,
7134-532: The R&B chart. In 1989, Franklin filmed a music video for a remake of " Think ". In 1990, she sang " I Want to Be Happy ", " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman ", and " Someone Else's Eyes " at the MDA Labor Day Telethon . In 1995, she was selected to play Aunt Em in the Apollo Theater revival of The Wiz . Franklin's final top 40 single was 1998's " A Rose Is Still a Rose ". The album of
7257-517: The Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. She was the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year , performing at the Grammys days later. In 2019 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation "[f]or her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". Franklin was the first individual woman to receive
7380-432: The UK group ABC released a tribute song, " When Smokey Sings ". He was inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, later igniting controversy as the committee had inducted only Robinson and not members of his group, the Miracles, which Robinson saw as an affront. In 2012, however, the committee rectified the mistake announcing that the group would be inducted on their own merit. Though Robinson
7503-448: The addition of "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood", were released on side one of the 1956 album, Spirituals . This was reissued by Battle Records in 1962, under the same title. 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. Aretha was only 14 when Songs of Faith
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#17330856286937626-512: The age of 16, Franklin went on tour with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and she would ultimately sing at his funeral in 1968. 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". Also important was James Cleveland , known as the King of Gospel music, "who helped to focus her early career as
7749-457: The album Amazing Grace , in which she reinterpreted standards such as Mahalia Jackson's " How I Got Over ". Originally released in June 1972, Amazing Grace sold more than two million copies, and is one of bestselling gospel albums of all time. The live performances were filmed for a concert film directed by Sydney Pollack , but due to synching problems and Franklin's own attempts to prevent
7872-407: The album also included her Grammy-winning cover of Sam & Dave 's " Hold On, I'm Comin' ". Franklin achieved a gold record—for the first time in seven years—with the 1982 album Jump to It . The album's title track was her first top-40 single on the pop charts in six years. The following year, she released " Get It Right ", produced by Luther Vandross . In 1985, inspired by a desire to have
7995-447: The album, One Heartbeat and the singles, " Just to See Her " and " One Heartbeat ", which were Top 10 hits on Billboard ' s Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by popular music videos. "Just to See Her" won Robinson his first Grammy Award in 1988. The album became one of his most successful ever, selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. In the same year, Robinson released One Heartbeat ,
8118-667: The album, called "If We Don't Have Each Other", was already available on streaming services by January 2023. Robinson married a fellow Miracles member, Claudette Rogers , in 1959. The couple had two children: a son, Berry Robinson (born 1968), named after Motown's first label founder Berry Gordy , and a daughter, Tamla Robinson (born 1971), named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would eventually become Motown. According to Robinson, he had affairs with multiple women while married to Claudette, among them an approximately year-long affair with Diana Ross . According to Robinson, Ross ended it because she felt uncomfortable as she
8241-439: The aria " Nessun dorma " as planned. The show's producers, desperate to fill the time slot, approached Franklin with their dilemma. She was a friend of Pavarotti and had sung the aria two nights prior at the annual MusiCares event. She asked to hear Pavarotti's rehearsal recording, and after listening, agreed that she could sing it in the tenor range that the orchestra was prepared to play in. Over one billion people worldwide saw
8364-967: The arrival of Holland–Dozier–Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong , Robinson was eclipsed as a top writer and producer for the label, and other Motown artists such as Gaye and Stevie Wonder began to compose more original material. Later in his career, Robinson wrote lyrics and music for the Contours such as " First I Look at the Purse ", as well as the Four Tops ' " Still Water " and The Supremes ' " Floy Joy ". The other Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Marv Tarplin—collaborated with him as writers on many of these hits, and Pete Moore also doubled as co-producer with Robinson on several of them. By 1969, Robinson wanted to retire from touring to focus on raising his two children with his wife Claudette, and on his duties as Motown's vice president,
8487-702: The audition, Robinson had brought along with him a "Big 10" notebook with 100 songs he wrote while in high school. Gordy was impressed with Robinson's vocals and even more impressed with Robinson's ambitious songwriting. With his help, the Miracles released their first single, "Got a Job", an answer song to the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job" on End Records . It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. During this time, Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959, studying electrical engineering . He dropped out after only two months, following
8610-449: The beat, of spraying a wash of notes over a single word or syllable, of constructing, moment by moment, the emotional power of a three-minute song. 'Respect' is as precise an artifact as a Ming vase." Describing Franklin's voice on her first album, Songs of Faith , released in 1956 when she was just 14, Jerry Wexler explained that it "was not that of a child but rather of an ecstatic hierophant ". Critic Randy Lewis assessed her skills as
8733-658: The engagement was quickly called off. Franklin's music business friends included Dionne Warwick , Mavis Staples , and Cissy Houston , who began singing with Franklin as members of the Sweet Inspirations . Houston sang background on Franklin's hit "Ain't No Way". Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston , in the early 1970s. She was made Whitney's honorary aunt (not a godmother as has been occasionally reported) and Whitney often referred to her as "Auntie Ree". Franklin had to cancel plans to perform at Whitney Houston's memorial service on February 18, 2012, due to
8856-730: The film's distribution after Hollywood refused to promote a dark-skinned black woman as a movie star at the time, the film's release was only realized by producer Alan Elliott in November 2018. Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey , which featured production from Quincy Jones . Despite the success of the single " Angel ", the album bombed upon its release in 1973. Franklin continued having R&B success with songs such as " Until You Come Back to Me " and " I'm in Love ", but by 1975 her albums and songs were no longer top sellers. After Jerry Wexler left Atlantic for Warner Bros. Records in 1976, Franklin worked on
8979-547: The four children they had together. When Aretha was two, the family relocated to Buffalo, New York . By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to Detroit, Michigan where he took over the pastorship of the New Bethel Baptist Church . The Franklins had a troubled marriage due to Mr. Franklin's infidelities, and they separated in 1948. At that time, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo with Aretha's half-brother, Vaughn. After
9102-449: The group to focus on his role as Motown Records vice president. Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year. He left Motown in 1999. Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music. He is a double Hollywood Walk of Fame Inductee, as
9225-532: The groups Nolan Strong & the Diablos and Billy Ward and his Dominoes on the radio. He has cited Barrett Strong , a Detroit native, as a strong vocal influence. In 1955, he formed the first lineup of The Five Chimes with childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore . Two years later, they were renamed the Matadors and included Bobby Rogers . Another member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, Bobby Rogers' cousin,
9348-507: The holiday album This Christmas, Aretha on DMI Records. 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 the year before. Twelve years later, an unheard performance of " Never Gonna Break My Faith " was released in June 2020 to commemorate Juneteenth with
9471-439: The home of a prominent African-American preacher to the end of her life, Franklin was immersed and involved in the struggle for civil rights and women's rights . She provided money for civil rights groups, at times covering payroll, and performed at benefits and protests. When Angela Davis was jailed in 1970, Franklin told Jet : "Angela Davis must go free ... Black people will be free. I've been locked up (for disturbing
9594-442: The man with the "million-dollar voice". He earned thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country. His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward , James Cleveland , and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews . Martin Luther King Jr. , Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. Ward
9717-468: The most memorable" of the event openers by many artists. After 1988, "Franklin never again had huge hits", according to Rolling Stone . The 1991 album What You See is What You Sweat flopped on the charts. She returned to the charts in 1993 with the dance song "A Deeper Love" and returned to the top 40 with the song " Willing to Forgive " in 1994. That recording reached number 26 on the Hot 100 and number five on
9840-407: The nation" by 1968. In 1968, Franklin issued the top-selling albums Lady Soul and Aretha Now , which included some of her most popular hit singles, including " Chain of Fools ", " Ain't No Way ", " Think ", and " I Say a Little Prayer ". That February, Franklin earned the first two of her Grammys, including the debut category for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance . On February 16, Franklin
9963-543: The nineties (though he would make a notable cameo appearance in The Temptations 1998 miniseries ), making a brief comeback in 1999 when he re-signed with Motown and issued the album, Intimate , which included the song "Easy to Love". In 2003, he once again split ties with Motown, releasing the gospel album, Food for the Spirit on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. In 2004, Robinson sang the main title theme song "Colorful World" to
10086-718: The number-one R&B hit " Baby That's Backatcha ", "The Agony & The Ecstasy" and "Quiet Storm" (the radio format quiet storm , originated by DJ Melvin Lindsey , is named after the album). However, Robinson's solo career suffered from his work as Motown's vice president, and his own music took the backseat. As a result, several albums including Smokey's Family Robinson , Deep in My Soul , Love Breeze and Smokin , saw poor promotion and received bad reviews. At this point Robinson relied on other writers and producers to help him with his albums. Following these albums, Robinson got out of
10209-588: The peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. Jail is hell to be in. I'm going to see her free if there is any justice in our courts, not because I believe in communism, but because she's a Black woman and she wants freedom for Black people." Her songs "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" became anthems of these movements for social change. Franklin and several other American icons declined to take part in performing at President Donald Trump 's 2017 inauguration as
10332-566: The performance, and she received an immediate standing ovation . She would go on to record the selection and perform it live several more times in the years to come. The last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015. A small boy was so touched by her performance that he came onto the stage and embraced her while Franklin
10455-448: The public lying-in-repose at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History . 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 such as Fox News , CNN , The Word Network , BET and MSNBC . Among those who paid tribute to Aretha at
10578-424: The road with him, during his "gospel caravan" tours for her to perform in various churches. He also helped her sign her first recording deal with J.V.B. Records . Franklin was featured on vocals and piano. In 1956, J.V.B. released Franklin's first single, "Never Grow Old", backed with "You Grow Closer". "Precious Lord (Part One) " backed with "Precious Lord (Part Two) " followed in 1959. These four tracks, with
10701-473: The same name was released after the single. It sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold certification. That same year, Franklin received global praise after her 1998 Grammy Awards performance. 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 . That evening, after the show had already begun, another performer, opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti became too ill to perform
10824-400: The section for honoree Carole King , who co-wrote the song. During the bridge of the song, Franklin dropped her fur coat to the stage, for which the audience rewarded her with a mid-performance standing ovation . Dropping the coat was symbolic according to "Rolling Stone": it "echoed back to those times when gospel queens would toss their furs on top of the coffins of other gospel queens —
10947-754: The separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit. Aretha's mother died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952, before Aretha's 10th birthday. Several women, including Aretha's grandmother, Rachel, and Mahalia Jackson , took turns helping with the children at the Franklin home. During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. She also attended public school in Detroit, going through her first year at Northern High School , but dropping out during her second year. Aretha's father's emotionally driven sermons resulted in his being known as
11070-589: The service were Ariana Grande , Bill Clinton , Rev. 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 , Shirma Rouse , Stevie Wonder , Eric Holder , Gladys Knight , Cedric the Entertainer , Tyler Perry , Smokey Robinson , Yolanda Adams , and Rev. Dr. William Barber II . At Franklin's request she
11193-481: The singer with a medley of her classics performed by Christina Aguilera , Florence Welch , Jennifer Hudson , Martina McBride , and Yolanda Adams . That same year, she was ranked 19th among the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time top artists . 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. Inducted to
11316-490: The song " I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) ", backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section . 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 song was released the following month and reached number one on the R&B chart, while also peaking at number nine on
11439-560: The surgery, Franklin lost 85 lbs.; however, she denied that she had undergone weight-loss surgery. On May 19, 2011, Franklin had her comeback show at the Chicago Theatre . In May 2013, Franklin canceled two performances because of an undisclosed medical treatment. Further concert cancellations followed in the summer and fall. During a phone interview with the Associated Press in late August 2013, Franklin stated that she had had
11562-512: The theme songs of the TV shows A Different World and Together . In 1987, she issued her third gospel album, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism , which was recorded at her late father's New Bethel church, followed by Through the Storm in 1989. In 1987, Franklin performed " America the Beautiful " at WWE 's Wrestlemania III ; one source states that "to this day her WrestleMania III performance might be
11685-486: The track " Pure Smokey " on his 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3 as a tribute to Robinson. (Harrison's fellow Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also fans of Robinson's songwriting and the group covered "You Really Gotta Hold on Me" on their second UK album With the Beatles and US album The Beatles' Second Album , respectively.) Robinson answered his critics the following year with A Quiet Storm , released in 1975. The album launched three singles –
11808-552: Was "messing with my voice", but after quitting smoking she said later, in 2003, that her weight "ballooned". In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor. Discussing the surgery in 2011, she quoted her doctor as saying that it would "add 15 to 20 years" to her life. She denied that the ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer , as had been reported. Franklin added, "I don't have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors ... The problem has been resolved". Following
11931-638: Was C. L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old member of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis where C. L. was pastor. Franklin's father and idol, described as "unorthodox on every level," knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. Franklin was performing at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada , on June 10, 1979, when her father, C. L., was shot twice at point-blank range in his Detroit home. After six months at Henry Ford Hospital while still in
12054-591: Was Smokey Joe. So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe. That's what everyone called me until I was about 12 and then I dropped the Joe part. I've heard that story about him giving it to me because I'm a light skinned black man but that's not true. When Robinson was 10, his mother died, and he began living with older sister, Geraldine, with her husband, who had 10 children together. He attended Northern High School , where he
12177-530: Was above average academically and a determined athlete. However, his main interest was music, and he formed a doo-wop group named the Five Chimes. He and Aretha Franklin lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he said he'd known Franklin since she was about five, overhearing her play the piano when he had come to play with her older brother Cecil after her family first moved to Detroit. Robinson's interest in music started during childhood after he heard
12300-467: Was also awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree—along with Linda Ronstadt —and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music 's commencement ceremony. In 2015, he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2016, Robinson received the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song; and, on August 21, 2016, he
12423-491: Was also honored. Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of his fellow Miracles and the group's fans, who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor. Later, Tarplin did receive his star. He was also inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Claudette Robinson, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in 1987. He
12546-598: Was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the " Queen of Soul ", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time. 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. At the age of 18, she was signed as a recording artist for Columbia Records . While her career did not immediately flourish, Franklin found acclaim and commercial success once she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. She recorded albums such as I Never Loved
12669-1213: Was born in April 1970 and is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham. Franklin was married twice. Her first husband was Ted White , whom she married in 1961 at the age of 18. She had actually seen White the first time at a party held at her house in 1954. After a contentious marriage that was marred by domestic abuse , Franklin separated from White in 1968 and divorced him in 1969. She married actor Glynn Turman , on April 11, 1978, at her father's church. By marrying Turman, Franklin became stepmother of Turman's three children. Franklin and Turman separated in 1982 after she returned to Michigan from California and they divorced in 1984. Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn , were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings. Following Franklin's divorce from Ted White, her brother Cecil became her manager and maintained that position until his death from lung cancer on December 26, 1989. Her sister Carolyn died in April 1988 from breast cancer and her eldest sister Erma died from throat cancer in September 2002. Franklin's half-brother Vaughn died in late 2002. Her half-sister, Carol Ellan Kelley (née Jennings; 1940–2019),
12792-428: Was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin . She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee . Her father was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi , while her mother was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. Both Mr. and Mrs. Franklin had children from prior relationships in addition to
12915-561: Was eulogized by Rev. Jasper Williams Jr. of Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, as he had eulogized her father as well as speaking at other family memorials. 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". Franklin's nephew Vaughan complained of Williams: "He spoke for 50 minutes and at no time did he properly eulogize her." Following
13038-619: Was finalized in 1986. The Robinsons had also separated in 1974 and during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extramarital affair that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later featured on A Quiet Storm ). Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They own a home in Pittsburgh and use it as a winery . Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972. He practices Transcendental Meditation . Robinson has golden green eyes, which he believes were passed down from his French great-grandmother. Beginning in November 2023, Robinson
13161-467: Was friends with Claudette, whom Robinson admitted he still loved. (A representative for Ross had no comment on Robinson's claim.) Robinson says that loving multiple people in that way simultaneously is natural. Robinson also had a son named Trey (born 1984) with another woman during his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted to having fathered a child with a woman other than his wife, he filed for legal separation and later filed for divorce that
13284-657: Was honored with a day named for her and was greeted by longtime friend Martin Luther King Jr., who gave her the SCLC Drum Beat Award for Musicians two months before his death. Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in late April/May 1968, including an appearance at the Concertgebouw , Amsterdam, where she played to a near-hysterical audience who covered the stage with flower petals. She performed two concerts in London, at
13407-693: Was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Detroit. In 2019, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council members Jimmy Page and Peter Gabriel . In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Robinson at No. 23 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Studio albums Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( / ə ˈ r iː θ ə / ə- REE -thə ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018)
13530-539: Was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame . Robinson's single " Just to See Her " from the One Heartbeat album was awarded the 1988 Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance . This was Robinson's first Grammy Award. One year later, in 1989, he was inducted to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts . Two years before, he won
13653-603: Was later hailed as a civil rights and feminist anthem. Upon hearing her version, Otis Redding said admiringly: "That little girl done took my song away from me." Franklin's debut Atlantic album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You , also became commercially successful, later going gold. According to National Geographic , this recording "would catapult Franklin to fame". Franklin scored two additional top-ten singles in 1967, " Baby I Love You " and " (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman ". Working with Wexler and Atlantic, Franklin had become "the most successful singer in
13776-418: Was not listed as an inductee, he was due to induct his former group at the ceremony in April 2012. After MCA purchased Motown in 1988, Robinson relinquished his position as vice president. Following the release of the album, Love Smokey , in 1990, Robinson left Motown for a deal with SBK Records in 1991. However, the album, Double Good Everything failed to chart. Robinson remained virtually quiet during
13899-523: Was not yet an established label. Franklin's first Columbia single, " Today I Sing the Blues ", was issued in September 1960 and later reached the top 10 of the Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart. In January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin's first album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo . The album featured her first single to chart the Billboard Hot 100, " Won't Be Long ", which also peaked at number 7 on
14022-436: Was pursuing her singing career and "hanging out with [friends]", her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma took turns raising her children. Franklin would visit them often. Her third child, Ted White Jr., was born to Franklin and her husband Theodore "Ted" White in February 1964 and is known professionally as Teddy Richards. He provided guitar backing for his mother's band during live concerts. Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham,
14145-507: Was recorded. During this time, Franklin would occasionally travel with the Soul Stirrers . As a young gospel singer, Franklin spent summers on the gospel circuit in Chicago and stayed with Mavis Staples ' family. According to music producer Quincy Jones , while Franklin was still young, Dinah Washington let him know that "Aretha was the 'next one ' ". Franklin and her father traveled to California, where she met singer Sam Cooke . At
14268-548: Was released in mid-August 2014. It was an album of duets, including songs with Elton John , Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor . It reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart. Christmas Everyday was Robinson's first post-Miracles Christmas album, and was released on November 10, 2017. In 2018, he appeared on an episode of CMT Crossroads alongside country singer Cam . In April 2017, Robinson visited Fremont-Lopez Elementary School in Stockton, California, where he served as
14391-412: Was replaced by his sister, Claudette Rogers (who would marry Smokey Robinson in 1959). The group's guitarist, Marv Tarplin , joined them sometime in 1958. The Matadors began touring Detroit venues around this time. Eventually they changed their name to The Miracles. In August 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition for Brunswick Records . At that time during
14514-588: Was replaced with Babyface and Don Was when Danger Mouse left the project. 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 . Franklin's cover of "Rolling in the Deep" was featured among nine other songs in her first RCA release, Aretha Franklin Sings
14637-496: Was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers , Detroit. She was under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. Stevie Wonder , Jesse Jackson and former husband Glynn Turman visited her on her deathbed. Franklin died at her home on August 16, 2018, aged 76. She was initially thought to have died without a will. The cause of death was a malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) , which
14760-436: Was romantically involved with Aretha's father from around 1949 until Ward's death in 1973, though Aretha "preferred to view them strictly as friends". Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha. Just after her mother's death, Franklin began singing solos at New Bethel Baptist Church , debuting with the hymn "Jesus, Be a Fence Around Me". When Franklin was 12, her father began managing her; he would take her on
14883-679: Was still singing. Her final Arista album, So Damn Happy , was released in 2003 and featured the Grammy-winning song "Wonderful". In 2004, Franklin announced that she was leaving Arista after more than 20 years with the label. To complete her Arista obligations, Franklin issued the duets compilation album Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen in 2007. In February 2006, she performed " The Star-Spangled Banner " with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL , held in her hometown of Detroit. In 2008, Franklin issued
15006-528: Was the mother of four sons. She first became pregnant at the age of 12 and gave birth to her first child, named Clarence after her father, on January 28, 1955. In one of her handwritten wills, discovered in 2019, Franklin revealed that the father was Edward Jordan. On August 31, 1957, at the age of 15, Franklin had a second child fathered by Jordan, named Edward Derone Franklin after his father. Franklin did not like to discuss her early pregnancies with interviewers. Both children took her family name. While Franklin
15129-601: Was to encourage a "tenacious form of rhythm & blues that became increasingly identified as soul". The Atlantic days would lead to a series of hits for Aretha Franklin from 1967 to early 1972; her rapport with Wexler helped in the creation of the majority of her peak recordings with Atlantic. The next seven years' achievements were less impressive. However, according to Rolling Stone , "they weren't as terrible as some claimed, they were pro forma and never reached for new heights". In January 1967, Franklin traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama , to record at FAME Studios and recorded
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