Aretha Franklin Truly Did Make America Great.
By Jeffery Mcneil
When I first heard news of Aretha Franklin death,I felt like a part of me died with her also.For she truly did have an impact not just on black America but all Americans. She was one of the first crossovers who helped change the racial divide not with black militancy but through her powerful music.
Her death brought back childhood memories when musicians could actually sing . The first song I ever remembered was “Say a little prayer” It was one of those records, I can play repeatedly and never get tired of hearing it. This was my personal favorite song while others may argue with “Bridge Over Troubled Water or Chain of Fools. Aretha was one of those voices where if you're sad,troubled or stressed you can find something she sang and remember what’s important in life. There will be no one else like her and the world lost someone that made America great for she sang about love instead of division.
Although I loved Aretha, truth was I didn't much about her life for a woman with such a powerful voice, I thought she was a southern girl . When I read her biography I was shocked to find out she once lived in Buffalo New York, then later a child, her family moved to Detroit, and was the daughter of Rev CL Franklin who's father's sermons led to him being known as the man with the "million-dollar voice." His celebrity status led to having her home being visited by various celebrities, among them gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland and Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. Clara Ward who was romantically involved with Aretha's father, served as a role model to the young Aretha when she was a child. Her father was also a major fundraiser for Dr. Martin Luther KIng who encouraged Aretha to perform on stage.
Aretha one of the few voices where she could reduced the most hate filled men to tears. Her voice could get the emotion out of you, Aretha had a presences like no other woman. Being a product of the seventies. I remember my parents would come home with an Aretha album,where I loved seeing that Atlantic label spinning soul classics such as Respect, You Better Think as well as You Make Me Feel like a Natural Woman.There was nothing more beautiful than seeing a young Aretha perform, there was nothing that made me more proud than seeing her powerful black presence blow anyone Black or white off the stage. She truly was the Queen of Soul and there will never be anyone else that could compare to her.
I was saw her live in Newark and Philadelphia, on the Chitlin' Circuit.
She changed America because she came at a time when blacks were considered unattractive but Aretha came at the same time when black women such as Gladys Knight,Diana Ross, Lyn Collins and The Staple Singers were blowing the doors and producing better music then white America. It was the golden era of music. It’s arguably her or Diana Ross as America first crossover star for she appealed to America rather than black America. Aretha had a voice so soulful and powerful even the most harden white supremacist would be be reduced to tears.
When you talk about Aretha you also have to talk the sixties. Like many conservatives blacks of my period we didn't like people such as Muhammad Ali and Aretha, they rocked the boat and we were okay with the status quo. Sometimes you have to accept people whose stars shine much brighter like you and clear the paths for future generations and Aretha like Michael Jackson star shined so brightly nothing was going to deny them. Sometimes I’m glad people don't listen to the old and try to shake the foundations of the old guard and challenge authority through her beautiful voice. However like the times I really didn't care for her later stuff when she crossed over to leave her soulful roots to pop music.
In the end thank you Aretha for your music because you truly are the queen of soul and somewhere in the heavens someone is dancing to your beautiful silky voice. I miss you and I will always remember and love you.
When I first heard news of Aretha Franklin death,I felt like a part of me died with her also.For she truly did have an impact not just on black America but all Americans. She was one of the first crossovers who helped change the racial divide not with black militancy but through her powerful music.
Her death brought back childhood memories when musicians could actually sing . The first song I ever remembered was “Say a little prayer” It was one of those records, I can play repeatedly and never get tired of hearing it. This was my personal favorite song while others may argue with “Bridge Over Troubled Water or Chain of Fools. Aretha was one of those voices where if you're sad,troubled or stressed you can find something she sang and remember what’s important in life. There will be no one else like her and the world lost someone that made America great for she sang about love instead of division.
Although I loved Aretha, truth was I didn't much about her life for a woman with such a powerful voice, I thought she was a southern girl . When I read her biography I was shocked to find out she once lived in Buffalo New York, then later a child, her family moved to Detroit, and was the daughter of Rev CL Franklin who's father's sermons led to him being known as the man with the "million-dollar voice." His celebrity status led to having her home being visited by various celebrities, among them gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland and Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. Clara Ward who was romantically involved with Aretha's father, served as a role model to the young Aretha when she was a child. Her father was also a major fundraiser for Dr. Martin Luther KIng who encouraged Aretha to perform on stage.
Aretha one of the few voices where she could reduced the most hate filled men to tears. Her voice could get the emotion out of you, Aretha had a presences like no other woman. Being a product of the seventies. I remember my parents would come home with an Aretha album,where I loved seeing that Atlantic label spinning soul classics such as Respect, You Better Think as well as You Make Me Feel like a Natural Woman.There was nothing more beautiful than seeing a young Aretha perform, there was nothing that made me more proud than seeing her powerful black presence blow anyone Black or white off the stage. She truly was the Queen of Soul and there will never be anyone else that could compare to her.
I was saw her live in Newark and Philadelphia, on the Chitlin' Circuit.
She changed America because she came at a time when blacks were considered unattractive but Aretha came at the same time when black women such as Gladys Knight,Diana Ross, Lyn Collins and The Staple Singers were blowing the doors and producing better music then white America. It was the golden era of music. It’s arguably her or Diana Ross as America first crossover star for she appealed to America rather than black America. Aretha had a voice so soulful and powerful even the most harden white supremacist would be be reduced to tears.
When you talk about Aretha you also have to talk the sixties. Like many conservatives blacks of my period we didn't like people such as Muhammad Ali and Aretha, they rocked the boat and we were okay with the status quo. Sometimes you have to accept people whose stars shine much brighter like you and clear the paths for future generations and Aretha like Michael Jackson star shined so brightly nothing was going to deny them. Sometimes I’m glad people don't listen to the old and try to shake the foundations of the old guard and challenge authority through her beautiful voice. However like the times I really didn't care for her later stuff when she crossed over to leave her soulful roots to pop music.
In the end thank you Aretha for your music because you truly are the queen of soul and somewhere in the heavens someone is dancing to your beautiful silky voice. I miss you and I will always remember and love you.
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