Gospel Queen: Aretha Franklin
Delaney Sommers & Bryce Szymanski
Early life
- Aretha Franklin was born on March 25.1942 in Memphis Tennessee.
- When she was 6, her mom left her with her father singing in major cities.
- Later on when she was 14, she made her first album called "The Gospel Sound."
- Four years later she moved to New York City.
- Her mother was a gospel singer and a pianist. Her father was a gospel singer.
Time Period
- Took place in the 1960's and the 1980's.
- The civil rights movement is taking place.
- De segregation is taking place. Many people are singing protest music so oppose the separation of blacks and whites.
- The Vietnam war begins to escalate and higher death tolls are taking place.
- The women's rights movement is also taking place which is very important to Aretha.
- The U.S. also put a man on the moon, Neil Armstrong.
Franklin's Influences
- She was greatly influenced by Ray Charles (see picture). Aretha used some of his style in her own.
- She was inspired my her mother and what she did.
- Also, a family friend named Ward Singer inspired her.
- Albertina Walker and Jackie Verdell were both musicians that influenced her.
Their Music
- Aretha sings gospel for the most part, but she also sang blues, and jazz , at a certain point in her career.
- She also sang secular and non secular music at certain points in her career. she sang solo. She was the only one singing.
- Joined many record labels through her career.
- She created a type of music called Mo town.
- One of her most famous song was "Amazing Grace" in 1972.
Interesting Facts
- Aretha Franklin was crowned gospel queen of soul music.
- In 1987, she was the first women to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- On August 4, 1958 she was 21st on the top 100 preforming artists.
- Her popularity quickly fell because of the disco period. After the disco period ended, her popularity rose again because of Luther Vandross.
- Franklin is still alive today.