Aretha Franklin dies at 76: Remembering the Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, died Thursday at age 76. The 18-time Grammy winner, known for hits like “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman,” and “Chain of Fools,” left behind an imcomparable career that spanned seven decades. Here, The Los Angeles Times looks back at her life, her music and her impact.
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With all the adulation legitimately directed toward Aretha Franklin since her death last year at 76, it’s easy to forget that there were low points in her extraordinary career, even though they were far overshadowed by the high points.
March 7, 2019
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To honor Aretha Franklin’s roots in gospel music, Shirley Caesar sang “Mary, Don’t You Weep.”
Jan. 14, 2019
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Like millions of other music fans, Paul Simon had Aretha Franklin on his mind Aug. 31, on the day of her star-studded memorial service in Detroit.
Sept. 7, 2018
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Those who could brought their biggest voices Friday to the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, where the late Aretha Franklin was remembered by an expansive cast of peers and inheritors in a lengthy funeral service billed officially as a “celebration of life.”
Aug. 31, 2018
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Though Aretha Franklin’s funeral is a private ceremony for family and friends, fans of the late Queen of Soul can watch it live via TV and livestream starting at 7 a.m.
Aug. 30, 2018
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More than a half-century ago, Quincy Jones heard Aretha Franklin’s voice for the first time.
Aug. 22, 2018
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Soul-gospel singer Mavis Staples, a peer and longtime family friend of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, spoke to pop music writer Randy Lewis from her home in Chicago on Friday — a day after Franklin’s death at age 76.
Aug. 17, 2018
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Aretha Franklin’s funeral will be held Aug. 30 in her hometown of Detroit.
Aug. 17, 2018
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On Friday morning during an interview in advance of Pathway to Paris, an upcoming concert at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, the musician, writer and activist Patti Smith was asked for her thoughts on the passing of Aretha Franklin.
Aug. 17, 2018
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Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who died Thursday, had a vast reach that stretched well beyond popular music and onto the silver screen.
Aug. 16, 2018
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Parsing out Aretha Franklin’s influence on contemporary culture is a foolish task.
Aug. 16, 2018
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With her place as a hit-making force cemented decades ago, music industry greats stepped up to remember Aretha Franklin on Thursday after her death.
Aug. 16, 2018
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As prolific as she was influential, Aretha Franklin released dozens of albums in a career that lasted longer than half a century.
Aug. 16, 2018
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I watched the 1998 Grammy Awards broadcast out of a sense of duty, catching whatever classical bones might be thrown, figuring I needed to know how artistically low the whole thing could sink.
Aug. 16, 2018
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In early 1972, Aretha Franklin arrived at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts for a pair of performances with the backing of the Rev.
Aug. 16, 2018
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Aretha Franklin’s soaring voice and commanding stage presence made her the undisputed Queen of Soul.
Aug. 16, 2018
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The Grammy Awards ceremony has never suffered a shortage of drama during the annual telecast.
Aug. 16, 2018
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Aretha Franklin’s visits to Los Angeles were relatively few and far between throughout her career, a function of her aversion to flying.
Aug. 16, 2018
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Fans of legendary singer Aretha Franklin in Hollywood and beyond said little prayers of gratitude for the “Respect”-demanding singer, who died at age 76 on Thursday of advanced pancreatic cancer.
Aug. 16, 2018
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Aretha Franklin, the preacher’s daughter who became the “Queen of Soul” and forged the template of the larger-than-life pop diva with her exuberant, gospel-rooted singing, has died.
Aug. 16, 2018