Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Referred to as the “Queen of Soul”, she has twice been placed 9th in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Franklin began her career as a child, singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. At the age of 18, she embarked on a secular-music career as a recording artist for Columbia Records. While her career did not immediately flourish, she found acclaim and commercial success once she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. Her commercial hits such as “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”, “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Chain of Fools”, “Think” and “I Say a Little Prayer” propelled her past her musical peers. See for more.
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Oh Happy Day
Respect [1967] (Aretha’s Original Version)
I Say A Little Prayer
Think
Bridge Over Troubled Water
A Song For You
Ain’t No Way
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
The Old Landmark
I Dreamed A Dream
Amazing Grace
Live at Concertgebouw Amsterdam 1968 – Dr. Feelgood