Aretha Franklin, ‘Queen of Soul,’ 76
DETROIT: Aretha Franklin, the music icon, legendary singer and “Queen of Soul” loved by millions whose historymaking career spanned six decades, died at her Detroit home on Thursday. She was 76.
She influenced generations of female singers with unforgettable hits including “Respect” (1967), “Natural Woman” (1968) and “I Say a Little Prayer” (1968).
The multiple Grammy winner cemented her place in US music history with a
powerful, bell-clear voice that stretched over four octaves.
In a career crossing generations, her hits spanned from soul and R&B, to gospel and pop.
After a long battle with pancreatic cancer, Franklin passed away at 9:50 am (1350 GMT) surrounded by her family and loved ones, her family said in a statement issued by her publicist.
“It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Aretha Louise Franklin, the
“We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren,
The family thanked fans around the world for their earlier this week that she was gravely ill.
Fans mourning the death of Franklin left balloons, Church, where as a child the star kicked off her storied career singing gospel.
Reverend Charles Turner described her passing as that the grief felt by mourners was akin to the loss of a parent.
And in California similar tributes quickly amassed on Franklin’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 18-time Grammy award winner inspired mul- diva Mariah Carey and the late Whitney Houston, to Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and the late Amy Winehouse.
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine put her at the top of its list of the 100 greatest singers of all time, male or female.
In the same year, she suffered serious health problems, but continued to perform until late last year, singing last in November 2017 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York. That same year, Detroit named a street after her.
In 2005, Franklin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest award for an American civilian — by then-president George W. Bush.
name, in true diva style — rose from singing gospel in her father’s church to regularly topping rhythm and blues and pop charts in the 1960s and 1970s.
She performed at the inaugurations of presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, singing “My Country African-American head of state.
In a heartfelt tribute from the Obamas, the former president and his wife Michelle praised Franklin’s
US President Donald Trump called the singer “ter her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many