In the early 1960s, Franklin was an up-and-coming singer while White was a sandlot promoter who dabbled in Detroit real estate. The two first met in 1954 at a house party but weren’t properly ...

Born in 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha Franklin found success with the 1961 hit "Won't Be Long," which was her first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. After 73 Hot 100 entries, 16 top 10 ...

“The Day Is Past and Gone” (JVC/Battle, 1956). Aretha Franklin’s prodigious talent was on full display in her first recording, made at the age of 14 at her father’s church in Detroit. It’s a pure ...

A time line of major events in the life and work of Aretha Franklin: March 1942 — Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father, a prominent Baptist minister with gospel-music connections, ...

Aretha Franklin, the undisputed “Queen of Soul” who sang with matchless style on such classics as “Think,” ”I Say a Little Prayer” and her signature song, “Respect,” and stood as a cultural icon ...

In the wake of Aretha Franklin’s passing at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, few words can be said to truly give credit to the groundbreaking contributions made by Queen of Soul. As we ...

Sign up for our Daily eBlast to get coverage on Black communities from the media company who has been doing it right for over 133 years. Sign up It was 1961 (be ...

The trappings are all there: the smattering of polite applause, the tinkling piano laying out the chord changes of a familiar tune — Erroll Garner’s “Misty,” in this case. But with the entrance of the ...

Today Aretha Louise Franklin celebrates 70 years on this earth, 50 of which she has spent as one of America’s greatest talents. The shy preacher’s daughter got her start singing at the Detroit church ...