Niall Dillon takes a retrospective look at the life, career, and many achievements of Aretha Franklin.
With October being Black History Month, the spotlight is on Black singers and musicians. There are many legendary Black singers and musicians, particularly in the genre of soul - including Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Amongst the greats is none other than the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin - a renowned artist with a distinguished and prolific career, and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.
Raised in Detroit, Michigan, the powerful voice of the soul songstress was nurtured by singing gospel music in the church where her father was a Baptist pastor. It was here that her status as a music prodigy was first recognised. She began to perform in various churches across the country from the age of twelve. At the age of eighteen, Aretha was signed by Columbia Records. Here, she focused on performing pop music, as well as trying out different diverse genres and styles, such as jazz, doo-wop, and rhythm and blues.
After six years with Columbia, without the major commercial success the studio was searching for, her contract expired. At this time, Aretha owed Columbia money due to her records not selling as well as had been predicted. She decided to move to Atlantic Records, who were excited by her background in gospel music. In 1967, she emerged with a creative stride, and developed her own unique sound with the blues ballad, ‘I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)’. In 1968, she sang and recorded the Otis Redding soul/R&B song, ‘Respect’. This song then became Aretha's signature song, one which she transformed with the lyrics, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me". The song quickly became an anthem for feminism and civil rights, and dominated the charts of the US Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks in 1968, as well as winning two Grammys. That very same year, she sang a song that was written by the writing duo of Carole King and Gerry Goffin, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’, which became one of her biggest hits, surging to No.8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Also in 1968, she sang and recorded the song ‘I Say a Little Prayer’, which was originally written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The song peaked at number three on the R&B charts, and remained on the charts for 12 weeks. Aretha recorded music across a wide range of genres, along with music she co-wrote with her first husband and manager, Ted White. Songs that the two wrote together include ‘Dr Feelgood’ and '’Since You've Been Gone (Sweet, Sweet Baby)’'. By the 1970's, she established herself as “Soul Sister Number 1”, having sold more records than any other woman in music history.
She kept performing concerts at a prodigious rate during the 1970's and became known for her flamboyant costumes and occasional erratic behavior. In the 1980's, when her career seemed to be flagging, she appeared in the 1980 movie, The Blues Brothers. This, along with her 1985 album, Who's Zoomin' Who, put her back in the public eye. Aretha began to collaborate with a wide variety of singers and artists such as the Eurhythmics and Carlos Santana. In 1987, she scored another chart-topper with the release of the duet, ‘I Knew You Were Waiting for Me’. The same year, she became the first female singer ever to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Across her lifetime, Aretha has been awarded numerous honors - musical, political and charitable - including 18 Grammys. She has also performed at two American presidential inaugurations. One of her final performances was in 2015 in honor of Carole King, a songwriter who was one of Aretha’s long-time collaborators and friends, at the Kennedy Center Honors, when she performed ‘A Natural Woman’ in a jaw-dropping performance.
She remained a highly respected and admired figure in music until her death on August 16th 2018, aged 76. An ultimate icon that has transcended time, the Queen of Soul was a musical genius, and is arguably one of the greatest music artists in history. Her many hits, including ‘Respect’, ‘Chain of Fools’, ‘Natural Woman’, and ‘I Say a Little Prayer’, continue to carry on her memory. Aretha Franklin’s legacy as a feminist, civil rights advocate, and soul superstar will live on forever and continue to influence an enduring legacy.