The legendary singer known as the “Queen of Soul” is Aretha Franklin. Her commanding voice, gospel-rooted phrasing, and emotionally direct performances made her one of the defining artists in soul and rhythm and blues.
Franklin was born in Memphis in 1942 and grew up in Detroit, where her father, the prominent Baptist minister C. L. Franklin, led a celebrated church. She began singing gospel as a child and made recordings before signing with Columbia Records in 1960. Her career changed dramatically after moving to Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler helped capture her strengths as both a vocalist and pianist.
Her Atlantic-era recordings included “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” “Respect” was originally written and recorded by Otis Redding, but Franklin’s 1967 version transformed it into an anthem of dignity, women’s independence, and Black cultural pride. She was also active in the civil rights movement and remained a major recording and performing figure until her death in 2018.