The Life of Aretha Louise Franklin - 723 Words

Aretha Louise Franklin also known as the Queen of Soul was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis Tennessee. She is known for being a solo singer, and also a very talented pianist. Soul, RB, Jazz, and Gospel are genres that she sings. Throughout her career she signed with Colombia Records and has released many popular singles that would now be considered classical. Aretha became the first female artist to be introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Up until this day Aretha is still alive living at age seventy two and has won many Grammy awards and considered one of the most honored artist. Aretha was born into a family that attended church, her father who was a Baptist preacher and gospel singer parents. She was the fourth of five children, and lost her mother from a heart attack, four years after her parents had gotten divorced. Aretha was then moved with her dad and siblings to Michigan where they attended a church named, Detroit’s New Baptists. Her father was recognized as a preacher and her talent was starting to peek out when she would sing at her Father’s congregation. She was mostly self-taught herself and was known to be a child prodigy, with a nice voice and a gifted pianist. A few days after Franklin had just turned just fifteen years old, she gave birth to her oldest son, Clerence. Two years later her second child was born, whom she named Edward. The father of Clerence and Edward was never known, because Aretha never revealed the man’s identity. Both of her