Aretha Franklin: Long Live the Queen

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Long Live the Queen!

Event after death, The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin still deserves R-E-S-P-E-C-T

By Moise Micel • Photos: Getty Images 18 OASIS/Montage January • February 2019

BBack on August 31st, 2018 on a very sunny day in Detroit outside the Greater Grace Temple church, stood 150 pink Cadillacs of different models to celebrate the passing of Aretha The Queen of Soul Franklin. Owed to her 1985 hit song Freeway of Love, it describes her infinity for pink Cadillacs.

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On March 25th, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Louise Franklin was born in the home of Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, a Baptist minister and circuit preacher originally from Shelby, Mississippi and Barbara Siggers Franklin, an accomplished pianist and vocalist. Besides Aretha, her parents also had her siblings Erma, Carolyn and Cecil. There were also 3 others outside the marriage. Her family moved to Detroit, Michigan then to Buffalo, NY and back to Detroit before she turned 10 years old. In that time period, her parents divorced and unfortunately her mother passed away. She became a musical prodigy with a golden voice that sang gospel as a child while playing the piano (which she learned playing by ear) at the New Bethel Baptist Church. At the age of 18, she changed to gospel when she signed with Columbia Records, a modest success.

After signing with Atlantic Records in 1966, she started to gain the acclaim and commercial success; with a plethora of hits such as R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Chain of Fools, Think, You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman and many more classics. These classics earned her the moniker of The Queen of Soul. Despite never being signed to Motown Records, she was always considered to be family to record label. She grew up and was great friends with Motown legends such as Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson and many others. She has charted on the Billboard with 112 singles, 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 Top 10 pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 No. 1 R&B singles. Becoming the most charted female in history, she also garnered 18 Grammys, including the very first 8 awards given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance from the years of 1968 through 1975. Being the best musical artist of all time with 75 million records sold worldwide.

With all the awards she earned, her induction into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was in 1987. She was the very woman inducted and that was huge. As well as the National Medal of Arts (1999), Hollywood Walk of Fame (1979), Grammy Legend Award (1991), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1994), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005), UK Music Hall of Fame (2005) and Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2012). She’s also listed in 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by the Rolling Stone. In 2008, the Rolling Stone ranked her as the Greatest Singer of All Time. She also received numerous of honorary degrees & doctorates from 11 different colleges.

Despite the many accolades, Aretha was a home body who enjoyed cooking and was a twice married mother to four boys; Clarence, Edward, Ted & Kecalf. She had her eldest two at the young age of 12 and 14 respectively. Children never deterred her from pursuing her legendary music career. She raised her boys to become men and in the process was a global icon who touched and inspired so many with her music. She was also a philanthropist as well as an activist. She was highly immersed in the struggle for civil rights and women rights. While providing money for civil rights groups, at times she even covered their payroll while for free, she performed at rallies, benefits and protest. She was very giving woman. She also critiqued other artists and spoke her mind. The little tiff she had with Patti LaBelle has donned Ms. Franklin the honor of Shade Queen.

Throughout her life, Aretha battled weight and health issues. Especially the last 8 with pancreatic cancer. The cancer finally succumbed to her passing on August 16th, 2018 amongst family and friends. The news of her passing away was met with heart felt messages on all social media platforms from celebrities and fans throughout the whole world. The world paused for a moment to mourn and celebrate the life of Aretha Louise Franklin. On that sunny afternoon at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, Michigan; outside the 150 pink Cadillacs stood outside looking good under sun which ranged from vintage models to the latest ones. Inside the church the home going service which was televised, live streamed and recorded on a plethora of networks and platforms. The service was over 8 hours long full with dignitaries, musicians, family members and throngs of fans in attendance. Pastor William J. Barber led the service as songstresses such as Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adam, The Clark Sisters, Jennifer Holliday and many more serenaded the crowd with a rendition of all of Aretha’s classic hit songs. Despite this homegoing service being one of the longest and extravagant ones in recent memory, The Queen of Soul was well honored. She has gracefully left us on this earth with some memories and an array of GREAT groovy musical hits. Songs with everlasting love, honor, dignity and R-E-S-P-E-C-T.