Farewell to the Queen of Soul
THE vocal genius and cultural legacy of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, will be celebrated with an all-star tribute concert in New York in November.
Franklin died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 at her Detroit home yesterday, surrounded by her loved ones.
Her long-time friend and record producer Clive Davis is expected to spearhead the tribute at Madison Square Garden slated for November 14 which will highlight the profound influence the world’s greatest singer exerted on contemporary culture.
His wishlist for artists would have to include her friends Elton John, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle and Stevie Wonder as well as many younger artists Franklin considered worthy of her praise and collaboration including Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande and Adele.
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who befriended her and often hosted her at the White House, led the world in mourning the artist who commanded R.E.S.P.E.C.T. not only for her talent but courage as a civil rights campaigner, astute producer and accomplished piano player.
Mr Obama was brought to tears when she performed (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman at the Kennedy Centre Honours in 2015.
“Aretha helped define the American experience,” Mr Obama said.
“In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade – our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace.”
Australian entertainer Hugh Jackman recalled performing Somewhere with Franklin at the 2005 Tony Awards.
“It was an out of body experience for me. One of greatest singers of all time. You will be missed by all,” Jackman wrote yesterday.
Franklin began her life in music singing gospel at her minister father’s church as a child, her otherworldly gift uplifting the congregation.
She was signed to a recording deal at 18 but didn’t achieve success until she switched labels to Atlantic Records in 1967 and released I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).
Franklin was a musical fixture, whether singing soul, gospel, pop or jazz, and a constant presence on the charts and airwaves with her signature songs including Think, Chain Of Fools, I Say A Little Prayer and Spanish Harlem.
She was introduced to a new generation of fans in the 1980s, performing hit duets with The Eurythmics and George Michael.
While wildly successful and respected as an artist, away from the spotlight the Queen of Soul experienced enough drama in her life to sing the blues.
She fell pregnant with her first son Clarence when she was only 12 and her second, Edward, at 14, going on to have two more sons Ted and Kecalf.
The fiercely private artist flatly refused to discuss her personal life and was furious when biographies referenced her suffering domestic violence during her first marriage.
Her family is expected to announce plans for Franklin’s funeral early next week.
IN HER VOICE, WE COULD FEEL OUR HISTORY, ALL OF IT AND IN EVERY SHADE – OUR POWER AND OUR PAIN, OUR DARKNESS AND OUR LIGHT, OUR QUEST FOR REDEMPTION AND OUR HARD-WON RESPECT BARACK OBAMA