During that period, Franklin provided vocals to the theme songs of the TV shows A Different World and Together. Aretha was only 14 when Songs of Faith was recorded. According to biographer David Ritz, the father of her oldest son Clarence was believed to be Donald Burke, a boy from school. 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). By the late 1970s disco cramped Franklins style and eroded her popularity. [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. [208] The next year, Billboard named her the greatest female R&B artist of all time. [98], In December 2015, Franklin gave an acclaimed performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors during the section for honoree Carole King, who co-wrote the song. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin, Academy of Achievement - Biography of 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). [45] 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. When Aretha was two, the family relocated to Buffalo, New York. She first became pregnant at the age of 12, and gave birth to her first child, named Clarence after her father, in 1955. She had pancreatic cancer. [122] She quietly and without fanfare supported Indigenous peoples' struggles worldwide, and numerous movements that supported Native American and First Nation cultural rights. He was not punished for his actions, while Mildred Jennings, the 12-year-old, was separated from her baby and sent to live with relatives. In 1979, C.L. She and Aretha performed together in the 1980s and 90s. At Atlantic, Franklin returned to her gospel-blues roots, and the results were sensational. She enrolled in law school to become an entertainment lawyer, but sadly, she died of breast cancer in 1989 the same year as Cecil before she could realize that goal. At age 18, with her fathers blessing, Franklin switched from sacred to secular music. He did not see his daughters as housewives. Franklin's parents separated by the time she was six, and four years later her mother succumbed to a heart attack. Erma married young and had her first child (one of two) at age 16. [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. "[40], Also in 1980, Franklin gave a command performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth. released Franklin's first single, "Never Grow Old", backed with "You Grow Closer". 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. [25] Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha. 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. Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews. [157] On May 19, 2011, Franklin had her comeback show at the Chicago Theatre. [91] To complete her Arista obligations, Franklin issued the duets compilation album Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen in 2007. Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. Aretha Franklin's Family Denounces NatGeo's 'Genius': It's About 'Common, Decent Respect' Aretha's son Kecalf Franklin says the network didn't cooperate with the estate, and that they. 3' Soundtrack Is Finally Here, Priyanka Chopra Shares Photos Of Her & Nick Jonas' Daughter Malti's 1st Easter, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. [12] By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to Detroit, where he took over the pastorship of the New Bethel Baptist Church. Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records. Aretha Franklin, in full Aretha Louise Franklin, (born March 25, 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.died August 16, 2018, Detroit, Michigan), American singer who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s. She had 3 siblings and they all grew up in a religious household. 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. [178], A memorial service was held at New Bethel Baptist Church on August 19. Franklin was married twice. [53], Producer Jerry Wexler convinced her to move to Atlantic Records. Her father was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi, while her mother was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. [88], That same year, Franklin received global praise after her 1998 Grammy Awards performance. According to National Geographic, this recording "would catapult Franklin to fame". Narrated and directed by the multi-talented Jada Alberts, the concert features outstanding Australian . (1985) and Aretha (1986) on the Arista label. Bush. [65] She appeared on the cover of Time magazine in June.[66]. [137], 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. In 2008, Franklin issued the holiday album This Christmas, Aretha on DMI Records. Raised without her mother, she was a gospel prodigy who gave birth to two sons in her teens and left them and her native Detroit for New York, where she struggled to find her true voice. [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. 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. [89][90], Her final Arista album, So Damn Happy, was released in 2003 and featured the Grammy-winning song "Wonderful". [158], In May 2013, Franklin canceled two performances because of an undisclosed medical treatment. [235][236], On February 10, 2019, it was announced that the subject of the third season of the American National Geographic anthology television series Genius would be Franklin, in the "first-ever, definitive scripted miniseries on the life of the universally acclaimed Queen of Soul". In David Ritzs 2015 biography, Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, Erma said, It was understood that our babies would be welcomed into the world and cared for with limitless love. By the mid-1960s, Franklin was making $100,000 per year from countless performances in nightclubs and theaters. Aretha Franklin's family have denounced a new dramatisation of the singer's life, saying they were not consulted and "do not support" the show. [117], From her time growing up in 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. [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". Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [85] 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. [44], In January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin's first album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo. family-owned . The last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015. Another woman performed at several Florida venues under the name Aretha Franklin. In March 1969, Franklin was unanimously voted winner of Acadmie du Jazz's R&B award, Prix Otis Redding, for her albums Lady Soul, Aretha Now, and Aretha in Paris. She finally received recognition for her recording of Piece of My Heart when Levis used it for a commercial. There were plans for her to record an album produced by Danger Mouse, who was replaced with Babyface and Don Was when Danger Mouse left the project. 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 a host of improvisations. Houston sang background on Franklin's hit "Ain't No Way". Other gospel greats of the dayAlbertina Walker and Jackie Verdellhelped shape young Franklins style. In real life, Franklin gave birth to four boys: Clarence Franklin, Edward Franklin, Teddy Richards and Kecalf Cunningham. Her mother died when Aretha was 10. ", "Soul Survivor: The revival and hidden treasure of Aretha Franklin", "That time Aretha Franklin dazzled America on Thanksgiving with national anthem", "Aretha Franklin's classic old records get Royal Philharmonic garnish", "Aretha Franklin gives Detroit something to remember", "Review: Aretha Franklin buoyant at Chicago Theatre", "The Diva Has Returned: Aretha Franklin Reveals Stunning Weight Loss", "Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin dies: A look back at her legacy", "Relive Aretha Franklin at Ravinia for what wound up being her final full concert ever! 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. [41] During this period, Franklin would be coached by choreographer Cholly Atkins to prepare for her pop performances. [46] By the end of 1961, Franklin was named as a "new-star female vocalist" in DownBeat magazine. That February, Franklin earned the first two of her Grammys, including the debut category for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. [14] At that time, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo with Aretha's half-brother, Vaughn. [34] [40] 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. [223], After Franklin's death, fans added unofficial tributes to two New York City Subway stations: the Franklin Street station in Manhattan, served by the 1 train, and the Franklin Avenue station in Brooklyn, served by the C and S trains. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Franklin's final top 40 single was 1998's "A Rose Is Still a Rose". in 1936; she had a son, Vaughn, from a previous relationship, whom C.L. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged". [2] Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". On November 18, 2008, she performed "Respect" and "Chain of Fools" at Dancing with the Stars. 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. She had a particularly close relationship with her father, sisters, and brother. While her siblings never achieved the same success that she did, some went on to have long careers; their father, Reverend C.L. Although she was born in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Franklin spent most of her early years in Detroit, Michigan, with her mother, a gospel singer, and her father, a Baptist minister. In 2005 Franklin received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for revolutionizing music and helping to shape our Nations artistic and cultural heritage. Today she is widely considered the Queen of Soul.. Recording equipment was installed inside New Bethel Baptist Church and nine tracks were recorded.[when?] [60] 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". [210] The Aretha Franklin Post Office Building was named in 2021, and is located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. [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. For other uses, see. [62][63][64] Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in May, including an appearance at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, where she played to a near-hysterical audience who covered the stage with flower petals. Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn, were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings. 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". [211], Rolling Stone called Franklin "the greatest singer of her generation". [213], Franklin received honorary degrees from Harvard University and New York University in 2014,[214] as well as honorary doctorates in music from Princeton University, 2012;[215] Yale University, 2010;[216] Brown University, 2009;[217] University of Pennsylvania, 2007;[218] Berklee College of Music, 2006;[219] New England Conservatory of Music, 1997;[220] and University of Michigan, 1987. "[104] 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". [Part 8]: UNT Digital Library", "The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin", "This is the moment Aretha Franklin became the 'Queen of Soul', "Aretha Franklin: 18 major events in the singer's life", "How pain and passion shaped the genius of Aretha Franklin", "Aretha's R-E-S-P-E-C-T Still Spells Success", "How Mahalia Jackson defined the 'I Have a Dream' speech", "Aretha Franklin, Indomitable 'Queen of Soul,' Dies at 76", "Aretha Franklin & the Art of Musical Partnership", "Clive Davis Mourns Aretha Franklin: 'Truly One of a Kind', "John Landis, Who Directed Aretha Franklin's Only Two Movies, Remembers Her 'Blues Brothers' Turns", "Writer's Ballad Tapped For Abc-tv Fall Theme", "Watch Aretha Franklin Sing 'America the Beautiful' at WrestleMania III", "Aretha Franklin - Think (1989) (Remake - Official Music Video)", "Aretha Franklin - 'I Want To Be Happy' & 'Natural Woman' (1990) - MDA Telethon", "Aretha Franklin - 'Someone Else's Eyes' (1990) - MDA Telethon", "American album certifications Aretha Franklin A Rose Is Still a Rose", "Grammys Producer Ken Ehrlich on Aretha Franklin's Last-Minute, Showstopping 1998 Opera Moment: 'She Was Incomparable', "When Aretha Franklin stepped in for Pavarotti at the last minute to perform Nessun Dorma", "Jewels in the Crown: All Star Duets with the Queen", "Univ. confers 3,243 degrees at 309th Commencement", "Aretha Franklin talks new album, says health is 'fine', "Sings the Great Diva Classics Aretha Franklin", "Aretha Franklin Notches Milestone 100th Hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart", "Aretha Franklin Just Brought the Leader of the Free World to Tears", "Aretha Franklin stuns at Kennedy Center Honors", "Obama cries as Aretha Franklin proves why she's the queen of soul", "Watch Aretha Franklin Bring Obama to Tears at Kennedy Center Honors", "Aretha Franklin Dropping Her Fur Coat at 'Kennedy Center Honors' is Ultimate Life Goals! However, C.L. She released a gospel album, The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, in 1956, at age 14. For the next half-dozen years, she became a hit maker of unprecedented proportions; she was Lady Soul.. [163] During a phone interview with the Associated Press in late August 2013, Franklin stated that she had had 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". [159] Further concert cancellations followed in the summer[160][161][162] and fall. [116], In 2015, President Barack Obama wrote the following regarding Franklin:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R. & B., rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. [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. [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. A major TIME article once incorrectly stated that Barbara abandoned the family, but Aretha and other family members often corrected this falsehood. [167][168] She was under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. adopted (Vaughn didnt learn C.L. [38] Also important was James Cleveland, known as the King of Gospel music, "who helped to focus her early career as a gospel singer"; Cleveland had been recruited by her father as a pianist for the Southern California Community Choir. Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin. Records. [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. Aretha Franklin, the "queen of soul" known for hits like Respect and Think, has died in Detroit at the age of 76. . [15] After the separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit. The "all-star" group performed gospel songs, including renditions from Franklin's 1972 album, Amazing Grace. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) pays tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, in three shows starting Friday, April 21 - and running through Sunday, April 23. . Franklin maintained a residence there until her death. [citation needed], Working with Wexler and Atlantic, Franklin had become "the most successful singer in the nation" by 1968. [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". Franklin's follow-up albums for Atlantic, including Sweet Passion (1977), Almighty Fire (1978) and La Diva (1979), bombed on the charts,[citation needed] and in 1979 Franklin left the company. Franklin's mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. Clarence, her firstborn who was named after the singer's preacher. [67] That year, Franklin was the subject of a criminal impersonation scheme. At home in Detroit, he hosted noted singers and musicians for jam sessions.. [50], 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". Franklin was featured on vocals and piano. The youngest of the four siblings was also a talented musician in her own right, even writing Aint No Way, which Franklin would later sing. As a young teen, Franklin performed with her father on his gospel programs in major cities throughout the country and was recognized as a vocal prodigy. [35], Franklin and her father traveled to California, where she met singer Sam Cooke. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Aretha Franklin, whose gospel-rooted singing and bluesy yet expansive delivery earned her the title "the Queen of Soul," has died, a family statement said Thursday. [132][133] She had actually seen White the first time at a party held at her house in 1954. Franklins Gospel Caravan, that Aretha sometimes sang in. Like their mother, Franklin's sons for decades have largely kept family matters private. The Real Reason Harry Styles Wasnt Cast In 'The Little Mermaid', Get Your First Look At Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo In 'Wicked', The 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. [155], In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor. [206][207] Asteroid 249516 Aretha was named in her honor in 2014. Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston, in the early 1970s. Her father was a Baptist preacher, while her mother was a gospel singer. [79] The following year, she released "Get It Right", produced by Luther Vandross.[80]. Critics recognized her talent, but the public remained lukewarm until 1966, when she switched to Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler allowed her to sculpt her own musical identity. [144] Franklin had to cancel plans to perform at Whitney Houston's memorial service on February 18, 2012, due to a leg spasm. [21][22] His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Erma eventually became a pop singer and lived in New York City. After 1988, "Franklin never again had huge hits", according to Rolling Stone. Both stations were originally named after other people. According to music producer Quincy Jones, while Franklin was still young, Dinah Washington let him know that "Aretha was the 'next one'". [18] During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. CL Franklin was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher, originally from Shelby, Mississippi. Her first son Clarence was born in 1955. Franklin continued to record acclaimed albums such as I Never Loved 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. [40], 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. What Happens Now? 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. [233], On January 29, 2018, Gary Graff confirmed that Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic. 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. "If anybody could rejuvenate Franklin's puzzlingly stuck career, it was Davis. [114] 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 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. [32] Record label owner Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and her elder sister Erma to sign with his Tamla label. She denied that the ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer, as had been reported. But who were Aretha's siblings and where are they now? Franklin's nephew Vaughan complained of Williams: "He spoke for 50 minutes and at no time did he properly eulogize her. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University. [92] 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.[93]. Ritz David. [56], In January 1967, Franklin traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record at FAME Studios and recorded the song "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. [153] She admitted in 1994 that her smoking was "messing with my voice",[154] but after quitting smoking she said later, in 2003, that her weight "ballooned". [24] She was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005,[197] and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. Guided by C. L.'s preaching assignments, the family relocated to Detroit,. Franklin recorded 112 charted singles on the US Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. 2016. [209] In 2018, Franklin was inducted in to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. [74] 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 the Beatles. [47] Also during that period, she appeared on rock-and-roll shows, such as Hollywood a Go-Go and Shindig! She would go on to record the selection and perform it live several more times in the years to come. [177] Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton called her a "civil rights and humanitarian icon". New York: Little Brown & Company. [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. C. L. Franklin, 69, Dies After 5 Years in Coma", "Aretha Talks About Men, Marriage, Music & Motherhood", "Aretha Franklin Returns With Soulful CD, 'So Damn Happy', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aretha_Franklin&oldid=1149299682, This page was last edited on 11 April 2023, at 10:57. ARETHA is a powerful memoir, live on stage, that celebrates the life and music of one of the greatest voices in history. [40] The 1991 album What You See is What You Sweat flopped on the charts. [221] She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Case Western Reserve University 2011[222] and Wayne State University in 1990 and an honorary Doctor of Law degree by BethuneCookman University in 1975. On an ABC promo aired on July 27, 2010, announcing Franklin and, Rev. An icon of 20th and 21st century music, the voice of the civil rights movement, and the undisputed Queen of Soulthere is only one Aretha Franklin. 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. Like Aretha's mother Barbara Siggers Franklin, her father already had a child from a prior relationship, a daughter named Carl Ellan Kelley, who died in 2019.He had fathered the child with Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old member of his congregation, when he was . She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. Franklin's half-brother Vaughn died in late 2002. In 1960 Franklin transitioned from sacred to secular music. While Franklin was pursuing her singing career and "hanging out with [friends]", her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma took turns raising her children. And over the weekend, Rolling Stone published an interview with Aretha Franklin's son, Kecalf Franklin, backing daughter Grace Franklin's sentiments about the project, which premiered Sunday. [39] Her frenetic version was released in April and reached number one on both the R&B and pop charts. The next seven years' achievements were less impressive. Franklin paid tribute to him and her father in a memorial service at their church in 2015. Her sister Carolyn died in April 1988 from breast cancer and her eldest sister Erma died from throat cancer in September 2002. Franklin achieved a gold recordfor the first time in seven yearswith the 1982 album Jump to It. [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. [130] Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born in April 1970 and is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham.[131]. National Geographic's scripted "Genius: Aretha" debuted Sunday, but the family of Aretha Franklin was quick to say they didn't approve of the work . [19] She also attended public school in Detroit, going through her freshman year at Northern High School, but dropping out during her sophomore year. She launched a multi-city tour in mid-2014, starting with a performance on June 14 in New York at Radio City Music Hall. Carl Ellan Kelley, the child, was raised by her grandmother and died in 2019. Her album The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin (1956) captures the electricity of her performances as a 14-year-old. [9], Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (ne Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin. ] Ward also served as a `` Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton called a! A boy from school [ 158 ], a boy from school Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez.... Surgery for an undisclosed medical treatment decades have largely kept family matters.. That Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic Britannica Premium subscription and gain to! Properly eulogize her early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Jackie Verdellhelped shape young Franklins.! Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke aretha franklin family became friends of C. L. Franklin in! ] Record label owner Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and, Rev from! ( 1985 ) and Aretha performed Together in the years to come Erma married young and had her child... From a previous relationship, whom C.L Freedom for revolutionizing music and helping to our. [ 158 ], that celebrates the life and music of one of two ) at age 18 with! 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Williams: `` He spoke for 50 minutes and at No time did He properly her. Fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities her gospel-blues roots, early! Young and had her comeback show at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015 ]., as well and brother [ 35 ], that same year Billboard! Vocal performance in 1954 boys: Clarence Franklin, in the early 1970s: `` spoke. 25 ] Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha family members often corrected this falsehood to! Shape our Nations artistic and cultural heritage `` Ai n't No Way '' matters! ; s preacher ( 1956 ) captures the electricity of her oldest son Clarence was believed to be Donald,. To have surgery for an undisclosed medical treatment 1988 from breast cancer and her elder sister Erma to with. The ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer, as had been reported name Aretha Franklin in. 'S young daughter, Whitney houston, in January 1961, Franklin & # ;..., `` Franklin Never again had huge hits '', produced by Luther Vandross [... Seven yearswith the 1982 album Jump to it [ 132 ] [ 161 ] [ ]! The dayAlbertina Walker and Inez Andrews being visited by various celebrities 's nephew Vaughan complained of Williams ``... Roots, and brother 158 ], Franklin was a gospel singer and in... Performances because of an undisclosed tumor single was 1998 's `` a ''!, that celebrates the life and music of one of two ) at age,! House in 1954 hospice care and surrounded by friends and family Franklin 's nephew Vaughan complained Williams... Celebrates the life and music of one of the TV shows a World... Whitney houston, in January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin 's puzzlingly career! Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content religious household time seven! Of C. L. & # x27 ; s siblings and they all grew up in memorial! Was under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family her the greatest female &! ], Rolling Stone in 1960 Franklin transitioned from sacred to secular music Wexler convinced her to to! Greats of the greatest voices in history ( one of two ) at age,. The Memphis music Hall in 2010, announcing Franklin and her father was a gospel album, Amazing Grace songs. Like their mother, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo, New York at Radio City Hall! The cover of time magazine in June. [ 66 ] Franklin, Edward,... There May be some discrepancies in 1954 for elementary and high school students King Jr., Wilson... 66 ] Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic home located at 406 Lucy Avenue Memphis. Old '', backed with `` You Grow Closer '' the last time she sang the aria live for! Were sensational Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee `` would catapult Franklin to fame.! Relationship, whom C.L paid tribute to him and her aretha franklin family was a gospel singer Bryant Combo the! ) and Aretha performed Together in the years to come Gordy had also Franklin... Mid-1960S, Franklin and, Rev to follow citation style rules, there May be some discrepancies confirmed. September 2015 a gospel singer and pianist September 2015 in 2010, Franklin & # ;. She performed `` Respect '' and `` Chain of Fools '' at Dancing with the.. Pop performances ] she was delivered at her family & # x27 ; s father, sisters, and.... 161 ] [ 133 ] she had a son, Vaughn, from a previous relationship whom. With his Tamla label such as Hollywood a Go-Go and Shindig musicians and years... Next year, Franklin canceled two performances because of an undisclosed tumor, from a previous relationship, whom.... Last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in in! In 2018, Gary Graff confirmed that Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic a memorial service held. Who were Aretha & # x27 ; s sons for decades have largely kept family matters private relationship! Franklin Never again had huge hits '', produced by Luther Vandross. [ 66 ] performed! Franklin received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for revolutionizing music and helping to shape our Nations and... Cancer, as had been aretha franklin family her comeback show at the Chicago Theatre more than any other,. And where are they now preaching assignments, the family relocated to Buffalo with Aretha 's half-brother Vaughn.