Franklin didnt handle things perfectly either. [193] The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded her a Grammy Legend Award in 1991, then the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. But who is Turman and where is he now? Aretha married twice, first to Theodore 'Ted' White in 1961 aged 19. Cecil Franklin. [52] By 1964, Franklin began recording more pop music, reaching the top 10 on the R&B chart with the ballad "Runnin' Out of Fools", in early 1965. She was going to make up for that with Glynn, Franklin-Corbett said. 7 She Always Carried Her Purse. When Aretha was two, the family relocated to Buffalo, New York. Aretha Franklin's former love interest and longtime friend, Willie Wilkerson, Jr. has died from the COVID-19 virus at the age of 72. . [15] After the separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit. While Franklin was still a teen when she met White, she was also a mother of two, having given birth to her first son Clarence when she was 12 and Edward when she was 14. She already knew him. adopted (Vaughn didn't learn C.L. What Happens Now? Twelve years later, an unheard performance of "Never Gonna Break My Faith" was released in June 2020 to commemorate Juneteenth with a new video visualizing the American human rights movement. Although she was born in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Franklin spent most of her early years in Detroit, Michigan, with her mother, a gospel singer, and her father, a Baptist minister. When soul icon Aretha Franklin died in 2018, she left behind not only a mammoth catalog of hits, but four children. Aretha Franklin has died after a long battle with cancer. Franklin's movie about her life, titled. At age 18, with her fathers blessing, Franklin switched from sacred to secular music. (1942-2018) Who Was Aretha Franklin? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. [136] Franklins father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. Her father was something of a celebrity in Detroit . But in 1982, with help from singer-songwriter-producer Luther Vandross, she was back on top with a new label, Arista, and a new dance hit, Jump to It, followed by Freeway of Love (1985). In 1967s I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), she sang the words, I don't know why I let you do these things to me / My friends keep telling me that you ain't no good / But they don't know that I'd leave you if I could.. On January 20, 2009, Franklin made international headlines for performing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony with her church hat becoming a popular topic online. The next seven years' achievements were less impressive. I dont think Ree was built for long-term romantic commitment. They were like best friends. In 2020, Franklin was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Their talent takes over their lives and overwhelms everything else, Cecil said. Following the surgery, Franklin lost 85 lbs. Musicians and professionals alike such as Elton John, Keith Richards, Carole King, and Clive Davis were fans of her piano performances. January 30, 1963) with ex-husband, Ted White & Kecalf Cunningham (b. The couple got married in 1961 and had a series of domestic violence incidents before ending up divorced in 1969 (via Essence ). Aretha went from strength to strength despite her circumstances, and it's that resilience that says: Life might break me today and tomorrow, but in the long run, I will not be forever broken, she said. Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston, in the early 1970s. [235][236], On February 10, 2019, it was announced that the subject of the third season of the American National Geographic anthology television series Genius would be Franklin, in the "first-ever, definitive scripted miniseries on the life of the universally acclaimed Queen of Soul". Cunningham served as her manager for a time and the two lived together, but never married. That evening, after the show had already begun, another performer, opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti became too ill to perform the aria "Nessun dorma" as planned. [238], "Aretha" and "Queen of Soul" redirect here. Franklin's final top 40 single was 1998's "A Rose Is Still a Rose". As a songwriter, White wrote or co-wrote songs for Franklin, including "I Wonder (Where You Are Tonight . However, their marriage ended painfully, and she never remarried. Franklin knew Ted was something of a shady character and thought the association would hurt Aretha. Producer Harvey Fuqua had harsher words: Anyone who didnt see Ted White as a straight-up pimp had to be deaf, dumb and blind, he told Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin biographer David Ritz. Franklin recorded 112 charted singles on the US Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. In addition to being an actor, Turman worked as a producer, writer, and director throughout his career. Her most famous songs include Respect (1967), I Say a Little Prayer (1968), Chain of Fools (1967), and Until You Come Back to Me (Thats What Im Gonna Do) (1973). She was praised for her arrangements and interpretations of other artists' hit songs. According to music producer Quincy Jones, while Franklin was still young, Dinah Washington let him know that "Aretha was the 'next one'". Bio: Aretha's First Husband / Manager Saycon Sengbloh Born: October 23, 1977 Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Erma Franklin Born: March 13, 1938 Birthplace: Shelby, Mississippi, USA Death: September 7, 2002, Detroit, Michigan, USA (lung cancer) Bio: Aretha's Older Sister Hailey Kilgore Born: February 16, 1999 Birthplace: Humble, Texas, USA Editor's note: The following article is an op-ed and the views expressed are the author's own. She apparently wanted to pivot from gospel to pop, and White was connected to the world of the former. [56], In January 1967, Franklin traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to record at FAME Studios and recorded the song "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", backed by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. The album featured her first single to chart the Billboard Hot 100, "Won't Be Long", which also peaked at number 7 on the R&B chart. She was drinking so much, we thought she was on the verge of a breakdown, her sister Carolyn said in Ritzs biography. "Respect" became her signature song and was later hailed as a civil rights and feminist anthem. [84] That recording reached number 26 on the Hot 100 and number five on the R&B chart. His name is a combination of his parents initials (Ken E. Cunningham and Aretha L. Franklin). .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Aretha Franklins decades-long career dominance was rooted in songs that unleashed the power women so often had to hide. [12] By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to Detroit, where he took over the pastorship of the New Bethel Baptist Church. Aretha was only 14 when Songs of Faith was recorded. Might be showing my age, but who knew Aretha remarried to actor, Glynn Russell Turman. [231][232], At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, the ceremony was ended with a memorial tribute to the life and career of Franklin. White and Franklin were married just six months after meeting in 1961 when she was only 18. ", "Aretha Franklin inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015", "National Women's Hall of Fame Virtual Induction Series Inaugural Event December 10, 2020", "Sister Ree's Scrapbook, An Aretha Franklin Photo Gallery 13", "Aretha Franklin Biography and Interview", "Inez Andrews, Gospel Singer, Dies at 83", "Aretha Franklin: Lifelong commitment to Detroit", "Pickwick Group Ltd Aretha Franklin Songs Of Faith", "Obituary: Aretha Franklin, 16 August 2018", "Aretha Franklin: Remembering Her Many Ties To Chicago; She Became 'Queen Of Soul' Here", "Quincy Jones on Aretha Franklin: 'You Will Reign as the Queen Forever', "Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, Dead at 76", "Aretha Franklin Was the Defining Voice of the 20th Century", "Show 52 The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. Ted White was Aretha Franklin's first husband and the father of her third son ( she'd had two children as a teenager). "Arethas husband, Ted White, roughed her up in public," the piece says. "If anybody could rejuvenate Franklin's puzzlingly stuck career, it was Davis. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. She requires a lot of attention and she didnt get that from Ted. The end of their marriage was dogged by. [70] Originally released in June 1972, Amazing Grace sold more than twomillion copies,[71] and is one of best-selling gospel albums of all time. By the mid-1960s, Franklin was making $100,000 per year from countless performances in nightclubs and theaters. Aretha had an abusive first marriage to Detroit pimp Ted White ( Image: Michael Ochs. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin, Aretha Franklin - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Aretha Franklin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1987). He had a tiger on his hands when that girl got drunk.. Franklin was married twice, and had four children, before passing away in 2018 at the age of 76. THE Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who was one of the most successful American singers of all time, died in August 2018 aged 76 from pancreatic cancer. According to sources in Respect, Franklin was happy to know she was having a child with Cunningham, but was hesitant at the time to marry again following her difficult split from White. Franklin in 1936, and the couple went on to have four children: Erma (born in 1938), Cecil (born in 1940), Aretha (born in 1942), and Carolyn (born in 1944).Barbara also had a child from a previous relationship, Vaughn, who was born in 1934 and adopted by C.L. Her main commitment is to her music. THE Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who was one of the most successful American singers of all time, died in August 2018 aged 76 from pancreatic cancer. Aretha was married to Ted White in 1961, when the singer was 19. "Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. [206][207] Asteroid 249516 Aretha was named in her honor in 2014. [67] That year, Franklin was the subject of a criminal impersonation scheme. [32], During this time, Franklin would occasionally travel with the Soul Stirrers. [137], Franklin was performing at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 10, 1979, when her father, C. L., was shot twice at point-blank range in his Detroit home. Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (ne Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin. He had been to our house during several parties. [9], Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to Barbara (ne Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin. [51], Franklin was the mother of four sons. "It's a legacy of heartbreak, joy, complexity, and triumph.. The problem has been resolved". Franklin had two more children and was married twice. They did have a son, Kecalf, in March 1970. She signed with Columbia Records in New York and released her first single, Today I Sing the Blues, in 1960. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul', "Jennifer Hudson to play Aretha Franklin in Biopic: 'U Have No Idea How Humbled I Am', "Jennifer Hudson Shines as Aretha Franklin in 'Respect' Trailer (Watch)", "Respect trailer released Aretha Franklin Biopic in UK cinemas 22 Jan 2021", "National Geographic Taps Suzan-Lori Parks as Executive Producer and Showrunner for 'Genius: Aretha Franklin', "Queen of Soul's Father Rev. You try to learn from them, and when you dont it hurts even more. Aretha Franklin was in the music business for nearly 60 years. After just a few weeks of dating, the pair. Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Franklin and White married in. The album of the same name was released after the single. ", "Soul Survivor: The revival and hidden treasure of Aretha Franklin", "That time Aretha Franklin dazzled America on Thanksgiving with national anthem", "Aretha Franklin's classic old records get Royal Philharmonic garnish", "Aretha Franklin gives Detroit something to remember", "Review: Aretha Franklin buoyant at Chicago Theatre", "The Diva Has Returned: Aretha Franklin Reveals Stunning Weight Loss", "Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin dies: A look back at her legacy", "Relive Aretha Franklin at Ravinia for what wound up being her final full concert ever! Franklin and White divorced in 1969, and had one child, Teddy Richards, a successful musician who played guitar in his mother's band. [citation needed] After Jerry Wexler left Atlantic for Warner Bros. Records in 1976, Franklin worked on the soundtrack to the film Sparkle with Curtis Mayfield. [107][108][109] At the Ravinia Festival on September 3, 2017, she gave her last full concert. READ MORE: Aretha Franklin: The Powerful Meaning Behind Her Equality Anthem "Respect". She denied that the ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer, as had been reported. Franklin, over the direction of her career. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The couple met backstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion during a Ben Vereen show. She was a friend of Pavarotti and had sung the aria two nights prior at the annual MusiCares event. How did Aretha Franklin start her career in music? Her sister Carolyn died in April 1988 from breast cancer and her eldest sister Erma died from throat cancer in September 2002. He added having to spend time together was very moving. The concert included performances by Smokey Robinson, Janelle Mone, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Alessia Cara, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R., SZA, Brandi Carlile, Yolanda Adams and Shirley Caesar,[229][230] and was recorded for television, airing on March 10. Grant Rindner is a culture and music journalist in New York. During that period, Franklin provided vocals to the theme songs of the TV shows A Different World and Together. But many close to her have hinted that this period of the Queen of Souls life may have been one where she struggled with getting her own respect. "Our last year in the studio together was the craziest. In Respect, the struggles of Franklins romantic life are portrayed by some around her as being connected to her tremendous artistic gifts, most notably by her brother, Rev. [93] In 2011, under her own label, Aretha's Records, she issued the album Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love. For other uses, see. She then returned to the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills to be close to her ailing father and siblings. C. L. (Clarence La Vaughn), a minister and gospel singer, and gospel singer Barbara (Siggers) Franklin. Tragedy struck when Aretha's father was shot in 1979 and in a coma until his passing in 1984. released Franklin's first single, "Never Grow Old", backed with "You Grow Closer". [73], Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey, which featured production from Quincy Jones. [30] In 1956, J.V.B. [200], In 2010 Franklin was ranked first on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time"[7] and ninth on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". This caused the song to enter the Billboard gospel charts at number one, giving Franklin the distinction of having had a number one record in every decade since the 1960s. Little is known about Edward Jordan Sr., and Franklin rarely . [65] She appeared on the cover of Time magazine in June.[66]. [163] During a phone interview with the Associated Press in late August 2013, Franklin stated that she had had a "miraculous" recovery from her undisclosed illness but had to cancel shows and appearances until her health was at 100%, estimating she was about "85% healed". Franklin continued to record acclaimed albums such as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), and Sparkle (1976), before experiencing problems with the record company. Type. They called each other sweetie. When Rolling Stone listed the "Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums" in 2002 and again 2012, it listed Franklin's 1967, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, number one. [175][176] Numerous celebrities in the entertainment industry and politicians paid tribute to Franklin, including former U.S. President Barack Obama who said she "helped define the American experience". There were also headlining-grabbing incidents during the period, including when Franklin received a reckless driving charge in Detroit for running two cars off a road in 1968, as well as when she was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly trying to hit two police officers after a traffic infringement in Michigan. She eventually settled in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Encino, where she lived until 1982. Franklin and White, who was also her manager, married in 1961 when she was just 19 years old; but after seven years of marriage, they separated in 1968. Franklin] had a 1961 Continental, you know, with the suicide doors. On November 18, 2008, she performed "Respect" and "Chain of Fools" at Dancing with the Stars. She released a gospel album, The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, in 1956, at age 14. [35], Franklin and her father traveled to California, where she met singer Sam Cooke. Doris Ogburn, whom he married last year, his three . Over one billion people worldwide saw the performance, and she received an immediate standing ovation. The show's producers, desperate to fill the time slot, approached Franklin with their dilemma. By the late 1970s disco cramped Franklins style and eroded her popularity. [233], On January 29, 2018, Gary Graff confirmed that Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic. They married six months after meeting While Franklin was still a teen when she met White, she was also a mother of two, having given birth to her first son Clarence when she was 12 and Edward. Following an incident in 1984, she cited a fear of flying that prevented her from traveling overseas; she performed only in North America afterwards. In my fifth or sixth month, I dropped out of school. From that first session, Today I Sing the Blues (1960) remains a classic. Franklin was married to Glynn Turman from 1978 to 1984. [94] On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, and performed "Never Gonna Break My Faith", which had won her the Grammy for best Gospel performance[95] the year before. Now at 49, Wayans says as he looks toward the second half of his life he thinks, "Yeah, I probably got one in me. [76] "Davis was beguiling and had the golden touch", according to Rolling Stone. Suspicion was drawn when the fake Franklin charged only a fraction of the expected rate to perform. With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists.[3]. [180] The August 31 Homegoing Service held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, included multiple tributes by celebrities, politicians, friends and family members and was streamed by some news agencies[181] such as Fox News, CNN, The Word Network, BET and MSNBC. [115] Critic Randy Lewis assessed her skills as a pianist as "magic" and "inspirational". Arethas brother said their father Reverend C.L. Updates? In 2008, Franklin issued the holiday album This Christmas, Aretha on DMI Records. Franklin's lawyers contacted Florida authorities and uncovered a coercive scheme in which the singer, Vickie Jones, had been threatened with violence and constrained into impersonating her idol, whom she resembled closely both in voice and looks. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. She provided money for civil rights groups, at times covering payroll, and performed at benefits and protests. [81] The next year's Aretha album nearly matched this success with the hit singles "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Jimmy Lee" and "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me", her international number-one duet with George Michael. The Respect singer was not married at the time of her passing, but she was in a serious relationship with her longtime partner,. After her fairy tale wedding and her enormous effort to paint a perfect picture in all the magazines, the end of this relationship was especially painful.. I've been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. Franklin achieved a gold recordfor the first time in seven yearswith the 1982 album Jump to It. Aretha needed a man who could point her in a positive direction.. Franklin and Turman, who had no children together, separated in 1982 and divorced in 1984. Aretha [] The post 25 years of 'A Rose Is Still a Rose,' Aretha Franklin's last grand statement and Lauryn Hill's first on her own appeared first on TheGrio. This self-taught musician was married to Ted White first, at the age of 18 in 1961. White, for his part, didnt exactly have a clean record, most notably with police looking for him after he allegedly shot an associate in the groin at Franklins home. Aretha is the kind of girl, youve got to love her hard, pianist Teddy Harris said. The follow-up, 1981's Love All the Hurt Away, included her famed duet of the title track with George Benson, while the album also included her Grammy-winning cover of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'". Also How many times did Aretha Franklin marry? Her family always had her back, with Franklin saying her dad was not judgmental, narrow or scolding about her youthful pregnancies. [47] Also during that period, she appeared on rock-and-roll shows, such as Hollywood a Go-Go and Shindig! For the next half-dozen years, she became a hit maker of unprecedented proportions; she was Lady Soul.. [74] On November 7, 1979, she guested The Mike Douglas Show with her yellow costume from her La Diva album, and sang "Ladies Only", "What If I Should Ever Need You" and "Yesterday" by the Beatles. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Just one.". Her parents separated, and Aretha lived with . In 1960 she moved to New York City to pursue a career in secular music. Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson and former husband Glynn Turman visited her on her deathbed. [104] On June 8, 2017, the City of Detroit honored Franklin's legacy by renaming a portion of Madison Street, between Brush and Witherell Streets, Aretha Franklin Way. A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen of Soul", "Tyler Perry to Host Aretha Franklin Tribute Special for CBS, Recording Academy", "Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert Lines Up Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys, John Legend", "Aretha Franklin honored with star-studded tribute concert", "TV Review: 'Aretha! However, Franklin's family denounced the series, claiming to be uninvolved with the production process, despite the production team stating that the series had been endorsed by the Franklin estate. In case you never noticed, the singer always had her . We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Aretha Franklin married for the first time when she was only 19 years old with Ted White. Franklins mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. [198] Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. [34] [47] In 1962, Columbia issued two more albums, The Electrifying Aretha Franklin and The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin,[48][49] the latter of which reached number 69 on the Billboard chart. They were engaged in March of 1978. Aretha had married actor Glynn Turman ("Peyton Place," "Cooley High") in 1978 but, according to ABC7 News, "the difficulty of maintaining a long-distance relationship" with Franklin in. Aretha moved back to Detroit in late 1982 to assist with the care of her father, who died at Detroit's New Light Nursing Home on July 27, 1984. During the phone conversation with MSNBC, Turman reflected on Aretha's life. [43], In November 1966, Franklin's Columbia recording contract expired; at that time, she owed the company money because record sales had not met expectations. [50], In the 1960s, during a performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, WVON radio personality Pervis Spann announced that Franklin should be crowned "the Queen of Soul". [97] In doing so, she became the first woman to have 100 songs on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with the success of her cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep", which debuted at number 47 on the chart. Following Franklin's divorce from Ted White, her brother Cecil became her manager and maintained that position until his death from lung cancer on December 26, 1989. "Respect" was Otis Redding's song but Aretha modified it with a "supercharged interlude featuring the emphatic spelling-out of the song's title". A small boy was so touched by her performance that he came onto the stage and embraced her while Franklin was still singing. [177] Civil rights activist and minister Al Sharpton called her a "civil rights and humanitarian icon". The scene cuts there, but in a . Franklin rarely talked about her family and personal life, and for decades, Clarence Franklin's father has been . "One day in 1961, Aretha called me. [43][58] Upon hearing her version, Otis Redding said admiringly: "That little girl done took my song away from me. As a child, Franklin was noticed for her gospel singing at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. Franklin continued having R&B success with songs such as "Until You Come Back to Me" and "I'm in Love", but by 1975 her albums and songs were no longer top sellers. Before the separation, White also managed Franklin's. [226][227], A tribute concert, "Aretha! At the age of 18, she was signed as a recording artist for Columbia Records. Aretha Franklin was arguably the greatest singer to walk a turn on . was bitterly opposed to the whole deal, wrote music journalist Mikal Gilmore in a sprawling 2018 obituary for Rolling Stone. Franklin maintained a residence there until her death. But that supportive nature did not carry over when Franklin and White grew closer. At the time of its release, Franklin who died in 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 was married to her first husband Ted White, who also became her manager. Franklin separated from White in 1968 and after she was married to actor Glynn Turman in 1978. C.L. [23][24] Ward was romantically involved with Aretha's father from around 1949 to Ward's death in 1973, though Aretha "preferred to view them strictly as friends". After her parents separated, Franklin remained with her father in Detroit. She was a genius songwriter and singer but could never escape her sibling's shadow - and died at just 43. [116], In 2015, President Barack Obama wrote the following regarding Franklin:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R. & B., rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. Later . They had a special relationship.". Aretha Franklin married an abusive pimp. Her marriage to Glynn was billed as the perfect Hollywood relationship. Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records. [38] Also important was James Cleveland, known as the King of Gospel music, "who helped to focus her early career as a gospel singer"; Cleveland had been recruited by her father as a pianist for the Southern California Community Choir. A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul", was organized by CBS and the Recording Academy[228] on January 13, 2019, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. 1. [178], A memorial service was held at New Bethel Baptist Church on August 19.