Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Franklin grew up steeped in the church, where her father’s sermons and the call-and-response rhythms of gospel shaped her earliest performances.
In 1956 at the tender age of just 14, Atetha’s first recording was pressed on 78 by Joe Von Battle, as a recording service, which he operated out of his store, "Joe's Record Shop".
This featured 2 gospel numbers ‘Never Grow Old’ and ‘You Grow Closer’, which credited her as Atetha Franklin, Daughter of Rev C. L. Franklin, Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, Detroit Mich.
This single was then re-released on both 78 and 45 by Checker Records, (a subsidiary of Chess Records) 1 year later in 1957 with her second J.V.B recording ‘Precious Lord’ receiving its Checker release 3 years later in 1960.
From here, Aretha was picked up and signed by Columbia, where she would remain for the next 7 years and release 8 LP’s and a run of hit singles.
By 1967 Aretha had signed to Atlantic records and began dropping back to back powerhouse soul classics such as ‘Respect’, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’, ‘Baby, Baby, Baby’, ‘Chain of Fools’ and ‘I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)’. These came together with her Atlantic Debut LP ‘Aretha Arrives’.
By 1968 it was undeniable, Aretha Franklin was ‘The Queen Of Soul’ however she was only getting started and still had a lot more in the bag. 68 saw the release of the album ‘Aretha Now’ featuring yet another string of timeless hits that would shape the sound of sassy soul, including but not limited to tracks such as ‘Think’, ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ and ‘See Saw’.
There are very few artists in this world who could cover a song and deliver the same level of emotion, power, passion and truth as the original songwriter. However Aretha is without a doubt the exception to this rule, not only could she deliver a performance to rival its original owner, she would take it to the next level and make it her own. Whether demanding dignity, confessing vulnerability, or celebrating joy. Aretha made every note sound like lived experience.
She told the stories with an emotional delivery so powerful that it could glide from velvet softness to thunderous command in a single phrase, she transformed the raw language of gospel into the universal sound of soul which had the audience captivated and living the experience together with her.
Over decades, Aretha’s influence rippled across genres, shaping generations of artists who followed. Yet her recordings remain unmatched. Listen today, and they still feel alive. urgent, intimate, and timeless.
In the end, the title most often associated with her says it all. She wasn’t just a great singer. She was, and remains, the Queen of Soul.