Aretha Franklin, the undisputed 害羞草研究所淨ueen of Soul害羞草研究所� who sang with matchless style on such classics as 害羞草研究所淭hink,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所滻 Say a Little Prayer害羞草研究所� and her signature song, 害羞草研究所淩espect,害羞草研究所� and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, has died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer.
Publicist Gwendolyn Quinn told The Associated Press through a family statement that Franklin died Thursday at 9:50 a.m. at her home in Detroit.
The family added: 害羞草研究所淚n one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds.害羞草研究所�
The statement continued:
害羞草研究所淲e have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.害羞草研究所�
Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
Franklin, who had battled undisclosed health issues in recent years, had in 2017 announced her retirement from touring.
A professional singer and accomplished pianist by her late teens, a superstar by her mid-20s, Franklin had long ago settled any arguments over who was the greatest popular vocalist of her time. Her gifts, natural and acquired, were a multi-octave mezzo-soprano, gospel passion and training worthy of a preacher害羞草研究所檚 daughter, taste sophisticated and eccentric, and the courage to channel private pain into liberating song.
She recorded hundreds of tracks and had dozens of hits over the span of a half century, including 20 that reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. But her reputation was defined by an extraordinary run of top 10 smashes in the late 1960s, from the morning-after bliss of 害羞草研究所�(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,害羞草研究所� to the wised-up 害羞草研究所淐hain of Fools害羞草研究所� to her unstoppable call for 害羞草研究所淩espect.害羞草研究所�
Her records sold millions of copies and the music industry couldn害羞草研究所檛 honour her enough. Franklin won 18 Grammy awards. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Clive Davis, the music mogul who brought her to Arista Records and helped revive her career in the 1980s, said he was 害羞草研究所渄evastated害羞草研究所� by her death.
害羞草研究所淪he was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world,害羞草研究所� he said in a statement. 害羞草研究所淎part from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness.害羞草研究所�
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Smokey Robinson, who grew up with her in Detroit, said: 害羞草研究所淭his morning my longest friend in this world went home to be with our father. I will miss her so much but I know she害羞草研究所檚 at peace.害羞草研究所�
Fellow singers bowed to her eminence and political and civic leaders treated her as a peer. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a longtime friend, and she sang at the dedication of King害羞草研究所檚 memorial, in 2011. She performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and at the funeral for civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. Clinton gave Franklin the National Medal of Arts. President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation害羞草研究所檚 highest civilian honour, in 2005.
Bill and Hillary Clinton issued a statement mourning the loss of their friend and 害羞草研究所渙ne of America害羞草研究所檚 greatest treasures.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淔or more than 50 years, she stirred our souls. She was elegant, graceful, and utterly uncompromising in her artistry. Aretha害羞草研究所檚 first music school was the church and her performances were powered by what she learned there. I害羞草研究所檒l always be grateful for her kindness and support, including her performances at both my inaugural celebrations, and for the chance to be there for what sadly turned out to be her final performance last November at a benefit supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS.害羞草研究所�
Franklin害羞草研究所檚 best-known appearance with a president was in January 2009, when she sang 害羞草研究所淢y Country 害羞草研究所榯is of Thee害羞草研究所� at President Barack Obama害羞草研究所檚 inauguration. She wore a grey felt hat with a huge, Swarovski rhinestone-bordered bow that became an internet sensation and even had its own website. In 2015, she brought Obama and others to tears with a triumphant performance of 害羞草研究所淣atural Woman害羞草研究所� at a Kennedy Center tribute to the song害羞草研究所檚 co-writer, Carole King.
Franklin endured the exhausting grind of celebrity and personal troubles dating back to childhood. She was married from 1961 to 1969 to her manager, Ted White, and their battles are widely believed to have inspired her performances on several songs, including 害羞草研究所�(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You害羞草研究所檝e Been Gone,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所漈hink害羞草研究所� and her heartbreaking ballad of despair, 害羞草研究所淎in害羞草研究所檛 No Way.害羞草研究所� The mother of two sons by age 16 (she later had two more), she was often in turmoil as she struggled with her weight, family problems and financial predicaments. Her best known producer, Jerry Wexler, nicknamed her 害羞草研究所淥ur Lady of Mysterious Sorrows.害羞草研究所�
Franklin married actor Glynn Turman in 1978 in Los Angeles but returned to her hometown of Detroit the following year after her father was shot by burglars and left semi-comatose until his death in 1984. She and Turman divorced that year.
Despite growing up in Detroit, and having Robinson as a childhood friend, Franklin never recorded for Motown Records; stints with Columbia and Arista were sandwiched around her prime years with Atlantic Records. But it was at Detroit害羞草研究所檚 New Bethel Baptist Church, where her father was pastor, that Franklin learned the gospel fundamentals that would make her a soul institution.
Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee. The Rev. C.L. Franklin soon moved his family to Buffalo, New York, then to Detroit, where the Franklins settled after the marriage of Aretha害羞草研究所檚 parents collapsed and her mother (and reputed sound-alike) Barbara returned to Buffalo.
C.L. Franklin was among the most prominent Baptist ministers of his time. He recorded dozens of albums of sermons and music and knew such gospel stars as Marion Williams and Clara Ward, who mentored Aretha and her sisters Carolyn and Erma. (Both sisters sang on Aretha害羞草研究所檚 records, and Carolyn also wrote 害羞草研究所淎in害羞草研究所檛 No Way害羞草研究所� and other songs for Aretha). Music was the family business and performers from Sam Cooke to Lou Rawls were guests at the Franklin house. In the living room, the shy young Aretha awed friends with her playing on the grand piano.
Franklin occasionally performed at New Bethel Baptist throughout her career; her 1987 gospel album 害羞草研究所淥ne Lord One Faith One Baptism害羞草研究所� was recorded live at the church.
Her most acclaimed gospel recording came in 1972 with the Grammy-winning album 害羞草研究所淎mazing Grace,害羞草研究所� which was recorded live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in South Central Los Angeles and featured gospel legend James Cleveland, along with her own father (Mick Jagger was one of the celebrities in the audience). It became one of of the bestselling gospel albums ever.
The piano she began learning at age 8 became a jazzy component of much of her work, including arranging as well as songwriting. 害羞草研究所淚f I害羞草研究所檓 writing and I害羞草研究所檓 producing and singing, too, you get more of me that way, rather than having four or five different people working on one song,害羞草研究所� Franklin told The Detroit News in 2003.
Franklin was in her early teens when she began touring with her father, and she released a gospel album in 1956 through J-V-B Records. Four years later, she signed with Columbia Records producer John Hammond, who called Franklin the most exciting singer he had heard since a vocalist he promoted decades earlier, Billie Holiday. Franklin knew Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. and considered joining his label, but decided it was just a local company at the time.
Franklin recorded several albums for Columbia Records over the next six years. She had a handful of minor hits, including 害羞草研究所淩ock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淩unnin害羞草研究所� Out of Fools,害羞草研究所� but never quite caught on as the label tried to fit into her a variety of styles, from jazz and show songs to such pop numbers as 害羞草研究所淢ockingbird.害羞草研究所� Franklin jumped to Atlantic Records when her contract ran out, in 1966.
害羞草研究所淏ut the years at Columbia also taught her several important things,害羞草研究所� critic Russell Gersten later wrote. 害羞草研究所淪he worked hard at controlling and modulating her phrasing, giving her a discipline that most other soul singers lacked. She also developed a versatility with mainstream music that gave her later albums a breadth that was lacking on Motown LPs from the same period.
害羞草研究所淢ost important, she learned what she didn害羞草研究所檛 like: to do what she was told to do.害羞草研究所�
At Atlantic, Wexler teamed her with veteran R&B musicians from Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, and the result was a tougher, soulful sound, with call-and-response vocals and Franklin害羞草研究所檚 gospel-style piano, which anchored 害羞草研究所淚 Say a Little Prayer,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所漀atural Woman害羞草研究所� and others.
Of Franklin害羞草研究所檚 dozens of hits, none was linked more firmly to her than the funky, horn-led march 害羞草研究所淩espect害羞草研究所� and its spelled out demand for 害羞草研究所淩-E-S-P-E-C-T.害羞草研究所�
Writing in Rolling Stone magazine in 2004, Wexler said: 害羞草研究所淚t was an appeal for dignity combined with a blatant lubricity. There are songs that are a call to action. There are love songs. There are sex songs. But it害羞草研究所檚 hard to think of another song where all those elements are combined.害羞草研究所�
Franklin had decided she wanted to 害羞草研究所渆mbellish害羞草研究所� the R&B song written by Otis Redding, whose version had been a modest hit in 1965, Wexler said.
害羞草研究所淲hen she walked into the studio, it was already worked out in her head,害羞草研究所� the producer wrote. 害羞草研究所淥tis came up to my office right before 害羞草研究所楻espect害羞草研究所� was released, and I played him the tape. He said, 害羞草研究所楽he done took my song.害羞草研究所� He said it benignly and ruefully. He knew the identity of the song was slipping away from him to her.害羞草研究所�
In a 2004 interview with the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times, Franklin was asked whether she sensed in the 害羞草研究所�60s that she was helping change popular music.
害羞草研究所淪omewhat, certainly with 害羞草研究所楻espect,害羞草研究所� that was a battle cry for freedom and many people of many ethnicities took pride in that word,害羞草研究所� she answered. 害羞草研究所淚t was meaningful to all of us.害羞草研究所�
In 1968, Franklin was pictured on the cover of Time magazine and had more than 10 Top 20 hits in 1967 and 1968. At a time of rebellion and division, Franklin害羞草研究所檚 records were a musical union of the church and the secular, man and woman, black and white, North and South, East and West. They were produced and engineered by New Yorkers Wexler and Tom Dowd, arranged by Turkish-born Arif Mardin and backed by an interracial assembly of top session musicians based mostly in Alabama.
Her popularity faded during the 1970s despite such hits as the funky 害羞草研究所淩ock Steady害羞草研究所� and such acclaimed albums as the intimate 害羞草研究所淪pirit in the Dark.害羞草研究所� But her career was revived in 1980 with a cameo appearance in the smash movie 害羞草研究所淭he Blues Brothers害羞草研究所� and her switch to Arista Records. Franklin collaborated with such pop and soul artists as Luther Vandross, Elton John, Whitney Houston and George Michael, with whom she recorded a No. 1 single, 害羞草研究所淚 Knew You Were Waiting (for Me).害羞草研究所� Her 1985 album 害羞草研究所淲ho害羞草研究所檚 Zoomin害羞草研究所� Who害羞草研究所� received some of her best reviews and included such hits as the title track and 害羞草研究所淔reeway of Love.害羞草研究所�
Critics consistently praised Franklin害羞草研究所檚 singing but sometimes questioned her material; she covered songs by Stephen Sondheim, Bread, the Doobie Brothers. For Aretha, anything she performed was 害羞草研究所渟oul.害羞草研究所�
From her earliest recording sessions at Columbia, when she asked to sing 害羞草研究所淥ver the Rainbow,害羞草研究所� she defied category. The 1998 Grammys gave her a chance to demonstrate her range. Franklin performed 害羞草研究所淩espect,害羞草研究所� then, with only a few minutes害羞草研究所� notice, filled in for an ailing Luciano Pavarotti and drew rave reviews for her rendition of 害羞草研究所淣essun Dorma,害羞草研究所� a stirring aria for tenors from Puccini害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淭urandot.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sure many people were surprised, but I害羞草研究所檓 not there to prove anything,害羞草研究所� Franklin told The Associated Press. 害羞草研究所淣ot necessary.害羞草研究所�
Fame never eclipsed Franklin害羞草研究所檚 charitable works, or her loyalty to Detroit.
Franklin sang the national anthem at Super Bowl in her hometown in 2006, after grousing that Detroit害羞草研究所檚 rich musical legacy was being snubbed when the Rolling Stones were chosen as halftime performers.
害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 think there was enough (Detroit representation) by any means,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淎nd it was my feeling, 害羞草研究所楬ow dare you come to Detroit, a city of legends 害羞草研究所� musical legends, plural 害羞草研究所� and not ask one or two of them to participate?害羞草研究所� That害羞草研究所檚 not the way it should be.害羞草研究所�
Franklin did most of her extensive touring by bus after Redding害羞草研究所檚 death in a 1967 plane crash, and a rough flight to Detroit in 1982 left her with a fear of flying that anti-anxiety tapes and classes couldn害羞草研究所檛 help. She told Time in 1998 that the custom bus was a comfortable alternative: 害羞草研究所淵ou can pull over, go to Red Lobster. You can害羞草研究所檛 pull over at 35,000 feet.害羞草研究所�
She only released a few albums over the past two decades, including 害羞草研究所淎 Rose is Still a Rose,害羞草研究所� which featured songs by Sean 害羞草研究所淒iddy害羞草研究所� Combs, Lauryn Hill and other contemporary artists, and 害羞草研究所淪o Damn Happy,害羞草研究所� for which Franklin wrote the gratified title ballad. Franklin害羞草研究所檚 autobiography, 害羞草研究所淎retha: From These Roots,害羞草研究所� came out in 1999, when she was in her 50s. But she always made it clear that her story would continue.
害羞草研究所淢usic is my thing, it害羞草研究所檚 who I am. I害羞草研究所檓 in it for the long run,害羞草研究所� she told The Associated Press in 2008. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be around, singing, 害羞草研究所榃hat you want, baby I got it.害羞草研究所� Having fun all the way.害羞草研究所�
Mesfin Fekadu And Hillel Italie, The Associated Press
