Father's Name : Clarence L. (a Baptist minister)
Mother's Name : Barbara Franklin (a gospel singer)
Born: 25 March 1942
Birthplace: Memphis, TennesseeBest Known As: The "Queen of Soul" who sang "Respect"
1st Husband : Ted White (a businessman and music manager)
Divorce : 1961 (divorced) with Ted White
Next Married : Glynn Turman (an actor)
Divorce : divorced, 1984
Children : Clarence, Edward, Teddy Richards, Kecalf Cunningham.
Career
Performed with father's touring revue, recorded gospel music for Chess label, 1950s; singer and songwriter, 1960-; Columbia Records, recording artist, 1960-67; Atlantic Records, recording artist, 1967-80; actress, 1980-; Arista Records, recording artist, 1980.
Aretha Franklin Full Biography:Aretha Franklin was born in Memphis, TN, March 25, 1942. The Franklin family moved to Detroit, MI, where her father, Baptist minister Reverend C.L. Franklin, soon became one of the most revered public figures in black America. His passionate speeches led to associations with gospel legends like Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, and Aretha (not to mention her sisters, Emma and Carolyn) soon became well-known gospel singers in their own right. Aretha recorded her first gospel LP at the tender age of 14. Her gospel success led legendary talent scout John Hammond Jr. to sign her to Columbia Records, but the label sought to market her as a jazz talent since gospel had not yet bled into the pop mainstream. Aretha scored some minor hits for Columbia, but it was only after the success of Sam Cooke that Atlantic signed a struggling Aretha and set her up with the famous Muscle Shoals musicians to make "soul" music. From 1967-1973 Aretha was a dominant force on the pop and R&B charts.
By the mid-Seventies Atlantic's sound had played itself out for many listeners, and Aretha struggled (although she continued to chart here and there). Her appearance in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers led to a contract with a new label, Arista, and in the mid-Eighties she scored an amazing comeback with her album Who's Zoomin' Who. Although her new success waned by the early Nineties, Franklin remains a force in popular music, able to essay jazz, soul, pop and gospel with equal authority.retha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter and pianist commonly referred to as The Queen of Soul. Although renowned for her soul recordings
Collaborations Launched Career
Celebrated Columbia Records executive John Hammond was so taken by Franklin's recordings that he signed her immediately. Her first Columbia album was issued in the fall of 1960. While a few singles made a respectable showing on the charts, it was clear that the label wasn't adequately showcasing her gifts, either in its choice of material or production. "I cherish the recordings we made together," remarked Hammond in Rhythm and the Blues, "but, finally, Columbia was a white company [that] misunderstood her genius."
Awards
15 Grammy awards, including 1995 lifetime achievement award; honorary Doctor of Law degree, Bethune-Cookman College, 1974; American Music Award, 1984; Ebony magazine, American Black Achievement Award, 1984; declared "natural resource" of home state of Michigan, 1985; first woman inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1987; Entertainment Weekly magazine, named one of the greatest entertainers of the twentieth century, 1999; Black Entertainment Television (BET), Walk of Fame Award, 2003.
