b. Mar 25 1942

Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer and musician. Franklin began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin's church as a child. In 1960, at age 18, Franklin embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records only achieving modest success. Following her signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as "Respect", " A Natural Woman" and "Think". These hits and more helped her to gain the title The Queen of Soul by the end of the 1960s decade. More 

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Aretha Franklin performs at the world premiere of "Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives" at Radio City Music Hall in 2017.

DETROIT (AP) — A timeline of major events in the life and work of Aretha Franklin:

March 1942 — Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, a prominent Baptist minister with gospel-music connections, would move the family briefly to Buffalo before settling in Detroit when Aretha was 2. She would call the city home for most of her life, and would always be closely associated with its massive musical legacy.

1956 — Franklin releases her first album, a gospel collection called “Songs of Faith,” recorded at her father’s church when she was 14.

February 1961 — Franklin releases her first album for Columbia Records. She would have only minor hits in her six years with the label, which pushed her toward jazz and show tunes and away from her gospel roots.

November 1966 — Franklin signs with Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler encourages her to embrace her classic soul-and-gospel sound. Several classic songs immediately followed, including ”(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools.”

February 1967 — “Respect,” Franklin’s career-defining anthem, is recorded. The song would reach No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart, win Franklin two Grammys and make her an international star. A month later it would be the opening track on her breakthrough album, “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You.”

January 1977 — Franklin sings “God Bless America” at the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.

June 1980 — The hit film comedy “The Blues Brothers” is released, with Franklin appearing and singing “Think” in one of the film’s most popular scenes. It signaled that the 1980s would bring a career revival.

July 1985 — “Freeway of Love” off of Franklin’s “Who’s Zooming Who” album, becomes her first top 10 hit in more than a decade.

January 1987 — Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

April 1987 — “I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me),” a duet with George Michael, reaches No. 1 on the pop chart.

Sun Sign: Aries

Died At Age: 76

Born In: Memphis, Tennessee

Famous As: Singer

Height: 1.65 M

Spouse/Ex-: Glynn Turman (M. 1978–1984), Ted White (M. 1961–1969)

Father: Barbara Siggers

Mother: Clarence LaVaughn Franklin

Siblings: Carl Ellan Kelley, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin, Rev. Cecil Franklin, Vaughn Franklin

Children: Clarence Franklin, Edward Franklin, Kecalf Cunningham, Ted White Jr.

Religion: Baptist

Died On: august 16, 2016

Place Of Death: Michigan

City, States, Provinces & Districts: tennessee

Cause Of Death: cancer

Net Worth: $60 Million As Of Apr 19, 2017

The vocal achievements of Aretha Franklin have informed much of modern soul, gospel, R&B, dance music and especially rock. Beyoncé considers Franklin’s voice “one of God’s blessings.” said Mary J Blides, “When it comes to expressing yourself through song, there is no one who can touch her. She is the reason why women want to sing.” Patti Labelle described Franklin simply as “the best singer in the world.”

Franklin’s powerful instrument can be heard across a recording career that spans nearly 60 years. On the Columbia sides of the early Sixties, she laid into standards like then-current stars Sinatra or Nat King Cole, rivaling her backing orchestras for sheer power. Her classic Sixties and Seventies sides soundtracked the Civil Rights Movement, an object lesson in how a singer can embody and define her time. As poet Nikki  giovanni wrote, Franklin “lifted her voice in question and complaint and why not and we’re going to and voiced the needs of a generation.”

Franklin had decided to seek out Vandross after hearing his peerless rendition of “A House Is Not a Home” in 1981. “I was working on [a version of the same song] at home,” she said. “I said, ‘Aha, he beat you to the punch!’ … Coupled with the fact that there was a relatedness and a similarity in stylings, I said, ‘Why not [have him produce]? He obviously knows what he’s doing!'”