Few voices have meant as much to as many people as Aretha Franklin's. From gospel solos in a Detroit church to 18 Grammy Awards and the title 'Queen of Soul', she set the standard that singers still measure themselves against.
Her story spans more than six decades, five record labels and a run of songs that became anthems. Here is how it all happened. Browse our tribute designs in the R&B music collection.
Aretha Franklin Fact File
| Full name | Aretha Louise Franklin |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 March 1942 |
| Place of birth | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Died | 16 August 2018, Detroit, Michigan (aged 76) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, pianist |
| Years active | 1956-2018 |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, gospel, pop |
| Labels | J.V.B., Columbia, Atlantic, Arista, RCA |
| Signature song | "Respect" (1967) |
| Nickname | The Queen of Soul |
Career History
| Years | Label | Key albums |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | J.V.B. | Early gospel recordings made as a teenager |
| 1960-1966 | Columbia | Early pop, jazz and standards albums |
| 1967-1979 | Atlantic | I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), Sparkle (1976) |
| 1980-2004 | Arista | Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985), A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998) |
| 2014 | RCA | Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics (2014) |
A selection of key albums by label, not a complete discography.
Early Years: A Voice Raised in Church
Aretha Franklin was born in Memphis and grew up in Detroit, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church. She began singing solos there as a girl and made her first gospel recordings as a teenager in 1956.
In 1960 she signed with Columbia, where she recorded a mix of pop, jazz and standards. The talent was obvious, but the right sound had not yet clicked.
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Breakthrough: The Atlantic Years
Everything changed when she joined Atlantic in 1966. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) and Lady Soul (1968) brought a run of classics, including "Respect", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Chain of Fools" and "Think".
"Respect" topped the US charts and became an anthem for both the civil rights and women's movements. By the end of the decade she was simply the Queen of Soul.
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Peak: Gospel Roots and Pop Hits
In 1972 she returned to her roots with Amazing Grace, a live gospel album recorded in a Los Angeles church. After moving to Arista in 1980 she found a new generation of fans with Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) and the 1987 duet "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" with George Michael.
Across her career she placed 73 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Later Career and Legacy
She sang at President Obama's inauguration in January 2009 and released her final studio album on RCA in 2014. Aretha Franklin died at her home in Detroit in August 2018, aged 76.
In 2019 she received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize special citation, and in 2021 Jennifer Hudson played her in the biopic Respect.
Awards and Honours
Grammy Awards
- 18 Grammy Awards from 44 nominations
- Grammy Legend Award (1991)
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1994)
Halls of Fame and national honours
- First woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)
- Kennedy Center Honors (1994)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005)
Other recognition
- Pulitzer Prize special citation (2019, posthumous)
- 73 Billboard Hot 100 entries
Away From the Spotlight
Aretha Franklin stayed closely tied to Detroit and to New Bethel Baptist Church, where her musical life began. She was a long-time supporter of the civil rights movement, and her music remains part of how that era is remembered.
FAQs
How old was Aretha Franklin when she died?
Aretha Franklin was 76 when she died on 16 August 2018 at her home in Detroit.
Where was Aretha Franklin born?
She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on 25 March 1942, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan.
Why is Aretha Franklin called the Queen of Soul?
The title stuck during her late-1960s run of hits on Atlantic, including "Respect", "Chain of Fools" and "Think", which set the standard for soul singing.
How many Grammys did Aretha Franklin win?
She won 18 Grammy Awards from 44 nominations, and also received the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.
What was Aretha Franklin's biggest hit?
"Respect" (1967) is her signature song. It topped the US charts and became an anthem of the civil rights era.
Is there a film about Aretha Franklin?
Yes. Respect (2021) stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin.
Shop the Aretha Franklin Collection
These unofficial fan tribute designs are printed to order in the UK.
Explore more in our R&B music collection and the full music collection. And if you want your own name on the back, design a Custom Name Hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Whitney Houston Career Story and Tina Turner Career Story.
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