Known for her magnificently powerful voice, a vast array of hits, and industry success, Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed one of the greatest artists of all time.
Born 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Franklin’s early life would prove instrumental to her career: her father was a Baptist preacher, and her mother a gospel singer. Franklin herself became a gospel singer at the age of 14 – the same year she released her first album, Songs of Faith.
It wasn’t until 1967, though, that Franklin found substantial acclaim. She released her monumental song, Respect, winning not only her first two Grammy awards but also the title Queen of Soul. It soon became the anthem for women’s and civil rights movement of the time, with Franklin herself becoming a symbol of feminism and black empowerment, even performing at the funeral of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
Franklin’s commercial success didn’t stop there: in 1974 she released Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, winning her another Grammy. In fact, to this day, she remains one of the most celebrated artists at the Grammys with 18 awards – proving that she is still the Queen of Soul.
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Aretha Franklin, 1990
Photo by: Al Pereira
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Aretha at the piano
Photo by: David Gahr
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1968 Recording Session
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha ’67
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha Franklin 1968
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha Playing Piano
Photo by: Donaldson Collection
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Aretha in the Studio, 1972
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha Franklin Jazz Festival 1973
Photo by: George Lange
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Aretha at the Piano, 1967
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha at the piano ’67
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha Franklin 1972
Photo by: David Gahr
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Atlantic Studios
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha in the Studio, 1968
Photo by: David Gahr
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In the Studio, 1972
Photo by: David Gahr
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1968 Aretha Recording in the Studio
Photo by: David Gahr
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Franklin 1972
Photo by: David Gahr
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Aretha Franklin ’67
Photo by: David Gahr
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