|
The American singer had been fighting cancer for many years. She has just died in Detroit at the age of 76. She remains a gospel diva, whose commitment has marked American culture. The queen of soul has succumbed to cancer of the pancreas, leaving behind many timeless hits and the memory of an unparalleled icon.
Since 2010, Aretha Franklin has been battling cancer. She died Thursday, August 16, announced his family in a text sent to the press by his agent Gwendolyn Quinn. "In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain that is tearing our hearts apart. We lost the matriarch and the rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins was unlimited, " says the singer's family.
A huge soul career
The queen of soul leaves behind beautiful moments of music. Notably in 2015, at the Kennedy Center Honors, when she gave a tear to Barack Obama by performing (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Throughout his career, Aretha Franklin has collaborated with the greatest and inspired generations of aspiring artists. It's 33 studio albums, 75 million records sold.
With her goes the most majestic and impressive female voice in the history of soul music: "I lost my song, this girl took it from me. It was with the indignant compliments of the author, Otis Redding, that the rise of a young woman who had literally dispossessed the star of soul music was hailed in the spring of 1967.
Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee. She has three sisters and two brothers. She will spend most of her life in Detroit, Michigan. Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, his father, is a Baptist pastor, civil rights activist. The Franklin sisters, follow very early the example of their mother, Barbara, gospel singer.
A12, they are promoted to the rank of first part and make their first record when Aretha is just 14 years old. Aretha was immersed in the world of gospel as his father, pastor, was an outstanding musician. Let us not forget that sermon and song are indissociable. At the Franklin's, the father also receives the big names of gospel like those of the soul, Sam Cooke and Dinah Washington. Aretha Franklin is spotted by John H. Hammond, an experienced producer who will have her sign at Columbia Records in 1956, but Aretha, with no record success, joins Atlantic Records alongside Jerry Wexler. She sings rhythm and blues songs that make her known to win very quickly in the rankings with I Never Loved A Man (The Way That I Love You). From March 1967 to January 1969, she recorded no less than six albums. In May 1967, his recovery of Respect Otis Redding rose to the top of charts. With Baby I Love You and A Natural Woman, she confirms her success!
 The queen of soul is born.
In the early 1970s, the singer returns to gospel sounds with the album Amazing Grace. The same year, Aretha Franklin signs at Arista Records. The collaboration gives rise to pieces of success, resolutely modern as United Together. In the 1980s, she collaborated with many artists. In 1987, Aretha Franklin entered the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame celebrating his 30-year career. This is the year she gets her first number 1 thanks to her collaboration with George Michael for I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).
The artistic collaborations are always more prestigious recording Trough The Storm, singing alongside James Brown, Elton John and Whitney Houston.
Aretha Franklin returns to the front of the stage after a 10-year break in 1998 with A Rose is Still a Rose, her first original album since 1989. Still many collaborations with Lauryn Hill of Fugees, Puffy Combs or Jermaine Dupri.
From the 90s she appears more rarely in public while remaining a symbol of the American soul.
At the discovery of her pain, the diva cancels numerous concerts and limits her public appearances. However, she continues her artistic activity as well as with the album Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics in 2014. She resumes soul songs to success, as Rolling in the Deep Adele. Her ultimate gift to her fans is November 2017 with A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album celebrates the 50th anniversary of its signing at Atlantic Records. She performed her Atlantic hits alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The audience was able to see her one last time on stage in November 2017, during a concert for the Elton John Foundation in New York. She sang the American anthem in the Super Bowl final in 2006. On January 20, 2009, she was chosen to sing at the inauguration ceremony of the new American president, Barack Obama.
A feminist afro american
Aretha Franklin remains an African American icon. The winner of 18 Grammys was also the first woman to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. From her first successes, the queen of soul has a committed tone carrying the voice of revolt. Aretha Franklin had made Respect a universal anthem for equality. Black versus white at the time of the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King, but also that of the woman (regardless of her skin color) to the man.
A commitment to racial equality, civil rights and the fight for gender equality also: on April 9, 1968 she sings at the funeral of Martin Luther King. Throughout her career, she democratizes the RnB without renouncing his identity.
A lively sentimental life
The queen of soul at the huge career was the mother of four sons and had known several love stories. During her successful life, Aretha Franklin has had three great love stories. The first, with Ted White, a friend of his family who became his manager at the beginning of his career. They are married in 1961. At the time, Aretha Franklin is already the mother of two children, Clarence and Edward. Ted White, Aretha Franklin gives birth to his third son: Ted White Jr., in 1964. The "Queen of Soul" found love in the years 2010, the arm of William "Willie" His disappointments are a theme recurrent in the musical universe of the artist. She tended to "trust men who did not deserve it," according to producer Jerry Wexler.
With it goes the most majestic and most impressive (four octaves) female voice in the history of soul music.
|
They will be found at Radio City Hall in New York for this long-awaited music ceremony, which will award numerous awards for video clips of the stars of the song. 
Jennifer Lopez will of course be the one who will open this 34th edition with a show that can already be imagined.
