Although born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942, Aretha Franklin’s parents brought her to Detroit at an early age where she and her sister began singing in the gospel choir of her father’s church, New Bethel Baptist Church. Later in her life, she would become famous for songs such as (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Respect, Chain of Fools, and many more.
Motown singer Aretha Franklin became the first female vocalist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 3, 1987 . Now that’s what we call R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Later on, she was invited to participate in President Obama’s Inaugeration on January 20, 2009. (See picture)
She will always be remembered as the Queen of Soul.
Update: Aretha Franklin died of pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018.
Sources :
Detroit Historical Society Facebook Page
Historical Society of Michigan.
Kara Jayne, “Remembering When Aretha Franklin Made History As The First Woman To Be Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame“, January 3, 2020.
Susan Whitall, “Aretha Franklin celebrates Christmas with friends, family and music”, Detroit News, December 24, 2011.
Susan Whitall, “Rock Hall of Fame pays tribute to Aretha Franklin with a week of events”, Detroit News, October 25, 2011.
Also check out :
All Hail the Queen! A Tribute to Aretha Franklin by Bob Garrett, Archives of Michigan, February 1, 2011
Aretha Franklin biography from the Detroit African-American History Project jointly sponsored by the Wayne State University’s Education Technolgy Services/Computing and Information Services and the Walter P. Reuther Library/College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs.
Jon Pareles, “Aretha Franklin, the ‘Queen of Soul,’ Dies at 76“, New York Times, August 16, 2018.
Ken Coleman, “Aretha Franklin: Civil Rights Freedom Fighter”, Black Life, Arts, and Culture (B.L.A.C), August 2018.