Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
For 50 years, Aretha Franklin has touched music lovers with her soulful voice. The 18-time Grammy Award-winner has inspired the likes of Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Fantasia Barrino and the late, great Luther Vandross, to name a few. With an expansive catalog of 40 albums already to her credit, the recovering Queen of Soul has big plans to release a new record, launch a tour and get to work on her long-delayed biopic. BlackVoices.com celebrates the life and times of the phenomenal woman born Aretha Louise Franklin.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis Tenn. When she was 2 years old, the Franklin family moved to Detroit, where Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, became an influential Baptist preacher.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
Aretha Franklin made her first recordings at the tender age of 14 and, shortly thereafter, was discovered by A&R executive John Hammond, who signed her to a contract with Columbia Records. In the early '60s, Aretha's first recordings were jazz records.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
Many people only know Aretha Franklin from her Atlantic Records' repertoire. But under the direction of Columbia exec John Hammond, her vocal styling truly emerged with pop and jazz standards of the day.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
Her mother died when she was 10, and Aretha Franklin was primarily raised by her grandmother, Rachel. Of her upbringing, she told Ebony magazine in her 1995 cover story, "As an adult, I can certainly see where I missed a lot of things. Things a mother would have guided her daughter to do. I've learned a lot of things the hard way, but by the same token, the things I learned from my dad were invaluable."

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
As a child, Franklin and her sisters, Carolyn and Erma, sang at their father's Detroit-area church, New Bethel Baptist Church. She grew up with several gospel greats, including Albertina Walker and her group, The Caravans, Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, who spent a great deal of time at her father's church. She sang in the church and also taught herself how to play piano by ear.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
Tony Award-winning choreographer Cholly Atkins famously choreographed trademark moves for Motown acts like The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Gladys Knight & the Pips. But, before Berry Gordy hired Atkins to put his Midas touch on Motown acts, Franklin was one of the Detroit-based non-Motown artists that Atkins worked with back in 1961.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
On her first self-titled album, Aretha Franklin became the first R&B performer to cover Judy Garland's much cherished 'Over the Rainbow.' She also famously covered 'It Ain't Necessarily So' from Gershwin's 'Porgy & Bess,' as well as Billie Holiday's 'Who Needs You?' on the debut.

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for artists to release multiple albums in one year. Her first opus in 1962 yielded her very first top 40 pop hit was with 'Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody,' which was featured on the opus, 'The Electrifying Aretha Franklin.'

Aretha @ 69

All About Aretha!
The second 1962 collection, 'The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin,' was the Queen's first album to achieve any commercial success. The third offering from Aretha Franklin reached number 69 on the Billboard pop album charts, but unlike the prior year's 'The Electrifying Aretha Franklin,' it did not produce one hit single.

Aretha @ 69