Aretha Franklin

Very sad news today...

Aretha Franklin, who died Thursday at 76, was a once-in-a-generation singer. She was the Queen of Soul, but she also ventured into — and mastered — virtually every style of music, from jazz and classical to rhythm and blues. She passed away at her home in Detroit. 

Though her musical contributions were diverse, ranging in tone from spiritual to gaudy, her inimitable singing style came from a single source. She practically grew up in church, and the emotional intensity and personal connection she nurtured there with the music never left her. It informed virtually every one of her 77 top-100 songs, including 21 No. 1 R&B hits. She won 18 Grammy Awards and was the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1987. 

Not only was her multi-octave mezzo-soprano an instrument of stunning beauty, range and power, but her piano playing — often in counterpoint to her singing — was just as accomplished. She influenced countless singers — Whitney Houston, Adele, Patti LaBelle, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia. But her legend was forged not just on her ability to hit all the notes and embellish them with astonishing technical flourishes, but also to convey emotional nuance and deep feeling.

She had an amazing career and made such an impact on countless people from all over the world. She will definitely be missed.