Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942. Her father was a prominent minister and Aretha sang in the gospel choir in her father's church. At the age 14 she sang many solos in her dad's choir. She is known as the "Queen of Soul."

At age 18 she arrived in New York and appeared on stage at Rhythm & Blues clubs, half of the 1960s. She sang rhythm, blues and jazz. In 1966 she made her first record for Atlantic Records. She went to Alabama to record a lot of different songs. One of them was called "I Never Loved a Man." Her most famous song is probably "Respect." She has had lots of hits such as, "Dr. Feel Good," "A Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools." She was honored with Grammy awards. A magazine named her top vocalist of 1967. 

By the 1970s Aretha had 6 gold albums, 14 singles and 8 Grammy Awards. In 1980 she got a chance to be in her first movie. Her first movie was The Blues Brothers. In 1987 she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also won a Grammy award for all her work. It was a Lifetime Achievement Award. She is famous for her great singing voice and her music.

Image purchased from Corbis

2000, by Steven and Vincent, third grade