Who was Aretha Franklin?

• Aretha Louise Franklin

• Queen of Soul

• 25th March 1942 (Memphis, Tennessee) - 16th August 2018 (Detroit)

• Started singing in a Gospel Choir in Detroit (her father was a minister)

• Age of 18 she start recording SECULAR music with Colombia Records. 


• Switched to Atlantic Records in 1966, then recorded ‘Respect’, ‘Chain of Fools’,

‘Natural Woman’ and many other huge hits. 


• The “Queen of Soul” title started in the late ’60’s. Who else is a something of Soul?

• She is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was the first woman to be inducted - a
double first, as she is also African-American.

• She won 18 Grammys in her lifetime. 


• Sold 75 million records worldwide

What is Soul Music?

Influential Musical Styles: Emotional:

• Gospel • African-American Culture
• Blues • Wisdom
• Funk • Pain
• Motown (Detroit Soul) • Suffering
• Minor Keys • Endurance
• Timeless
 Who were other performers of Soul Music?
• James Brown
• Otis Reading
• Sam Cooke
• Marvin Gaye
• Ray Charles
• Etta James
• Chaka Khan

New musical terms we will be returning to later:

• Gospel
• Blues
• Funk
• Motown (Detroit Soul)
• Minor Keys
• Secular

Assignment:



Write a short statement (up to 500 words) with your response to the life of
Aretha Franklin and Soul music. 



You may wish to focus on musical styles, your emotional reaction, your
intellectual reaction or a combination of these.

Due Date: 12.01am Tuesday 4th August