Aretha Franklin (The Queen of Soul)

"There are certain murical notes that can be played on a saxophone that are chilling; similarly, there are sounds above the twelfth fret on guitar that are orgasmic. Aretha Franklin is better than any instrumen, as she can hit notes that do not exist in industrumental terms." Lycos Music

:-P The quote above, indeed, is only one of the many high praises addressed to this big and beautiful lady, Aretha Franklin. When she was a little girl, Aretha often sang with her sisters, Carolyn and Erma, at the Detroit church where her father, Reverend C.L.Franklin, preached. She became a featured solo vocalist in her church choir when she was 12 and made her first recording as a gospel artist two years after. John Hammond, the famous talent scout, was one of the people who brought Aretha to popularity.

Many hits by Aretha, especially those made in the early '70s, were huge successes, for example, "Spanish Harlem," Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Day Dreaming," etc. She was even more triumphant after producing the admirable albums live at Fillmore West and Amazing Grace.

With her songs claiming the first place in R'nB lists twenty times and the Grammy Awards that she, the first artists ever, won every year between 1960 and 1975, it was no wonder that Aretha was crowned "The Queen of Soul" in th 60's, a title that she till proudly wears now. She was the first woman in Rock and Roll hall of fame. She got a lifetime award in 1995. She is the inspiration for Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige.;-D:-q