Aretha Franklin
| Aretha Franklin | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Aretha Louise Franklin |
| Born | March 25, 1942 Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, gospel, jazz, pop, rock |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, pianist |
| Instruments | Singing, piano |
| Years active | 1956–Present |
| Labels | Columbia, Atlantic, Arista |
| Associated acts | The Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin, Cissy Houston, George Benson, George Michael, Michael McDonald |
Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American soul and R&B singer. She is called the "Queen of Soul". She is best known for her songs "Respect", "Think", "Chain of Fools",[1] and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman".
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Early life and career: 1942–1960 [change]
Aretha Louise Franklin was born at a two-room house in Memphis located at 406 Lucy St.[2] She was the third of four children born to Barbara (née Siggers) and C.L. Franklin and the fifth of six overall in between past relationships by her parents. Franklin's family moved to Buffalo, when Franklin was two, and then by four, had settled in Detroit. Following the move to Detroit, Franklin's parents, who had a troubled marriage, split. Due to her father's work as a Baptist minister, Franklin was primarily raised by her grandmother, Rachel. Franklin suffered a tragedy when her mother died in Buffalo when Aretha was ten. Franklin sang in church at an early age and learned how to play piano by ear. By her late preteens, Franklin was regularly singing solo numbers in her father's New Bethel Baptist Church. Franklin's father, C.L. (short for Clarence LaVaughn), was a respected and popular preacher. Franklin grew up with local and national celebrities hanging out at her father's home including gospel greats Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans, Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, three women who played a pivotal role in her vocal development as a child.
Honours [change]
Franklin is one of the most honored artists by the Grammy Awards, with 18 competitive Grammys and two honorary Grammys. She had 20 #1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and two #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Respect" (1967) and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987), a duet with George Michael. Since 1961, she had a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. She also had 14 singles that sold more than one million – more than any other female artist. Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 #1 R&B albums – more than any other female artist.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked her at top of its list "The Greatest Singers of All Time"[3] In 2005, she was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. On February 6, 2006, she performed, along with Aaron Neville, "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XL. The same year she got an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the Berklee College of Music.2010, Franklin received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Yale University.[4]
In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[5] She was the only featured singer at the 2009 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.
Grammy Awards [change]
| Aretha Franklin's 18 Grammy Award Wins | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Year | Category | Genre | Title |
| 1 | 1968 | Best Rhythm & Blues Recording | R&B | Respect |
| 2 | 1968 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Respect |
| 3 | 1969 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Chain Of Fools |
| 4 | 1970 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Share Your Love With Me |
| 5 | 1971 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Don't Play That Song For Me |
| 6 | 1972 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Bridge Over Troubled Water |
| 7 | 1973 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Young, Gifted and Black (album) |
| 8 | 1973 | Best Soul Gospel Performance | Gospel | Amazing Grace (album) |
| 9 | 1974 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Master Of Eyes |
| 10 | 1975 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing |
| 11 | 1982 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Hold On...I'm Comin' (album track) |
| 12 | 1986 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Freeway Of Love |
| 13 | 1988 | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Aretha (album) |
| 14 | 1988 | Best R&B Performance – Duo Or Group with Vocals | R&B | I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (with George Michael) |
| 15 | 1989 | Best Soul Gospel Performance – Female | Gospel | One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (album) |
| * | 1991 | Living Legend Award | Special | |
| * | 1994 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Special | |
| 16 | 2004 | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | Wonderful |
| 17 | 2006 | Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance | R&B | A House Is Not A Home |
| 18 | 2008 | Best Gospel-Soul Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group | Gospel | Never Gonna Break My Faith (with Mary J. Blige) |
Discography [change]
- Top 10 US Hot 100 singles
| Year | Title | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" | 9 |
| 1967 | "Respect" | 1 |
| 1967 | "Baby I Love You" | 4 |
| 1967 | "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" | 8 |
| 1967 | "Chain of Fools" | 2 |
| 1968 | "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" | 5 |
| 1968 | "Think" | 7 |
| 1968 | "The House That Jack Built" | 6 |
| 1968 | "I Say a Little Prayer" | 10 |
| 1971 | "Bridge Over Troubled Water" / "Brand New Me" | 6 |
| 1971 | "Spanish Harlem" | 2 |
| 1971 | "Rock Steady" | 9 |
| 1972 | "Day Dreaming" | 5 |
| 1973 | "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" | 3 |
| 1985 | "Who's Zoomin Who?" | 7 |
| 1985 | "Freeway of Love" | 3 |
| 1987 | "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael) | 1 |
References [change]
- ↑ Hear Aretha Franklin (music and interviews) on the Pop Chronicles (1969).
- ↑ "Sister Ree's Scrapbook, An Aretha Franklin Photo Gallery 13". http://www.morethings.com/music/aretha_franklin/photo_gallery13.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/6027/32782/32784
- ↑ http://newsone.com/nation/news-one-staff/aretha-franklin-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-yale
- ↑ Future Rock Legends, Rock Hall Class of 1987
