Aretha Franklin, onstage in Chicago in 1992. She sold more than 75 million records during her life, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Aretha Franklin, pictured in 1968, died Thursday. Known as the “Queen of Soul,” she recorded 17 Top 10 singles.
The singer poses with her Grammy Award for best female R&B vocal performance at the 1972 awards ceremony.
Franklin arrives for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2009.
Franklin onstage at a gala performance on April 19, 2017, in New York City to celebrate the world premiere of Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives, a documentary film about Davis.
Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” died Thursday in her home city of Detroit after battling pancreatic cancer. Her death was confirmed by her publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn. She was 76.
Franklin sold more than 75 million records during her life, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. She took soul to a new level and inspired generations of singers who came after her.
No one’s life can be condensed to one word — but Aretha Franklin came close when she sang one word: “respect.”
“Respect” was written by the great Otis Redding. In his version, a man is pleading, offering his woman anything she wants in exchange for her respect. He sang: “Hey little girl, you’re sweeter than honey / And I’m about to give you all of my money / But all I want you to do / Is just give it, give it / Respect when I come home …”
Aretha changed those lyrics to demand parity. “Oooh, your kisses,” she sang, “Sweeter than honey / And guess what? / So is my money …” In her hands, “Respect” became an empowering song — for black women and for all women. It was a No. 1 hit in 1967, and it became her signature song.
Franklin was 25 years old when “Respect” was released. But she had been singing since she was a small child in her father’s New Bethel Baptist Church.
RIP Mike Brown. His momma said she didn’t want anymore pics of him laying dead on the street so she shared pics of him as she knew him. This is one…
And I swear if it’s the last thing I do on this bloody website we are gunna make sure this doesn’t get forgotten. If we can’t get justice we’ll get change. The event in ferguson show that things have to fucking change
so sad to hear about the passing of Koko the gorilla. we saw ourselves in her. she was curious, wise and loving. she was amazing. she gave us a reason to be better than we are. she was a reason to be kind. a reason to protect Mother Earth and all the amazing things this world has to teach us. thank you, Koko.
Emma's Blog 