Aretha Franklin, whose exceptionally expressive singing about joy and pain and faith and liberation earned the Detroit diva a permanent and undisputed title — the “Queen of Soul” — died Aug. 16 at her home in Detroit. She was 76.
Her representative Gwendolyn Quinn confirmed the death to the Associated Press and said the cause was pancreatic cancer.
One of the most celebrated and influential singers in the history of American vernacular song, Ms. Franklin reserved her place on music’s Mount Rushmore in the late 1960s and early 1970s by exploring the secular sweet spot between sultry rhythm-and-blues and the explosive gospel music she’d grown up singing in her father’s Baptist church.
The result was potent and wildly popular, with defining soul anthems that turned Ms. Franklin into a symbol of black pride and women’s liberation.
Her calling card: “Respect,” the Otis Redding hit that became a crossover smash in 1967 after Ms. Franklin tweaked it just so (a “sock it to me” here, some sisterly vocal support there), transforming the tune into a fervent feminist anthem.
I'm a heavy metal guy so people were always surprised when songs like Respect or Chain of Fools would pop up on my playlists. One of the very few celebrity deaths that actually makes me sad.
Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 90306 Location: Formerly Known As 24
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 9:07 am Post subject:
The Grind wrote:
The Queen of Soul
RIP Ms Franklin, a once in a generation artist
I think she's more of a once ever artist _________________ “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 67703 Location: In a world where admitting to not knowing something is considered a great way to learn.
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 1:16 pm Post subject:
No words of condolence will suffice. I say only...FAREWELL TO THE QUEEN...RIP _________________ Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Last edited by jodeke on Fri Aug 17, 2018 10:10 am; edited 1 time in total
Loved her cameo in Blues Brothers, my first exposure to Aretha's music, as well as the many other classic blues and r&b artists that were featured in the film
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144464 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:56 pm Post subject:
The Grind wrote:
Loved her cameo in Blues Brothers, my first exposure to Aretha's music, as well as the many other classic blues and r&b artists that were featured in the film
That is one of the best scenes in the movie. She was amazing, I got to hear her perform in Mississippi years ago. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 52656 Location: Making a safety stop at 15 feet.
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 7:34 pm Post subject:
Aretha was an amazing artist an awesome talent.
She was the Queen and she shall reign for eternity.
RIP and all hail The Queen. _________________ You thought God was an architect, now you know
He’s something like a pipe bomb ready to blow
And everything you built that’s all for show
goes up in flames
In 24 frames
Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 90306 Location: Formerly Known As 24
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 7:46 pm Post subject:
_________________ “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel
Carole King was on one of the news shows talking about that moment. Aretha's amazing performance at that age and then King's and the Obama's reactions sent it over the top. Just a wow moment.
Joined: 25 Apr 2015 Posts: 31919 Location: Anaheim, CA
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2018 11:29 pm Post subject:
Omar Little wrote:
The Grind wrote:
The Queen of Soul
RIP Ms Franklin, a once in a generation artist
I think she's more of a once ever artist
Truly one of the greatest singers in the history of life.
Until today, I had totally forgotten her performance at the 1998 Grammys. Pavarotti was supposed to sing his signature song "Nessun Dorma", but became ill and had to cancel about 48 hours before his scheduled performance. Aretha stepped in, and she absolutely KILLS the ending of it, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Or how about this one, at the Kennedy Center Honors...when she's 73 years old!
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