Aretha
Louise Franklin was born on March 25th,
1962 in Memphis, Tennessee to her father, Clarence LaVaughn “C.L.”
Franklin, and mother Barbara (Siggers) Franklin. Aretha's father
Clarence, was a Baptist minister and circuit preacher, while her
mother Barbara, was a gifted vocalist and pianist.
Both Aretha's parents had 3 children outside their marriage, and due to their tumultuous relationship, they separated in 1948, when Aretha was seven. Barbara went to live in Buffalo, New York, where Aretha's family had previously resided, and continued visiting Aretha who lived with Clarence in Detroit, before Barbara died of a heart attack in 1952, when Aretha was 10. Several women stepped in to help raise Aretha, her grandmother, Rachel being one of them, the other was the late, great Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson—and it was during this time, that Aretha taught herself to play piano.
Aretha's father Clarence, was known as a preacher with a “million dollar voice”, and his celebrity amongst Black church-goers gained an almost nationwide status. His church was frequented by the likes of James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. Clara Ward, a gifted gospel singer herself, was said to be romantically linked to Clarence, but they never married—although, Clara was in the Franklin home enough times, to serve as a role model to young Aretha, while she attended Northern High School. But in pursuit of a musical career, Aretha left Northern High after her sophomore year.
Just after her mother's death, Aretha began singing solos at her father's church. And recognizing his daughter was an exceptionally gifted singer, Clarence began managing her at age 12. Clarence also helped Aretha sign her first record deal with “J.V.B.” records. In 1956, J.V.B. put out a single featuring Aretha titled, “Never Grow Old”, with another song called, “You Grow Closer” on the record's B-side. In 1965, “Checker Records” released an album called, “Songs of Faith” with the previously recorded Aretha cuts on it, and the disc also featured four unreleased songs from her as well.
Now, according to Quincy Jones, the famously talented singer Dinah Washington, said to him, that Aretha was gonna' be the “next one”.
So, in 1958, Franklin and her father traveled to California, where Aretha met Sam Cooke. And shortly afterwards, she toured with Martin Luther King Jr.—and sang at his funeral in 1968. As a young gospel singer, Aretha spent summers touring Chicago's church circuit, and often stayed with Mavis Staples and her family.
At age of 18, Aretha told her father, she wanted to follow Sam Cooke into the “secular” world of music, and with that, she and Clarence moved to New York, in pursuit of a “mainstream” record deal. Her father produced a two-song demo that came to the attention of Columbia Records, where she was signed to a deal in 1960. And Aretha's first Columbia single, “Today, I Sing the Blues”, was released in September of 1960, and quickly reached the top ten of the Hot R&B sellers chart.
Now, the fact that Columbia Records had Aretha singing songs like, “Today, I Sing the Blues”, speaks to the fact that they didn't know what to do with her golden voice. Still, in the 1960's during one of her performances, a WVON DJ, announced that Aretha should be crowned the “Queen of Soul”—and the title stuck.
In November of 1966, after six years with Columbia, Aretha signed with the “Atlantic Records” label. And in January of 1967, she recorded the song, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”—the song was released a month later and shot to number one on the “R&B charts”. *Note: now-a-days, the music industry has (largely) done away with the R&B chart listings, cause they know it's this genre, not “pop” music (Taylor Swift), that the public at large is really checkin' for and purchasing from (especially when ya' talkin' 'bout whitey). Mind you, “I Never Loved a Man” also peaked at number “nine” on whitey's Billboard's “Hot 100” charts. And if that weren't enough, this record's “b-side “, had the song, “Do Right Man, Do Right Woman” on it. And that topped the R&B top 40 charts.
In April of 1967, Atlantic had Aretha record her riveting version of Otis Redding's song “Respect”, which shot to number one on both the R&B and pop charts. This became her signature song, and with it, Aretha's status as an industry icon was confirmed. The song's also recognized as an anthem for the “Civil Rights” movement—and feminism.
When she sang, her melanated spirituality reached inside us and had a healing effect on whatever trials and travails we might have been going through. I remember as a young man, the first time I heard her sing the song, “Rock Steady”, on “Soul” Train. At the time, I didn't know much about her, but I was so mesmerized by her voice, that I couldn't turn away from the TV. What I've found out since is, the sound she produced, was the voice of our indigenous ancestors using her as a vessel, to let us get a glimpse of the abiding love, warmth, and benevolence that the overwhelming majority of us will experience, once we leave this 3rd dimensional plane.
And let me also say, it sickens me, when white women try to hijack Aretha's spirituality, to co-opt the public into believing the nonsensical narrative of white fascist feminism.
A couple of nights ago on August the 20th, MTV decided that Madonna should prepare a “tribute” to Aretha Franklin on their annual “Video Music Awards” (VMA) show. Now, as we all (should) know, Madonna's speech turned the air toxic at the VMA's—and there's 3 specific reasons why—and they're as follows...
Well, while most people were befuddled at Madonna's wardrobe, when I saw her “get-up”, I nodded my head and though, it figures—cause here's what I knew: the term “Black Madonna” or “Black Virgin”, refers to the statues of the “blessed” Virgin Mary, and often the infant Jesus, with Black skin. Mind you, there are 400 to 500 “Black Madonnas” in Europe alone—and these statues, which are mostly in churches and shrines, are associated with miracles.
Both Aretha's parents had 3 children outside their marriage, and due to their tumultuous relationship, they separated in 1948, when Aretha was seven. Barbara went to live in Buffalo, New York, where Aretha's family had previously resided, and continued visiting Aretha who lived with Clarence in Detroit, before Barbara died of a heart attack in 1952, when Aretha was 10. Several women stepped in to help raise Aretha, her grandmother, Rachel being one of them, the other was the late, great Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson—and it was during this time, that Aretha taught herself to play piano.
Aretha's father Clarence, was known as a preacher with a “million dollar voice”, and his celebrity amongst Black church-goers gained an almost nationwide status. His church was frequented by the likes of James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. Clara Ward, a gifted gospel singer herself, was said to be romantically linked to Clarence, but they never married—although, Clara was in the Franklin home enough times, to serve as a role model to young Aretha, while she attended Northern High School. But in pursuit of a musical career, Aretha left Northern High after her sophomore year.
Just after her mother's death, Aretha began singing solos at her father's church. And recognizing his daughter was an exceptionally gifted singer, Clarence began managing her at age 12. Clarence also helped Aretha sign her first record deal with “J.V.B.” records. In 1956, J.V.B. put out a single featuring Aretha titled, “Never Grow Old”, with another song called, “You Grow Closer” on the record's B-side. In 1965, “Checker Records” released an album called, “Songs of Faith” with the previously recorded Aretha cuts on it, and the disc also featured four unreleased songs from her as well.
Now, according to Quincy Jones, the famously talented singer Dinah Washington, said to him, that Aretha was gonna' be the “next one”.
So, in 1958, Franklin and her father traveled to California, where Aretha met Sam Cooke. And shortly afterwards, she toured with Martin Luther King Jr.—and sang at his funeral in 1968. As a young gospel singer, Aretha spent summers touring Chicago's church circuit, and often stayed with Mavis Staples and her family.
At age of 18, Aretha told her father, she wanted to follow Sam Cooke into the “secular” world of music, and with that, she and Clarence moved to New York, in pursuit of a “mainstream” record deal. Her father produced a two-song demo that came to the attention of Columbia Records, where she was signed to a deal in 1960. And Aretha's first Columbia single, “Today, I Sing the Blues”, was released in September of 1960, and quickly reached the top ten of the Hot R&B sellers chart.
Now, the fact that Columbia Records had Aretha singing songs like, “Today, I Sing the Blues”, speaks to the fact that they didn't know what to do with her golden voice. Still, in the 1960's during one of her performances, a WVON DJ, announced that Aretha should be crowned the “Queen of Soul”—and the title stuck.
In November of 1966, after six years with Columbia, Aretha signed with the “Atlantic Records” label. And in January of 1967, she recorded the song, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”—the song was released a month later and shot to number one on the “R&B charts”. *Note: now-a-days, the music industry has (largely) done away with the R&B chart listings, cause they know it's this genre, not “pop” music (Taylor Swift), that the public at large is really checkin' for and purchasing from (especially when ya' talkin' 'bout whitey). Mind you, “I Never Loved a Man” also peaked at number “nine” on whitey's Billboard's “Hot 100” charts. And if that weren't enough, this record's “b-side “, had the song, “Do Right Man, Do Right Woman” on it. And that topped the R&B top 40 charts.
In April of 1967, Atlantic had Aretha record her riveting version of Otis Redding's song “Respect”, which shot to number one on both the R&B and pop charts. This became her signature song, and with it, Aretha's status as an industry icon was confirmed. The song's also recognized as an anthem for the “Civil Rights” movement—and feminism.
Now,
let's stop here.
The
real reason Aretha's called the “Queen of Soul”, is that's
what her voice spoke directly to.
When she sang, her melanated spirituality reached inside us and had a healing effect on whatever trials and travails we might have been going through. I remember as a young man, the first time I heard her sing the song, “Rock Steady”, on “Soul” Train. At the time, I didn't know much about her, but I was so mesmerized by her voice, that I couldn't turn away from the TV. What I've found out since is, the sound she produced, was the voice of our indigenous ancestors using her as a vessel, to let us get a glimpse of the abiding love, warmth, and benevolence that the overwhelming majority of us will experience, once we leave this 3rd dimensional plane.
And let me also say, it sickens me, when white women try to hijack Aretha's spirituality, to co-opt the public into believing the nonsensical narrative of white fascist feminism.
Case
in point...
A couple of nights ago on August the 20th, MTV decided that Madonna should prepare a “tribute” to Aretha Franklin on their annual “Video Music Awards” (VMA) show. Now, as we all (should) know, Madonna's speech turned the air toxic at the VMA's—and there's 3 specific reasons why—and they're as follows...
Reason#3:
People wondered, what the heck is Madonna wearing?
Well, while most people were befuddled at Madonna's wardrobe, when I saw her “get-up”, I nodded my head and though, it figures—cause here's what I knew: the term “Black Madonna” or “Black Virgin”, refers to the statues of the “blessed” Virgin Mary, and often the infant Jesus, with Black skin. Mind you, there are 400 to 500 “Black Madonnas” in Europe alone—and these statues, which are mostly in churches and shrines, are associated with miracles.
Madonna was performing a freemasonic ritual right before our eyes, where she essentially tried to harness Aretha's (The real Black Madonna's) energy for herself. That's why she mentioned in her 6 minute speech, how she was inspired by Aretha, and that's why she thanked Aretha for being “our” Queen of Soul.
Essentially Madonna wants the “Queen of Soul” title herself, but she proved that night, that she'll never be anything but a third-rate “material GIRL”.
Reason#2:
Madonna understands that she stopped being relevant years ago.
There's a now famous tweet being shown on this topic that states: “Does Madonna know Madonna didn't die”?
Now,
what the person who “tweeted” this fails to realize is: Madonna
may not be dead, but her career died a long time ago. And there's
nothing she can do to resurrect it—NOT A DAMN THING!
Reason#1:
Madonna not only knows that the gold standard of cultural currency is
“Black Street Cred”, but she realizes that her leaving the R&B
genre to be a pop princess, means she'll forever be locked
out of that social construct.
Now, Madonna's 60th birthday just passed—that's right y'all, the material girl, is 60. And supposedly, Aretha passed on her b-day. Mind you, I guess Maddy wasn't only pissed cause a fuss wasn't made over her birthday, but it seems like she's ticked off cause she was (and forever will be) outshined by Aretha's passing—and Maddy can't stomach that.
To
top all this off, Maddy supposedly had her b-day celebration in
Morocco, Africa.
Meaning, everything she's trying to do to align herself wit' “Black Cool Points”, is failing miserably. There's even footage of Maddy backstage at the VMA's conversing (and flirting) with Lenny Kravitz. And at one point in their conversation, Maddy says to Lenny, “...awards shows are all about betrayal—you feel me?” So Madonna's working overtime tryna' perfect our vernacular and get wit' our spiritual sciences, so she can stay in denial about her 15 minutes being up—and knowing they'll never be back again.
So, I've said all that to say this: no matter how hard Taylor Swift, Gwen Stefani, the late Amy Winehouse, or Maddy try in earnest to approximate the construct of Black Cool Points, they'll always fall short. For the simple reason that their degenerative pallor and the recessive DNA that goes with it, will never be able to access the kinds of spirituality that the indigenous people of this earth, Black men and women, possess as a matter of course.
And like Sam L. Jackson said, in Spike Lee's movie, “Do the Right Thing”: “That's the double truth, Ruth”.
REST
IN PEACE, AND AWESOME POWER TO THE QUEEN, NETCHER, DEITY, AND THE REAL
“BLACK MADONNA”, ARETHA FRANKLIN!
THEY'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER TO TAKE YOUR PLACE!
Later...
—MontUHURU
Mimia
P.S.
Here's
the Soul Train vid from 1972, featuring Aretha, that I wrote about earlier. And mind you, everything about Aretha is golden in this
clip, from her voice, to her skin, to her hair, to the background's stage design.
And even though the production value of this vid ain't the best,
Aretha's lovely vocals will still shine through your computer screen. And,
I defy you not to get goosebumps when Aretha raises her hands and
sings, “Oooooh-hoooo” at the bridge. Classic stuff, enjoy.
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