Celebrity Biographies
Aretha Franklin Biography, Career, Lifestyle
BIOGRAPHY OF ARETHA FRANKLIN
The Tennessee-born singer, songwriter, actress, and pianist was well known as the queen of soul music. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. There, his father was the minister of the church. After that, she joined the secular career at the age of 18.
ARETHA FRANKLIN EARLY LIFE
At first, Aretha debuted her first song at Columbia Records. When she was born, her mother Barbara gave birth at her family’s home at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
Her father was a Baptist pastor and constituency preacher from Shelby, Mississippi, while her mother was an accomplished pianist and singer
In their family, both of his parents had children from previous relationships in addition to the four they had together. Their family then moved to Buffalo, New York when she was two years old. Their father then moved the family permanently to Detroit where he was taken over as pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church. Due to their father’s infidelities, the Franklins had a rocky marriage and separated in 1948.
CAREER OF ARETHA FRANKLIN
She started singing solos after her mother’s death. She sang gospel solos in New Bethel which she debuted with the Jesus anthem, Be a Fence Around Me. Her father then began directing her. He would take her on the road with him on his evangelistic caravan tours for her to make appearances and perform at various churches
It was he who helped her sign her first recording contract with JVB Records. His first single was released in 1956 in JVB It was titled Never Grow Old. From there, she became a top sensation in the music industry at that time. She then travels occasionally with The Soul Stirrers. She then released a secular debut album which welcomed her into the secular world.
The album was titled Aretha and was released in January 1961 by Columbia Records. She would later become the Queen of Soul-making hits throughout the 1970s until 2008. She was at the height of her success in music. She made international headlines after performing at President Obama’s inauguration ceremony in January 2009.
She then accepted an honorary degree from Yale University. She then released her own label Aretha’s Records in 2011. Apart from music, she had developed an immense passion for civil rights and women’s rights. She provided money to a civil rights group and sometimes she covered the payroll. She was also a strong advocate for Native American rights.
AGE OF ARETHA FRANKLIN
Franklin was born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, TN, in the USES . After her death, celebrities and fans still pay tribute to Aretha in different ways. Most recently Jennifer Hudson played the role of Aretha in the filming of the biopic Respect.
ARETHA FRANKLIN BODY MEASUREMENTS
‘Height; – 1.65m
‘Weight; – Not available
‘Shoe size; – Not available
‘Body shape; – Not available
ARETHA FRANKLIN HUSBAND
Before her disappearance, Aretha was married twice. Her first marriage was to Theodore White also known as Ted in 1961 when she was just 19 years old. However, the couple divorced due to domestic violence in 1968. The divorce was finalized in 1969.
She later remarried Glynn Turman who was her second husband. The marriage was celebrated on April 11, 1978 at her father’s church. Thus Aretha became stepmother to Turman’s children from her previous marriage.
They later separated in 1982 and the divorce was finalized in 1984. She intended to marry her longtime boyfriend Willie Wilkerson and the two had engagements that dated back to 1988. She later called off the engagement in 2012.
ARETHA FRANKLIN CHILDREN
It was revealed that Aretha was a proud mother of four sons. It was revealed that her first pregnancy occurred when she was 12 years old. She gave birth to a boy named Clarence after her father in January 1955. Sources revealed that the baby’s father was Donald Burka , a boy she knew from school. She didn’t like talking about her first pregnancies in interviews. She was stepmother to her second husband Turman’s children.
ARETHA FRANKLIN FUNERAL
She was reportedly seriously ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. She was cared for by her friends and family. She had started to suffer from August 2018. She was visited by Stevie Wonder, Jessie Jackson and Glynn Turman who was her ex-husband on her deathbed at her home. She later died at her home in August 2018 at the age of 76 without a will.
The cause of death was pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) which was widely misreported as cancer, a different disease. Many celebrities and politicians have paid tribute to him. A memorial was then held at New Bethel Baptist on August 19. Thousands of people showed up to pay their last respects. He attended a welcome service held at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
ARIANA GRANDE ARETHA FRANKLIN
Ariana Grande performed her song Natural Woman at her funeral service. It was a tribute to her. Grande is well known for her incredible voice and how she can be able to hit such incredibly high notes as Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. She thus manages to sing Aretha’s high notes in the song Natural Woman during Aretha’s funeral.
TRIBUTE TO ARETHA FRANKLIN AT THE 2019 GRAMMY AWARDS
A tribute was given in honor of Aretha the Queen of Soul at the 2019 Grammys. The tribute was performed by three ladies, Andra Ray, Yolanda Adams and Fantasia who performed her song Natural Woman. Here is the video.
ARETHA FRANKLIN AMAZING GRACE
The Amazing Grace is a live gospel album that was produced by soul singer Aretha Franklin. It was officially registered in January 1972 at the New Temple Missary Baptist Church in Los Angeles. It was done by her father, Reverend James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir who accompanied Aretha in the performance. The recording was also originally released as a double album on June 1, 1972 by Atlantic Records.
ARETHA FRANKLIN NET WORTH
His net worth was estimated at $80 million.
ARETHA FRANKLIN SONG
» Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo (1961)
» The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962)
» The Offer, the Motion, the Swing Aretha Franklin (1962)
» Laughing From the Outside (1963)
» Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964)
» Runnin’ Out of Fools (1964)
» Yeah!!! (1965)
» Soul Sister (1966)
» Take It As You Give It (1967)
» I Never Loved a Man Like I Love You (1967)
» Aretha Is Coming (1967)
» Dame Soul (1968)
» Aretha Now (1968)
» Soul ’69 (1969)
» Sweet and Beautiful (1969)
» This Girl’s in Love with You (1970)
» Spirit in the Dark (1970)
» Young, Talented and Black (1972)
» Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of Heaven) (1973)
» Let Me Into Your Life (1974)
» With All I Feel Inside (1974)
» You (1975)
» Sparkle (1976)
» Sweet Passion (1977)
» Almighty Fire (1978)
» The Diva (1979)
» Aretha (1980)
» Love All Wounded (1981)
» Go to Him (1982)
“ Getting It Right (1983)
“ Who’s Zoomin’ Who? (1985)
» Aretha (1986)
» Through the Storm (1989)
» What You See Is What You Sweat (1991)
» A rose is always a rose (1998)
» So happy (2003)
» This Christmas, Aretha (2008)
» Aretha: A woman who falls in love (2011)
» Aretha Franklin sings the great classics of the diva (2014)
ARETHA FRANKLIN FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Who was Aretha Franklin?
Aretha was one of the most famous and beloved singers, songwriters, actresses and pianists. She was also known as the queen of soul music.
How old was Aretha Franklin?
She died aged 76 in 2018.
How tall is Aretha?
Aretha stood at a height of 1.65m.
Aretha married?
Before she died, Aretha was married to Glynn Turman, her husband.
How much was Aretha worth?
His approximate net worth is $80 million.
How much did Aretha earn?
Franklin’s annual earnings are still unknown. But judging by her net worth of $80 million that she had amassed, it was clear that she was earning an incredible amount as a salary before her death.
Where did Aretha live?
His residence was in Detroit before his death.
Aretha dead or alive?
Aretha succumbed to her battle with pancreatic cancer at her home in August 2018.
Where is Aretha Franklin now?
After Aretha’s death, fans remember her as a legendary singer, songwriter, actress and pianist and also the Queen of Soul.