Aretha Franklin was born on 25 March, 1942. Her real name was "Aretha Louise Franklin."
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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Franklin was an American singer and songwriter. For her powerful voice, she was also referred to as the "Queen of Soul."
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Franklin's father was also a renowned musician. He helped her 14-year-old daughter sign the first music record deal with J.V.B. Records.
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Franklin's first single with J.V.B. Records, "Never Grow Old," was released in 1956.
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At the age of 18, Franklin signed a deal with Columbia Records. Her first Columbia single, "Today I Sing the Blues," was released in 1960.
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Franklin's first album, "Aretha: With the Ray Bryant Combo," was released in 1961, and its first single was featured in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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Franklin's first chart-topping hit song was "Respect," which became No. 1 on the list of the Billboard Hot 100. This song also became her signature song.
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In 1980, Franklin also performed in front of Queen Elizabeth. She gave her performance at London's Royal Albert Hall.
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In her era, Franklin was one of the world's best-selling music artists, with 75 million records sold globally.
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Franklin had been nominated 44 times for the Grammy awards, of which she won 18.
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Franklin won her first eight Grammy awards (from 1968 to 1975) for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
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In 1987, Aretha Franklin became the first female singer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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Franklin was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts.
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In 2022, Franklin was ranked no. 1 by Rolling Stone magazine in its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time."