By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

What can be said about the lady who was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee? Through the grapevine, it's rumored that she's writing her life story. Again? I thought she did that already, as I have an autographed copy, as I was blessed to have her sign it in person at Barnes & Nobles in NYC.



 

 
 
Her die-hart fans know her musical history, first with Checker Records, then Columbia to Atlantic records. As a child her father was friends with the late Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward. Can you imagine the raw, natural music that was heard in that household? In her youth she was offered recording contracts with Motown and RCA. If she had signed with Motown, the Motown story might be totally different. I can remember as a child, growing up in East (Spanish) Harlem, and listening to Ms. Franklin's Columbia Recordings, as my mother was a fan during the early years, and then when Aretha released, "I Never Loved A Man", she musically set fire in the music industry as she was singing a truth of many women of the day, who were in "my man done done me wrong" relationships.
 
 
 
She was the face and the sound of this generation. In later years it was rumored that she experienced abuse when she was married to Ted White, who co-wrote some of her recordings. "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", was on the flip side of "I Never Loved A Man", so it was truly her testament.

"Respect", is the song that she will forever be associated with. Otis Redding had a hit with this originally, but Aretha took this song and blow it out of the waters, and with future hits, she's been the only singer that can take a hit song and make it her own, as she did with Dionne Warwick's, " I Say A Little Prayer", Diana's, "It's My Turn", Simon and Garkfinkel, "Bridge Over Trouble Waters", Dusty Springfield's, "Son of A Preacher Man", Stevie Wonders, "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do", which was Gold-certified), the list goes on a goes.

 
 
 
I remember seeing her at Radio City, in NYC, and she sang, Diana's, "The Boss", I was totally shocked and totally understood how even now, she reigns as the Queen of Soul. I believe that the thing, that I love about Ree Ree is that she's totally true to whatever she's singing about. Her music has sold millions here in the U.S., and millions around the world.

However there were the troubled, sad years when her father was ill, music was going in a different direction, through a change, Atlantic Records wasn't putting the monies behind her product, but if you have these LP's, during this time, the sister was giving it her best, the "Sweet Passion", La Diva" and "Almighty Fire", are great albums. Hopefully they will be re-released for a new audience to hear.

Aretha left Atlantic and went to Arista Records, signed by hit-maker Clive Davis. I remember seeing this album cover, with my partner at the time, John (we have the same first name) and I were in a music store called, Bondy's in downtown Manhattan, and decided to go there for lunch, just to check out the new, latest releases and there she was on the cover with the huge rock on her finger, auburn hair and looking fabulous. Well, we screamed like two church girls on Sunday morning. We couldn't wait to get home to play it, and it was pure Aretha magic. This LP featured "What A Fool Believes"- another re-make, "Come To Me", "United Together", we were hooked. She again, appeared at Radio City, and showed us why she is the Queen. Aretha was back!! Her music was hitting the R&B charts and the pop charts. More Grammy's were won.

 
 
 
Everyone wanted to sing with the Queen: George Michael, Annie Lennox, Michael McDonald, George Benson, Whitney Houston. Producers wanted to record on her: Babyface, Luther, "Jump To It" & "Get It Right" LP's. Future summers we danced at a bar called, Peter Rabbits on Gay Pride as Aretha sang, "Freeway of Love."

Ms. Aretha has also been a major force with the civil rights movement. When she released, "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", again, she was able to take a song, written and released by someone else, by the lady, Ms. Nina Simon, and make it her own. This album was a favorite of my mother's, so when I listen to it, it takes me back to that time, like Minnie sang, to "Memory Lane."

I heard a story that when Aretha did her "Amazing Grace" album that the sound was not perfect. She asked for the "sound tech's" persons to recheck it. They did. Again, the sound was not right. She asked again. They did. On the third request, Ms. Franklin placed the microphone in a full glass of water, its said that the whole system just blow out. Then she stood and turned to the tech's and said calmly, "Call me when its does correctly", and she walked out. Diva!

 
 
 
I don't know if this story is true but if it happened, she's earned the r.e.s.p.e.c.t to have it ready and done right the first time.

In later years, when she was asked to sing, the late great Luciano Pavorotti's "Nessun Dorma", because he would not be able to attend and sing his song, Ree jumped into action and surprised not only me but the whole world. Ms. Franklin can sing anything. A true singers singer. I'm sure she introduced a whole new audience to opera. She was able to sing opera, however, I don't believe that an opera singer would be able to sing "Respect" and do it justice. Ms. Franklin, sang and it made front page news. She appeared on the morning new shows and told her story. I love it!

A present, she's won 20 Grammy's, has earned 10 top singles. She's been declared (her voice) a natural resource, she's received the Kennedy honors award, American Music awards also received an honorary Doctor of Musicology degree. She's been declared number nine on the worlds greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. She's appears in two movies.

 
 
 
And now, she's taking some time to smell the roses. For years many have commented on her style of clothes and the extra weight, as she only about 5 '5 in height, but the diva pays that no mind as she's doing it and living it her way. She's one of the few singers that everyone from every walk of life knows. Her current CD, "So Damn Happy", vocally she's wonderful and there are songs on the CD, that remind you and impress you, she's in her 60's and she still can blow. Ree is our Ella Fitzgerald. God's gift to music.

Thank you Ms. Franklin for the music. We love you here at GBMNews.com

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