Posted on 08/16/2018 7:12:01 AM PDT by Red Badger
Aretha Franklin, known for having one of the greatest voices in music history, and for hits like "Respect," and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" ... died Thursday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Aretha passed away in her Detroit home where she was under hospice care. She'd been in failing health for many months and she was down to 86 pounds. One source told us he was informed more than a week ago that Aretha could go at any time.
She was surrounded by friends and family when she passed.
She had appeared incredibly frail in recent years, and rarely performed live. Her most recent appearance was last November for Elton John's AMFAR event.
Aretha's career is just incredible. Born in Memphis in 1942, her family eventually relocated to Detroit where she began singing in her father's church. She was such a powerhouse gospel singer, she landed a Columbia record deal in the early '60s.
(Excerpt) Read more at tmz.com ...
August 1968 Red Rocks amphitheater in foothills just west of Denver.
Aretha Franklin refused to take the stage because of a contract dispute. This caused a near riot that caused the crowd to storm the stage and destroy a piano. The city reacted with a one-year rock ban at Red Rocks in 1969, arguably the most important year of rock music history.
I attended that concert, back in my bachelor days, with a date. Didn't get involved with the riot. As we were driving away the police vehicles dispatched to quell the riot were having difficulty getting to the venue because of the heavy volume of traffic leaving on the narrow access road.
No refunds of course.
This left me with a tarnished impression of Aretha ... never impressed with the awards and tributes bestowed upon her over the past 50 years.
RIP Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul and one of the greats. I saw her at Wolf Trap fifteen years ago. She opened her show with God Bless America. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Contract disputes are serious business in the entertainment world.......................
And another piece of my youth disappears. How sad. RIP Aretha ...
Babe Ruth also died on August 16.
Love her version of the classic gospel song: “How I Got Over”
I was listening to Hey Nineteen when I read your post. Just sayin’.
This is what passes for talent today.
Upcoming rap star Rapsody. A far cry from what I remember when I was young listening to Aretha and Motown.
https://youtu.be/c3W3QDSET1I?t=96
Now please stop killing off the good musicians.
RIP Ms. Franklin, You may be gone but not forgotten...
As a child of the '60s (and current 21st century fossil), the aging and passing of these celebrities is an ongoing reminder that the fun doesn't last forever, or really for very long at all for that matter.
If Elvis were alive today, he'd be 83; John Lennon 78 and Jim Morrison 75.
Hell, it was noted a few days ago that even the "modern" pop star Madonna had turned 60.
lol.....
An incredible talent.
RIP, Aretha.
Her Death reminded me of Mahalia Jackson another great singer.
She was born on my birthday.
RIP
Aretha is also mentioned in Reunion’s “Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)”
That’s good to hear. Thanks.
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