R.I.P. Aretha Franklin

An appreciation of her life

This morning I learned of the death of one of the truly great singers that I’ve had the privilege of listening to, Aretha Franklin. She was known as the “Queen of Soul.” While Aretha performed in a class by herself, she lived at a time when there was a watershed of great musicians. When we look at the times when she lived, I believe there was a reason why so many outstanding artists performed during those years.

Aretha Franklin’s father was C.L. Franklin who was a preacher in Detroit Michigan. During those years, thousands of Black people came to Detroit to work in the auto factories. The rank and file of the United Auto Workers Union organized to improve the standard of living of autoworkers in the city. The union also made headway in combating the institutional discrimination of those years.

With contributions from autoworkers and others, C.L. Franklin became one of the most important fundraisers for the civil rights movement. It was in this environment that Aretha Franklin first performed Gospel music.

Detroit, Michigan is known for the record company Motown. However, I don’t think Aretha Franklin ever recorded for Motown. She first recorded with Columbia Records but her first efforts with that company didn’t produce a hit.

Then, Aretha signed with Atlantic Records. Atlantic sent her to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where she found the voice the world would come to love. In Alabama in 1967 she recorded, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You. Then, in that same year, she recorded one of her most popular hits Respect.

We might also think about the fact that in 1966 and 1967 rebellions erupted in cities across the nation. While the civil rights movement forced the government to outlaw Jim Crow segregation, police brutality continued to be a routine fact of life.

The rebellions of the 1960s demonstrated that Black people were no longer going to accept being treated as second-class citizens. Malcolm X argued that the rights of Black people need to be defended, “By any means necessary.” Martin Luther King dreamed that there would come a time when everyone would live side by side in harmony.

Aretha Franklin made her hit record Respect in 1967.

In 1968 James Brown had his hit, I’m Black and I’m Proud.

In 1969 Nina Simone recorded her song, To Be Young Gifted And Black

By 1971 Marvin Gaye asked his question in the song, What’s Going On?

There were several outstanding artists before Aretha Franklin. However, Aretha lived at a time when Black people organized to show the world that they would indeed be respected. While Aretha demanded respect, she also openly sang about how she felt like a Natural Woman. She did this with an artistry that was unmatched.

Today workers from around the world continue to demand “respect.” Understanding this, I think it is important to understand that Aretha Franklin is a real part of our heritage. She was able to portray and celebrate human emotion through song in her own unique style. She did this in a way that won her the love of fans all over the world.

In thinking about Aretha, I also think about all the other outstanding artists that performed in her day. As wonderful as those artists were, Aretha was the Queen. She will be missed.