Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has died at the tender age of 76. Let’s take a look back at the star’s soulful journey.
The sad news of one of music’s legendary stars is currently sweeping the world. Aretha Franklin, also known as the Queen of Soul, is dead. The “official cause of death was due to advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit.” This is according to the family’s official statement.
Franklin passed away at the morning of Wednesday, at 9:50. She was surrounded by family and loved ones at her home in Detroit, Michigan. The news comes as a shock to fans and music lovers everywhere. Franklin has managed to keep her illness from the public eye. Both tears and tributes filled the world as news of her passing broke.
The World Reacts To The Death Of A Beloved Music Icon
Millions are mourning the death of one of music’s most beloved icons. Social media posts for the late Queen of Soul are scattering across the internet. From her own grandaughter to former president Barack Obama, here are the stars who paid homage to her death.
“I have many memories of me coming into her home and she would be playing the piano and singing. Words can’t describe the pain I’m feeling, but God is telling me that she is at peace. Today we lost an icon, a legend, but today I lost my grandma.” – Victorie Franklin, Franklin’s grandaughter
https://twitter.com/TDirt__/status/1030121065610129408
“Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace” – Barack Obama, former US president.
Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018
“Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul” – Paul McCartney, The Beatles.
Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/jW4Gpwfdts
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 16, 2018
Aretha Franklin’s Body To Go On Public Display
Aretha’s body is set to go on public display during a four-day celebration in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. To celebrate the Queen of Souls life, an open casket viewing in a museum is set for her fans. This will be followed by her funeral. Furthermore, a musical tribute featuring some major stars and artists is in the works to honor the late star.
Plans are not yet concrete as of the moment. However, her funal is scheduled for August 31. This will follow a 2-day open casket public viewing, according to relatives. There is talk of a fitting sendoff for the Queen of Soul. Plans are in the works for a musical tribute featuring some of the world’s most major artists.
Additionally, the public viewing will be happening at the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit on 28 and 29 August. Aretha Franklin will be laid to rest at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Furthermore, a private invitation-only funeral party only will follow at the Greater Grace Temple.
A Lookback At The Life Of A Music Legend
Today, Aretha Franklin is a legend and an icon. She helped shape our generation’s music forever. Raised in a humble background, you can tell that music was ingrained into her very being from the day of her birth. Aretha Franklin, was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennesse – one of the most iconic cities in the history of rock n’ roll and blues. Aside from being born in a city with a thriving musical culture, her father, C.L., was a Baptist minister and gospel singer known in the country as “The Man With The Million-Dollar Voice.”
Aretha’s musical journey started quite early and by the middle of the 1950’s she already mastered to play piano and began touring circuit with her father and her sisters. However, Life as a mother was quick to take hold as well, as by 16, she had already gave birth to two sons. It wasn’t until a little later, in 1960 that she signed with Columbia Records and moved to New York City, that she began her music career in earnest.
In the next five years, Aretha enjoyed a moderate amount of success. She released nine albums and only one top 40 pop accomplishment. It took a major lable move and a different producer to make her the legend that she was always meant to be. The magic formula came about while working with producer Jerry Wexler under the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, was Aretha’s first ticket to success. It was also her first Top 10 hit.
From then on, Aretha rocketed to stardom. Additionally, her albums, Aretha Arrives (1967), Lady Soul (1968) and Aretha Now (1968) gave birth to some of her most acclaimed work including Respect,” “Think,” “Chain of Fools,” “Baby, I Love You,” “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Furthermore, Aretha earned her first few Grammy Awards and was featured in several magazine covers, including the June 1968 issue of Time Magazine. She became the Queen of Soul.
A Tribute To Aretha Franklin
Later this fall, a tribute concert celebrating Aretha Franklin’s life and legacy is set to show in New York. Currently, the concert has a tentative title, “”Clive Davis Presents: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin. It’s set to take place in the Maddison Square Graden this coming November 14. Davis, who has a 40- year friendship and working relationship with the late artist, is emotional in his official statement following Aretha’s death.
“I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing. She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. Aretha was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness.”
More information regarding the tribute concert’s lineup is not yet available. However, Live Nation will be producing the tribute.