Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklinis an American singer–songwriter and musician. Franklin began her career singing gospel at her father, minister C. L. Franklin's church as a child. In 1960, at the age of 18, Franklin embarked on a secular career, recording for Columbia Records but 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...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionSoul Singer
Date of Birth25 March 1942
CityMemphis, TN
CountryUnited States of America
I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is.
...the people at large absolutely gave James Brown respect. He was an original like a Rembrandt or a Picasso
I know people I feel are extremely talented, but I don't know that I've ever heard any geniuses.
Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.
Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It's transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It's uplifting, it's encouraging, it's strengthening.
People really don't have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you. And just don't let that go to your head, whatever it is they give you.
I sing to the realists, people who accept it like it is. I express problems. There are tears when it's sad and smiles when it's happy. It seems simple to me, but for some people, I guess feelin' takes courage.
I still have another couple of duos that I'm working on, ... I really would like to finish that ASAP and get it out.
I don't think I can carry it, but I am absolutely thrilled to be receiving this award, ... does not come to California very often.
I used to have hamburgers coming and going, especially when I was on the road. Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum. I am now opting for salads and just healthier lunches.
Columbia was a wonderful label for me. Wonderful. The records I made there garnered me an audience. I won a number of polls during the years that I was at Columbia. The Downbeat Jazz Poll. Leonard Feather, who was a huge critic back in the day, different polls that he had. The Playboy poll, a number of polls. So the music was great.
with all the other geniuses. I was mesmerized when I heard him live.
Women have broken through the glass ceiling, and they're now more and more in the power seats.
I was in my dad's church, his Baptist church, and I think the first song I ever performed was 'Jesus Be a Fence Around Me.'