Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) was a multi-award winning American singer, songwriter and pianist. With her powerful voice and impressive vocal range, Rolling Stone magazine declared her the greatest singer of all time, with a career spanning seven decades. Aretha’s unique voice also became the sound of America’s civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s. Find out more about this legendary ‘Queen of Soul’ and enjoy using our printable resources below.

Fun Facts

• Aretha performed at the inaugurations of three US presidents: Jimmy Carter (1977), Bill Clinton (1993) and Barack Obama (2009). She also performed at the funeral of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr (1968).
• At her peak, Aretha had a vocal range spanning four octaves. She released 42 studio albums and 131 singles, and sold over 75 million albums worldwide.
• In 2014, US space agency NASA named asteroid 249516 ‘Aretha’ in honour of the legendary singer’s career.
• For around 30 years, Aretha had to turn down many overseas engagements because she was afraid of flying. She was well known for travelling in her tour bus.

Aretha Franklin Quotes

"It really is an honour if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I’ve done my job.”

“I’m the lady next door when I’m not on stage.”

“Sometimes, what you’re looking for is already there.”

A Short Biography of Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942. She was the third of four children born to Clarence Franklin and his wife Barbara, but also had two older half siblings. Barbara was a pianist and gospel singer, while Clarence became one of America’s most famous Baptist preachers, as well as a civil rights activist and talented singer himself.

The family moved to Buffalo, New York, when Aretha was two, and relocated to Detroit, Michigan, two years later. Aretha’s father befriended many famous musicians, such as singers Sam Cooke and Ray Charles and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. All had a huge influence on Aretha as she grew up. By the time Aretha was six her parents had separated and her mother moved back to Buffalo. Aretha’s father and paternal grandmother, Rachel, raised her. Tragically, four years later, Aretha’s mother died from a heart attack.

Aretha was a gifted musician from an early age, teaching herself to play the piano by listening to jazz music. She also began to sing gospel at her father’s church. By ten, she was singing solos and at 12, she dropped out of school to tour with the church’s gospel group, under the management of her father. By 14, Aretha had recorded her first album at her father’s church ‘Songs of Faith’ (1956). Then at 18, with her father’s blessing, Aretha moved to New York where she eventually signed with Columbia Records. She released the album ‘Aretha’ (1961) and that same year married her manager, Ted White.

In 1966, Aretha left Columbia Records and signed with R&B label Atlantic. She had huge success with the single ‘I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)’, followed by a string of hits including ‘Think’, ‘Chain of Fools’, ‘Say a Little Prayer’ and ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’. Another track ‘Respect’ reached number 1 on both the R&B and pop charts internationally and won Aretha her first two Grammy Awards. Aretha’s sisters Erma and Carolyn were both backing singers on the record.

Although Aretha and Ted divorced in 1969, her hits continued. Her 1972 gospel album ‘Amazing Grace’ sold more than 2 million copies. During the 1970s, Aretha also won eight consecutive Grammy Awards for best R&B female vocalist.

In the 1980s, Aretha reinvented her career with a role in the film ‘The Blues Brothers’. Having left Atlantic Records she signed with Arista, with new pop albums such as ‘Jump To It’ (1982), ‘Who’s Zoomin’ Who?’ (1985) and ‘Aretha’ (1986). These included chart-topping duets with stars such as George Michael and Annie Lennox. However, the 1980s were a sad time for Aretha, with the end of her six-year marriage to actor Glynn Turman, and the death of her father who had been critically injured in a burglary five years earlier.

Aretha received many awards during her lifetime, including 18 Grammy Awards, three special Grammys (and 44 nominations). The 1998 Grammy Awards were also particularly memorable when opera singer Luciano Pavarotti pulled out due to sickness and Aretha famously stepped in to perform a powerful rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ to a standing ovation. In 1979, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 1987 became the first female artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W Bush in 2005.

Much of Aretha’s life story was told in her 1999 autobiography ‘Aretha: From These Roots’ and it was revealed in 2018 that actress Jennifer Hudson plays Aretha in an upcoming film about her life. Aretha had four sons, two of whom were looked after by her sister and grandmother during her early career.

In 2017, just before her 75th birthday, Aretha announced it would be her last year of touring. She died the following year aged 76 from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by family and friends at her home in Detroit. As guests arrived for her televised funeral, more than 100 pink cadillacs lined the streets of Detroit reflecting the lyrics of her 1985 hit ‘Freeway of Love’. Speakers and performers included former US president Bill Clinton and singer Stevie Wonder – all paying their respects to a remarkable woman.

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