Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942, died August 16, 2018) was an American singer who was a pioneer of music, and defined the golden age of soul in the 1960s. Her mother was a gospel singer, and her father was a minister, allowing Aretha to perform gospel programs around the country as a young teenager. At age 18, she began recording secular music. While stunningly taleneted, she intially struggled to reach audiences until her 1967 single “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)” became her first million-seller. Success continued to follow with her albums "Aretha Arrives" (1967) and "Soul '69" (1969), to name a few. She was a highly awarded artist: receiving a Hollywood Star in 1979, being the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, a Kennedy Center Honor in 1994, a National Medal of Arts in 1999, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Aretha was a dedicated activist, using her platform to promote civil and women's rights, often covering payroll for activist groups, and performing at various benefits. Aretha Franklin was a pioneer in music for Black women, an icon in soul music, and had a major impact on social justice. Her legacy has and will continue to impact the world of music and the arts.
In celebration for our Picnic theme this year and Aretha Franklin’s impact on music, the MSO has selected our top 5 Aretha Franklin songs:
Chain of Fools
I say a Little Prayer
Respect
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Think
Listen to our picnic playlist!
Listen to Aretha’s Legacy Live!
Come hear your favorite Aretha Franklin hits this September 9th at the E. & J. Gallo Winery Grounds!
Learn more about Aretha Franklin (Reference):
A&E Networks Television. (2021, September 15). Aretha Franklin. Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/musicians/aretha-franklin
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, July 12). Aretha Franklin. Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin
Peterson, K. (2023, June 2). 17 best Aretha Franklin songs: The queen of soul’s greatest. Music In Minnesota. https://www.musicinminnesota.com/aretha-franklin-songs/