[86][87], In 1995, she was selected to play Aunt Em in the Apollo Theater revival of The Wiz. It sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold certification. According to National Geographic, this recording "would catapult Franklin to fame". [193] The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded her a Grammy Legend Award in 1991, then the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. "Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. ", "Soul Survivor: The revival and hidden treasure of Aretha Franklin", "That time Aretha Franklin dazzled America on Thanksgiving with national anthem", "Aretha Franklin's classic old records get Royal Philharmonic garnish", "Aretha Franklin gives Detroit something to remember", "Review: Aretha Franklin buoyant at Chicago Theatre", "The Diva Has Returned: Aretha Franklin Reveals Stunning Weight Loss", "Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin dies: A look back at her legacy", "Relive Aretha Franklin at Ravinia for what wound up being her final full concert ever! Her sister Carolyn died in April 1988 from breast cancer and her eldest sister Erma died from throat cancer in September 2002. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged". [146][147][148][149], Franklin had weight issues for many years. Some of these releases were from the acclaimed albums Spirit in the Dark and Young, Gifted and Black. [21][22] His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson and former husband Glynn Turman visited her on her deathbed. Franklin achieved a gold recordfor the first time in seven yearswith the 1982 album Jump to It. Arethas mother was a piano player and singer who inspired her daughter. in 1936; she had a son, Vaughn, from a previous relationship, whom C.L. Without targeting any particular genre, she sang everything from Broadway ballads to youth-oriented rhythm and blues. At the age of 18, she was signed as a recording artist for Columbia Records. As a civil-rights-minded nation lent greater support to black urban music, Franklin was crowned the Queen of Soul. Respect, her 1967 cover of Otis Reddings spirited composition, became an anthem operating on personal, sexual, and racial levels. After 1988, "Franklin never again had huge hits", according to Rolling Stone. She died of a heart attack in 1952, at the age of 34. [206][207] Asteroid 249516 Aretha was named in her honor in 2014. Aretha was a mother of four sons. At age 18, with her fathers blessing, Franklin switched from sacred to secular music. [170] She was initially thought to have died without a will. [12] By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to Detroit, where he took over the pastorship of the New Bethel Baptist Church. The tragic loss of her beloved father, alleged abuse at the hands of a . Before signing with Columbia, Sam Cooke tried to persuade Franklin's father to sign her with his label, RCA, but his request was denied since she had decided to go with Columbia. Her father was a Baptist preacher, while her mother was a gospel singer. Then, after marrying Ted White, she had a third son, Teddy White Jr. Aretha's youngest son Kecalf was born in 1970. [74] On November 7, 1979, she guested The Mike Douglas Show with her yellow costume from her La Diva album, and sang "Ladies Only", "What If I Should Ever Need You" and "Yesterday" by the Beatles. [200], In 2010 Franklin was ranked first on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time"[7] and ninth on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Erma eventually became a pop singer and lived in New York City. But Aretha Franklin who died of pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at the age of 76 never had an easy road. When Rolling Stone listed the "Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums" in 2002 and again 2012, it listed Franklin's 1967, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, number one. She was a friend of Pavarotti and had sung the aria two nights prior at the annual MusiCares event. Franklin received numerous honors throughout her career. Franklin was still young at the time. 4 min read. [8] In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked Franklin number one on its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time". Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, Faith Hill, Fantasia, the Clark Sisters, Ronald Isley, Angie Stone, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Holliday, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Shirley Caesar,[183] Shirma Rouse,[184] Stevie Wonder, Eric Holder, Gladys Knight, Cedric the Entertainer, Tyler Perry, Smokey Robinson, Yolanda Adams, and Rev. Amazing Grace (1972), a live recording of her performance with a choir at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, is considered one of the great gospel albums of any era. Following an incident in 1984, she cited a fear of flying that prevented her from traveling overseas; she performed only in North America afterwards. [209] In 2018, Franklin was inducted in to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. [116], In 2015, President Barack Obama wrote the following regarding Franklin:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R. & B., rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. [69], In January 1972, she returned to Gospel music in a two-night, live-church recording, with the album Amazing Grace, in which she reinterpreted standards such as Mahalia Jackson's "How I Got Over". [135] She married actor Glynn Turman, on April 11, 1978, at her father's church. Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston, in the early 1970s. was shot in his home during an attempted robbery at his Detroit home. Before that, he graduated as valedictorian from Morehouse College and worked as an assistant pastor for three years. She had two R&B charted singles in 1965 and 1966, with the songs "One Step Ahead" and "Cry Like a Baby", while also reaching the Easy Listening charts with the ballads "You Made Me Love You" and "(No, No) I'm Losing You". Experience an unforgettable night of music and memories honouring the legacy of the global superstar Aretha Franklin. Franklin was married twice. What Happens Now? Bush. [51], Franklin was the mother of four sons. [117], From her time growing up in the home of a prominent African-American preacher to the end of her life, Franklin was immersed and involved in the struggle for civil rights and women's rights. [18][28] When Franklin was 12, her father began managing her; he would take her on the road with him, during his "gospel caravan" tours for her to perform in various churches. wasnt his biological father until 1951). Guided by C. L.'s preaching assignments, the family relocated to Detroit,. Franklin's lawyers contacted Florida authorities and uncovered a coercive scheme in which the singer, Vickie Jones, had been threatened with violence and constrained into impersonating her idol, whom she resembled closely both in voice and looks. confers 3,243 degrees at 309th Commencement", "Aretha Franklin talks new album, says health is 'fine', "Sings the Great Diva Classics Aretha Franklin", "Aretha Franklin Notches Milestone 100th Hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart", "Aretha Franklin Just Brought the Leader of the Free World to Tears", "Aretha Franklin stuns at Kennedy Center Honors", "Obama cries as Aretha Franklin proves why she's the queen of soul", "Watch Aretha Franklin Bring Obama to Tears at Kennedy Center Honors", "Aretha Franklin Dropping Her Fur Coat at 'Kennedy Center Honors' is Ultimate Life Goals! [212][213] After working with the artist for nearly four decades, Clive Davis, said that Aretha "understood the essence of both language and melody and was able to take it to a place very fewif anycould". All Aretha Franklin's family is asking is for a little respect from the makers of "Genius: Aretha," National Geographic's recently released biographical series . Erma sometimes performed background vocals on Arethas songs, but she was also a singer-songwriter in her own right who had several brushes with success. [61] On February 16, Franklin was honored with a day named for her and was greeted by longtime friend Martin Luther King Jr., who gave her the SCLC Drum Beat Award for Musicians two months before his death. The concert included performances by Smokey Robinson, Janelle Mone, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Alessia Cara, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R., SZA, Brandi Carlile, Yolanda Adams and Shirley Caesar,[229][230] and was recorded for television, airing on March 10. [145], Franklin was a Christian and was a registered Democrat. She married C.L. However, according to Rolling Stone, "they weren't as terrible as some claimed, they were pro forma and never reached for new heights". Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records. The next seven years' achievements were less impressive. [110][111] Franklin's final public performance was at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City during Elton John's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation on November 7, 2017. Besides the foregoing, the singer's well-known hits also include "Ain't No Way", "Call Me", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", "Day Dreaming", "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", "Something He Can Feel", "Jump to It", "Freeway of Love", "Who's Zoomin' Who" and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (a duet with George Michael). In 1989, Franklin filmed a music video for a remake of "Think". Franklin's follow-up albums for Atlantic, including Sweet Passion (1977), Almighty Fire (1978) and La Diva (1979), bombed on the charts,[citation needed] and in 1979 Franklin left the company. Her father was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi, while her mother was an accomplished piano player and vocalist. After Franklin finalized her divorced from her first husband, Ted White (who was also her manager), Cecil stopped his work at the church and became her manager. While Franklin was pursuing her singing career and "hanging out with [friends]", her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma took turns raising her children. Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. This caused the song to enter the Billboard gospel charts at number one, giving Franklin the distinction of having had a number one record in every decade since the 1960s. Narrated and directed by the multi-talented Jada Alberts, the concert features outstanding Australian . Her parents separated when she was six, and Franklin remained with her father in Detroit. Franklins father was the man with the million-dollar voice a very popular preacher and singer who was known for organizing the 1963 Walk to Freedom in Detroit with Martin Luther King, Jr. At the time of its release, Franklin who died in 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 was married to her first husband Ted White, who also became her manager. Two years later she gave birth to her second son Edward. She had a particularly close relationship with her father, sisters, and brother. March 22, 2021 9:48 AM PT. She was also part of the extended family that helped care for Arethas children. The singer appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers before releasing the successful albums Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? The youngest of the four siblings was also a talented musician in her own right, even writing Aint No Way, which Franklin would later sing. Aretha's granddaughter, Grace Franklin, posted a TikTok on March 13, showing herself. [155], In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor. [223], After Franklin's death, fans added unofficial tributes to two New York City Subway stations: the Franklin Street station in Manhattan, served by the 1 train, and the Franklin Avenue station in Brooklyn, served by the C and S trains. [92] In February 2006 she performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL, held in her hometown of Detroit.[93]. Franklin's family in Detroit initially consisted of her parents, two sisters, a brother, and a half-brother on her mother's side. She launched a multi-city tour in mid-2014, starting with a performance on June 14 in New York at Radio City Music Hall. However, C.L. [198] Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. by Katherine J. Igoe Aug. 13, 2021 Anthony Barboza/Archive. She asked to hear Pavarotti's rehearsal recording, and after listening, agreed that she could sing it in the tenor range that the orchestra was prepared to play in. Her central influence, Clara Ward of the renowned Ward Singers, was a family friend. [164] Franklin later returned to live performing, including a 2013 Christmas concert at Detroit's MotorCity Casino Hotel. [103][104] Dropping the coat was symbolic according to "Rolling Stone": it "echoed back to those times when gospel queens would toss their furs on top of the coffins of other gospel queens a gesture that honored the dead but castigated death itself". [42] Franklin's first Columbia single, "Today I Sing the Blues",[43] was issued in September 1960 and later reached the top 10 of the Hot Rhythm & Blues Sellers chart. [107][108][109] At the Ravinia Festival on September 3, 2017, she gave her last full concert. Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. [94] On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, and performed "Never Gonna Break My Faith", which had won her the Grammy for best Gospel performance[95] the year before. "Genius: Aretha" has delved deep into the Franklin family's dramatic past, including depictions of alleged domestic violence from the musician's ex-husband Ted White and C.L.'s alleged sexual. [139], Franklin had a long friendship with Willie Wilkerson, a Vietnam War veteran and Detroit firefighter, who also helped in her work and cared for her when ill.[140] In 2012 she announced plans to marry Wilkerson[141][142] but the engagement was quickly called off. [122], Born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Franklin moved to New York City in the 1960s where she lived until relocating to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. [130] Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born in April 1970 and is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham.[131]. [40], She returned to Detroit's Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day 2016 to once again perform the national anthem before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. She also was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012. I've been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. Both stations were originally named after other people. [70] Originally released in June 1972, Amazing Grace sold more than twomillion copies,[71] and is one of best-selling gospel albums of all time. [224][225], During the American Music Awards on October 9, 2018, the show was closed by bringing Gladys Knight, Donnie McClurkin, Ledisi, Cece Winans, and Mary Mary together to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin. [15] After the separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit. "[40], Also in 1980, Franklin gave a command performance at London's Royal Albert Hall in front of Queen Elizabeth. Carolyn worked on a variety of musical projects, and even considered acting before she decided to move back to Detroit after her father was shot. [citation needed] After Jerry Wexler left Atlantic for Warner Bros. Records in 1976, Franklin worked on the soundtrack to the film Sparkle with Curtis Mayfield. [221] She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Case Western Reserve University 2011[222] and Wayne State University in 1990 and an honorary Doctor of Law degree by BethuneCookman University in 1975. In her autobiography, the singer wrote of losing her mother: I cannot describe the pain, nor will I try.. Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn, were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings. He did everything in his power to encourage that ambition. The song's B-side, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", reached the R&B top 40, peaking at number 37. [18] During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. Suspicion was drawn when the fake Franklin charged only a fraction of the expected rate to perform. Like Erma, Carolyn was also a singer who contributed background vocals to Arethas tracks, but didnt achieve the same level of success despite her significant talents. She was made Whitney's honorary aunt (not a godmother as has been occasionally reported) and Whitney often referred to her as "Auntie Ree". Legendary singer Aretha Franklin, often called the Queen of Soul, died on August 16, 2018, at her home in Detroit, Michigan (via Rolling Stone ). [231][232], At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, the ceremony was ended with a memorial tribute to the life and career of Franklin. [39] Her frenetic version was released in April and reached number one on both the R&B and pop charts. With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists.[3]. [165], In February 2017, Franklin announced in an interview with local Detroit television anchor Evrod Cassimy, that 2017 would be her final year touring. The singer's first three wills were written by hand, at his above barely legible, and . [136] Her half-sister, Carol Ellan Kelley (ne Jennings; 19402019), is C. L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old member of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis where C. L. was pastor. Label executive John H. Hammond later said he felt Columbia did not understand Franklin's early gospel background and failed to bring that aspect out further during her period there. After her parents separated, Franklin remained with her father in Detroit. Corrections? In 1998, Franklin returned to the Top 40 with the Lauryn Hill-produced song "A Rose Is Still a Rose"; later, she released an album with the same name. [1] She had often been described as a great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience". Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (ne Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin. [56], In January 1967, Franklin traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record at FAME Studios and recorded the song "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Her enormous discography includes 38 studio albums and 6 live albums. She first became pregnant at the age of 12, and gave birth to her first child, named Clarence after her father, in 1955. In 1960 Franklin transitioned from sacred to secular music. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Aretha Franklin was in the music business for nearly 60 years. [68] After being cleared of wrongdoing, Jones subsequently enjoyed a brief career of her own, during which she was herself the subject of an impersonation. With the biopic Respect now in theaters, fans have become reacquainted with Aretha Franklins family. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. But according to The Washington Post, after just a few years in Detroit, Siggers ended her relationship with Franklin's father and moved back to Buffalo. How did Aretha Franklin start her career in music? Franklin had four children, Clarence Franklin, Edward Franklin, Ted White Jr. (known professionally as Teddy Richards) and Kecalf Cunningham. [40] The 1991 album What You See is What You Sweat flopped on the charts. [136] Franklins father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. Both Erma and Carolyn contributed to Franklins reworking of Respect, and Carolyn wrote Baby, Baby, Baby and Aint Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around), and contributed vocals to Baby I Love You, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, and Day Dreaming. Carolyn was attracted to women, and fans have speculated that some her songs were about LGBTQ+ love but that hasnt been verified. [82] In 1987, she issued her third gospel album, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, which was recorded at her late father's New Bethel church, followed by Through the Storm in 1989. On January 20, 2009, Franklin made international headlines for performing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony with her church hat becoming a popular topic online. But, as her Detroit friends on the Motown label enjoyed hit after hit, Franklin struggled to achieve crossover success. [138] After six months at Henry Ford Hospital while still in a coma, C. L. was moved back to his home with 24-hour nursing care. During that period, Franklin provided vocals to the theme songs of the TV shows A Different World and Together. [73], Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey, which featured production from Quincy Jones. [115] Critic Randy Lewis assessed her skills as a pianist as "magic" and "inspirational". Ritz David. Franklins Gospel Caravan, that Aretha sometimes sang in. Her first husband was Ted White, whom she married in 1961 at the age of 18. In March 1969, Franklin was unanimously voted winner of Acadmie du Jazz's R&B award, Prix Otis Redding, for her albums Lady Soul, Aretha Now, and Aretha in Paris. . It was also understood that our future as women our education and our career would not be compromised because of these early births. She added, Daddy recognized our ambition as a psychological force we had inherited from him. National Geographic's scripted "Genius: Aretha" debuted Sunday, but the family of Aretha Franklin was quick to say they didn't approve of the work . [24] She was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005,[197] and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. On November 18, 2008, she performed "Respect" and "Chain of Fools" at Dancing with the Stars. [167][168] She was under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. These four tracks, with the addition of "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood", were released on side one of the 1956 album, Spirituals. A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen of Soul", "Tyler Perry to Host Aretha Franklin Tribute Special for CBS, Recording Academy", "Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert Lines Up Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys, John Legend", "Aretha Franklin honored with star-studded tribute concert", "TV Review: 'Aretha! She signed with Columbia Records in New York and released her first single, Today I Sing the Blues, in 1960. [81] The next year's Aretha album nearly matched this success with the hit singles "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Jimmy Lee" and "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me", her international number-one duet with George Michael. In 2020, Franklin was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. [117], On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. [96] On September 29, 2014, Franklin performed to a standing ovation, with Cissy Houston as backup, a compilation of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" on the Late Show with David Letterman. But in 1982, with help from singer-songwriter-producer Luther Vandross, she was back on top with a new label, Arista, and a new dance hit, Jump to It, followed by Freeway of Love (1985). The album sold well over a million copies thanks to the hits "Freeway of Love", the title track, and "Another Night". She then returned to the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills to be close to her ailing father and siblings. [163] During a phone interview with the Associated Press in late August 2013, Franklin stated that she had had a "miraculous" recovery from her undisclosed illness but had to cancel shows and appearances until her health was at 100%, estimating she was about "85% healed". However, she struggled with commercial success while at Columbia. The last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015. Franklin, encouraged their musical endeavors. Dr. William Barber II. Her father, C.L. [151] She again lost weight in the early 1990s, before gaining some back. Aretha Franklin Came From A Very Musical Family She had a particularly close relationship with her father, sisters, and brother. Franklin only spent one day recording at FAME, as an altercation broke out between her manager and husband Ted White, studio owner Rick Hall, and a horn player, and sessions were abandoned. [237] The season, starring Cynthia Erivo as Franklin, was aired in March 2021. The album featured her first single to chart the Billboard Hot 100, "Won't Be Long", which also peaked at number 7 on the R&B chart. Franklin's success expanded during the early 1970s, during which she recorded the multi-week R&B number one "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", as well as the top-ten singles "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", and "Day Dreaming". [152] A former chain smoker who struggled with alcoholism, she quit smoking in 1992. Franklin recorded 112 charted singles on the US Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. By marrying Turman, Franklin became stepmother of Turman's three children. Following the surgery, Franklin lost 85 lbs. In 2019 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation "[f]or her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". Jail is hell to be in. [166] However, she scheduled some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on her physician's advice. 3' Soundtrack Is Finally Here, Priyanka Chopra Shares Photos Of Her & Nick Jonas' Daughter Malti's 1st Easter, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. [33] As a young gospel singer, Franklin spent summers on the gospel circuit in Chicago and stayed with Mavis Staples' family. Omissions? [122] She quietly and without fanfare supported Indigenous peoples' struggles worldwide, and numerous movements that supported Native American and First Nation cultural rights. Columbia placed her with a variety of producers who marketed her to both adults (If Ever You Should Leave Me, 1963) and teens (Soulville, 1964). ARETHA FRANKLIN, who died age aged 76 last week, will be laid to rest next week and her funeral service will include performances from many A-list stars. American history wells up when Aretha sings. She had pancreatic cancer. Surrounded by sympathetic musicians playing spontaneous arrangements and devising the background vocals herself, Franklin refined a style associated with Ray Charlesa rousing mixture of gospel and rhythm and bluesand raised it to new heights. [14] At that time, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo with Aretha's half-brother, Vaughn. See an exhibit on Aretha Franklin, and the Janis Joplin's famous psychedelic 1965 Porsche at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. [43][57] The song was released the following month and reached number one on the R&B chart, while also peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Franklin her first top-ten pop single. Raising Aretha and marriage breakdown. [20], Aretha's father's emotionally driven sermons resulted in his being known as the man with the "million-dollar voice". `` Think '' some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on deathbed. Birth to her ailing father and siblings former husband Glynn Turman, on April 11, 1978 at. [ 135 ] she was signed as a pianist as `` magic '' and `` Chain of Fools '' Dancing. Caravan, that Aretha sometimes sang in Carolyn was attracted to women, and civil activist. Father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants 1982 Jump! And directed by the multi-talented Jada Alberts, the concert features outstanding.! Richards ) and Kecalf Cunningham Franklin who died of a heart attack in,. Performing, including a 2013 Christmas concert at Detroit 's MotorCity Casino Hotel named in her honor in.. Have died without a will concert at Detroit 's MotorCity Casino Hotel and Franklin with! Randy Lewis assessed her skills as a pianist as `` magic '' and inspirational... ] Franklins father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants advice. Motorcity Casino Hotel Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Columbia Records husband was Ted White Jr. ( professionally... 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