<back - ARETHA FRANKLIN - Born Aretha Louise Franklin, March 25 1942, Memphis, TN. Aretha Franklin's roots in Gospel ran deep. While growing up in the 1950s she sang at the Detroit church of her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin with her sisters Carolyn and Erma,  making her first recordings as a Gospel artist at the age of 14 for JVB and Checker labels. Between 1956 and 1960, Aretha's recordings purely concentrated on the Gospel side of her music and singing. Aretha auditioned for John Hammond Sr., who signed her to Columbia promptly. Aretha would record for Columbia constantly throughout the first half of the '60s, with the occasional R&B hit.

Her work at Columbia was tamer with emphasis on developing her as an Pop-type singer, not an R'nB/Soul singer. After 12 albums at Columbia, Aretha moved to Atlantic Records in 1966, and released the smash hit I Never Loved A Man. The Atlantic period set the foundations of the career that would see Aretha becoming the undisputable 'Queen Of Soul'. Respect, Baby I Love You, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Chain Of Fools and Since You've Been Gone were fine examples of her Atlantic recording years in the late '60s. At this time her relationship with husband and manager started to wane, however, she still released R&B classics such as Think.  She followed with a cover version of David/Bacharach's 'I Say A Little Prayer'. She had a successful run in 1970 with Call Me, Spirit In The Dark, Don't Play That Song and Aretha Live At Fillmore West (1971). Switching to Arista Records in 1980, Aretha's self-titled debut yielded an immediate R&B smash, the soulful ballad United Together. In 1981, Arista released Love All the Hurt Away with production by Mardin, with Aretha co-producing two cuts, which garnered her 11th Grammy Award. Next came the collaboration of Aretha and Luther Vandross resulting in a #1 R'nB and Pop smash Jump To It - the summer record of 1982. One year later, the team reunited and the result was another R&B chart-topper with Get It Right. Aretha returned to the studio in 1985 with producer Narada Michael Walden. 'Freeway of Love', released in June 1985, became Aretha's biggest across-the-board smash in 12 years and earned 2 Grammys. Aretha's fifth Arista release, Who's Zoomin' Who?, became another smash hit. This release also contained Aretha's duet with the Eurythmics, 'Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves'. Aretha completed sessions for a new album in time for a summer 1991 release. What You See Is What You Sweat album featured production work by Aretha, David 'Pic' Conley, Michel Legrand, and Narada Michael Walde. Other career highlights have included Aretha's voice being designated a natural resource of the State of Michigan and she became the first woman inducted into the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received the R&B Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992.
MP3- Respect | Chain of Fools |