When you look up at the stars tonight, you will notice that they are brighter. That is because one of the greatest stars to reside on this planet is among them tonight. Aretha Louise Franklin was born March 25th in 1942, in a small house in Memphis Tennessee. That day a legend was born. She relocated with her family to Buffalo New York before finally calling Detroit home in 1946.
Her father was a preacher and that is where she got her start singing. She toured around with her father on a gospel tour, and sang hymns. On one of these trips she met Sam Cooke, and he changed her path. She wanted to step out from choir and sing popular music. This was at the age of 18.
She signed her first record deal with Columbia but they really had no idea of the talent that they had. They gave her old songs to sing, that gave her limited success, but it wasn't until she signed a deal with Atlantic, that she had the freedom to write her own music and make decisions on what sound she wanted to pursue. Her first single to hit the pop charts was "Won't Be Long". She didn't just stick with pop music, she branched out into other genres, and crossed over seamlessly. There wasn't a style of music she couldn't sing, and she sang it well. Her first top 40 hit was, Rock A Bye Baby with a Dixie Melody, but it wouldn't be her last.
It wasn't until 1967 when she recorded her version of Otis Redding's song "Respect" that she hit number one, and that song was the diamond on her tiara. Everyone knows that song because of Aretha. After that, the hits just rolled in, one after another. "Chain of Fools", "Think", "I Say a Little Prayer", just to name a few.
Aretha had her down time though, and the 70's weren't kind to her, but then The Blues Brothers happened, and the most memorable scene from the movie where she sang her hit "Think". That movie helped her reach a whole new audience and once again the clouds lifted so that you could see the light of her star. The rest of the 80's were owned by Aretha. "Freeway of Love", Who's Zoomin' Who", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", and the song I'm going to share with you now. A duet she did with one of her biggest fans, and an icon in his own right. "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" with George Michael.
Aretha will alway be remembered for her voice as a singer, but what few don't know or remember was the legacy she will leave with her voice as a civil rights leader. Early on she spoke up and campaigned to help raise money for the Southern Christian Leadership. She Stood beside Martin Luther King Jr. in his activist work, and sang at his funeral when she had to bury her friend. She worked to keep his work alive and bailed Angela Davis out of prison. She fought for women's rights and equality for all. Her acts for the civil rights made a difference and many won't remember that, but those she touched surely will.
Remember Aretha as you will, but please try to remember this quote of hers, "It's the rough side of the mountain that's easiest to climb; the smooth doesn't have anything for you to hang on to." It was that attitude that gave her success. Nothing comes easy, but easy isn't best. Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Let that sink in.
Aretha Franklin is swirling in the ether tonight. The star are brighter not because she is among them, but because they are delighted that she is there. Her star always shined brighter than anyone else. Peace in and goodnight.
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