Read more opinions on theGrio. became her first Arista album to be certified platinum. White, for his part, didnt exactly have a clean record, most notably with police looking for him after he allegedly shot an associate in the groin at Franklins home. March 28, 1970) with 3rd ex-boyfriend, Ken Cunningham. [60] In 1968, Franklin issued the top-selling albums Lady Soul and Aretha Now, which included some of her most popular hit singles, including "Chain of Fools", "Ain't No Way", "Think", and "I Say a Little Prayer". Take a look back at Aretha Franklin's life, as she tells it through a . C. L. Franklin, 69, Dies After 5 Years in Coma", "Aretha Talks About Men, Marriage, Music & Motherhood", "Aretha Franklin Returns With Soulful CD, 'So Damn Happy', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aretha_Franklin&oldid=1138350111, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 05:30. It took someone that slick to get a great talent like Aretha in his stable.. Franklins mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. Type. Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews. A 1968 Time cover story on Franklin titled "The Sound of Soul" delves into the trauma she experienced, reportedly at the hands of Ted White. Cunningham served as her manager for a time and the two lived together, but never married. [13], The Franklins had a troubled marriage due to Mr. Franklin's infidelities, and they separated in 1948. At the time of their marriage, Franklin had four children and Turman had three of his own. [130] Her youngest son, Kecalf Cunningham, was born in April 1970 and is the child of her road manager Ken Cunningham.[131]. In an interview with Oprah Daily, Erivo spoke about channeling Franklins ability to weather adversity in her performance. [190][191], Franklin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979, had her voice declared a Michigan "natural resource" in 1985,[192] and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Aretha was married to Ted White in 1961, when the singer was 19. [224][225], During the American Music Awards on October 9, 2018, the show was closed by bringing Gladys Knight, Donnie McClurkin, Ledisi, Cece Winans, and Mary Mary together to pay tribute to Aretha Franklin. In 2008, Franklin issued the holiday album This Christmas, Aretha on DMI Records. [40], She returned to Detroit's Ford Field on Thanksgiving Day 2016 to once again perform the national anthem before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions. How Aretha Franklin Was Impacted by Her Husbands, The Complex History of Aretha Franklin's Children, Suzan-Lori Parks on Telling Aretha's Story, Cynthia Erivo on Finding Her Inner Aretha, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. In 1971, Franklin became the first R&B performer to headline Fillmore West, later that year releasing the live album Aretha Live at Fillmore West. Her main commitment is to her music. Thats the one commitment that will never die.. That February, Franklin earned the first two of her Grammys, including the debut category for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Franklin continued to record acclaimed albums such as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), and Sparkle (1976), before experiencing problems with the record company. [39][40], After turning 18, Franklin confided to her father that she aspired to follow Sam Cooke in recording pop music, and moved to New York. [187] Williams's eulogy was criticized for being "a political address that described children being in a home without a father as 'abortion after birth' and said black lives do not matter unless blacks stop killing each other". In 1960 she moved to New York City to pursue a career in secular music. Franklin and Turman, who had no children together, separated in 1982 and divorced in 1984. And she doesnt want any reference to it., But now and then, she would drop hints that being the Queen of Soul was not easy on her own soul. She then married her second husband, actor Glynn Turman, in 1978, and became stepmother of Turman's three children from a previous marriage. Perhaps through all the talk, it is Franklins silence that speaks the loudest. Wilkerson passed away due to complications from COVID-19 in 2020. [126] Both children took her family name. [86][87], In 1995, she was selected to play Aunt Em in the Apollo Theater revival of The Wiz. Both stations were originally named after other people. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. "They loved each other. .css-ssumvd{display:block;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.0625rem;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.25;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-ssumvd:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-ssumvd{letter-spacing:0rem;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}Gayle King Interviews Angela Bassett, Gayle Says March Is a Good Month for TV Lovers, Sheryl Lee Ralphs Definition of True Love, What We Know About The Little Mermaid Remake, Oprah Congratulates Kimmel on 20 Years of His Show, Nikole Hannah-Jones on "The 1619 Project", Ta-Nehisi Coates on the Wakanda Forever Podcast, Oprah Is Acting in Tyler Perrys Next Netflix Film. The album of the same name was released after the single. Franklin was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1994, recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1999, recipient of the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award presented by Awards Council member Coretta Scott King,[194][195][196] and was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 by then President George W. Franklin received numerous honors throughout her career. [178], A memorial service was held at New Bethel Baptist Church on August 19. [198] Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Aretha went from strength to strength despite her circumstances, and it's that resilience that says: Life might break me today and tomorrow, but in the long run, I will not be forever broken, she said. [159] Further concert cancellations followed in the summer[160][161][162] and fall. [155], In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor. [29] He also helped her sign her first recording deal with J.V.B. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [166] However, she scheduled some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on her physician's advice. In 2019 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation "[f]or her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". So I called Sam. I've been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. Per David Ritzs Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, they first met in 1954 at a party, and White had a reputation as something of a smooth operator. Donald and Aretha eventually split up and by 1961, she and Mr. Theodore Ted White were married. See an exhibit on Aretha Franklin, and the Janis Joplin's famous psychedelic 1965 Porsche at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. [121], Franklin was also a strong supporter of Native American rights. Aretha Franklin married an abusive pimp. [205] Inducted to the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012, Franklin was described as "the voice of the civil rights movement, the voice of black America". [153] She admitted in 1994 that her smoking was "messing with my voice",[154] but after quitting smoking she said later, in 2003, that her weight "ballooned". Bio: Aretha's First Husband / Manager Saycon Sengbloh Born: October 23, 1977 Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Erma Franklin Born: March 13, 1938 Birthplace: Shelby, Mississippi, USA Death: September 7, 2002, Detroit, Michigan, USA (lung cancer) Bio: Aretha's Older Sister Hailey Kilgore Born: February 16, 1999 Birthplace: Humble, Texas, USA Alternate titles: Aretha Louise Franklin, Queen of Soul. [223], After Franklin's death, fans added unofficial tributes to two New York City Subway stations: the Franklin Street station in Manhattan, served by the 1 train, and the Franklin Avenue station in Brooklyn, served by the C and S trains. Franklins cousin and backup singer Brenda Franklin-Corbett told Ritz that Cunningham had a much better impact on Franklins life than White did. [96] On September 29, 2014, Franklin performed to a standing ovation, with Cissy Houston as backup, a compilation of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" on the Late Show with David Letterman. Aretha's second husband is actor Glynn Turman. Franklin and White, who was also her manager, married in 1961 when she was just 19 years old; but after seven years of marriage, they separated in 1968. Advertisement ARETHA'S MARRIAGE Aretha Franklin and actor Glynn Turman both had failed marriages when they started falling in love. [33] As a young gospel singer, Franklin spent summers on the gospel circuit in Chicago and stayed with Mavis Staples' family. However, Franklin's family denounced the series, claiming to be uninvolved with the production process, despite the production team stating that the series had been endorsed by the Franklin estate. She was introduced to Theodore "Ted" White by fellow singer Della Reese. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold certification. Aretha Franklin died at 9.50am on Thursday aged 76, surrounded by family after battle with pancreatic cancer Glynn Turman, who was married to Franklin from 1978 to 1984, was joined by Stevie . But one of the wills states that Clarence's father was Edward Jordan Sr., with whom she also had her second son, Edward, in 1957. American history wells up when Aretha sings. [158], In May 2013, Franklin canceled two performances because of an undisclosed medical treatment. Aretha Franklin, legendary 'Queen of Soul,' dies in 2018 at 76. [1] White was the manager and first husband of soul singer Aretha Franklin. [35], Franklin and her father traveled to California, where she met singer Sam Cooke. Aretha Franklin was married twice in her lifetime. ", While Franklin herself never directly addressed the dark side of the relationship, one of the first signs of trouble emerged in a 1968 Time story that said White had roughed her up in public at Atlantas Regency Hyatt House Hotel. While there werent further details, it did go on to say: It was not the first such incident., The story described White as former dabbler in Detroit real estate and a street-corner wheeler-dealer who had come a long way since he married Aretha and took over the management of her career. Even gospel great Mahalia Jackson spoke out in the article, saying: I dont think shes happy. Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin. [143], Franklin's music business friends included Dionne Warwick, Mavis Staples, and Cissy Houston, who began singing with Franklin as members of the Sweet Inspirations. Hit songs such as "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", "Respect", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Chain of Fools", "Think", and "I Say a Little Prayer", propelled Franklin past her musical peers. They were like best friends. [68] After being cleared of wrongdoing, Jones subsequently enjoyed a brief career of her own, during which she was herself the subject of an impersonation. Over 75 million copies of her albums have been sold. They called each other sweetie. Franklin's nephew Vaughan complained of Williams: "He spoke for 50 minutes and at no time did he properly eulogize her. Between 1955 and 1970, Franklin had sons Clarence, Edward, Teddy, and Kecalf, all of whom ultimately followed their mother into . Aretha Franklin was married twice in her life, with her second marriage only lasting a couple of years. A brutal Detroit street criminal and . Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Franklin and White married in. Suspicion was drawn when the fake Franklin charged only a fraction of the expected rate to perform. In 1987, Franklin performed "America the Beautiful" at WWE's Wrestlemania III; one source states that "to this day her WrestleMania III performance might be the most memorable" of the event openers by many artists.[83]. 1. Franklin's half-brother Vaughn died in late 2002. Get Rebel Wilson Married The prodigal Disney CEO is whipping the company into shape by facilitating celebrity Rebel Wilson 's . Franklin] had a 1961 Continental, you know, with the suicide doors. Clarence Franklin was born in 1955, when Aretha Franklin was just 12 years old. Bush. Without targeting any particular genre, she sang everything from Broadway ballads to youth-oriented rhythm and blues. "Our last year in the studio together was the craziest. READ MORE: Aretha Franklin: The Powerful Meaning Behind Her Equality Anthem "Respect". Might be showing my age, but who knew Aretha remarried to actor, Glynn Russell Turman. Read more opinions on theGrio. Now at 49, Wayans says as he looks toward the second half of his life he thinks, "Yeah, I probably got one in me. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. The Queen of Soul died of pancreatic . She denied that the ailment had anything to do with pancreatic cancer, as had been reported. We may earn commission from the links on this page. Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston, in the early 1970s. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. Shes a genius, and geniuses are plagued by their talent. Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. "I felt like she needed counseling cause she kept missing gigs and kept taking all kinds of abuse from Ted. [32], During this time, Franklin would occasionally travel with the Soul Stirrers. "Arethas husband, Ted White, roughed her up in public," the piece says. Franklin and White divorced in 1969, and had one child, Teddy Richards, a successful musician who played guitar in his mother's band. There were plans for her to record an album produced by Danger Mouse, who was replaced with Babyface and Don Was when Danger Mouse left the project. [79] The following year, she released "Get It Right", produced by Luther Vandross.[80]. [43][58] Upon hearing her version, Otis Redding said admiringly: "That little girl done took my song away from me. She already knew him. [199] Franklin was the first individual woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. She released a gospel album, The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, in 1956, at age 14. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged". According to National Geographic, "she was a musical genius unmatched in her range, power, and soul". [132][133] She had actually seen White the first time at a party held at her house in 1954. She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. She was 18 years old. Turman and Franklin had both been previously married and entered their union with previous children. [144] Franklin had to cancel plans to perform at Whitney Houston's memorial service on February 18, 2012, due to a leg spasm. Here's What That Means", "Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Cancer vs. Pancreatic Cancer", "Aretha Franklin: Tributes flow in for Queen of Soul", "Aretha Franklin: The sound of the civil rights movement", "Aretha Franklin: Date set for Detroit funeral", "Aretha Franklin: thousands pay respects to 'Queen of Soul' in Detroit", "Aretha Franklin's Funeral Live Streams: Watch", "Shirley Caesar at Aretha Franklin's funeral", "Aretha Franklin's funeral: Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder pay tribute", "Aretha Franklin's funeral: Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder offer stirring final tributes", "Reverend accused of bigotry, misogyny after fiery eulogy for Aretha Franklin", "Aretha Franklin funeral: pastor offends family after he didn't 'properly eulogize her'", "Aretha's tomb is open to the public and fans are paying their respects", "Aretha Franklin interred at Detroit cemetery", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Photo: 2012: Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is joined onstage by Awards Council member General Colin Powell during her memorable musical performance to close the evening of the 50th annual Banquet of the Golden Plate ceremonies", "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Aretha Franklin", "Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame 2015 Induction Ceremony Was A Big Hit", "Announcement of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize Winners", "Aretha Franklin makes history with posthumous Pulitzer win", "Stars To Join For Aretha Franklin Tribute", "The Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists (20-01)", "Soul singer Aretha Franklin 'seriously ill' and 'surrounded by family' says close source", "Aretha Franklin remembered by Sarasota's Jerry Wexler, her legendary producer", "The 35 Greatest R&B Artists Of All Time", "How a TV crew meticulously re-created Aretha Franklin's extraordinary life", "New York University Holds 182nd Commencement at Yankee Stadium", "Yale's 309th Commencement: Pomp, ceremony and r-e-s-p-e-c-t", "Aretha Franklin Unable to Attend 241st Commencement Sunday", "Commencement 2007: Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients", "Aretha Franklin's 5 Most Impressive Career Achievements", "Aretha Franklin to receive honorary degree Nov. 5", "Aretha Franklin Receives Honorary Degree From Harvard University", "NYC Subway Stations Pay Tribute to Aretha Franklin With 'Respect' Signs", "New Yorkers pay tribute to Aretha Franklin on MTA subway stations", "2018 AMAs Aretha Franklin Tribute Brings Out Gladys Knight, Ledisi, Mary Mary and More", "Gladys Knight performs moving tribute to Aretha Franklin at the AMAs Independent.ie", "All-Star Lineup To Pay Tribute At 'Aretha! adopted (Vaughn didn't learn C.L. [226][227], A tribute concert, "Aretha! The documentary Amazing Grace, which chronicles her recording of the 1972 album, premiered in 2018. The album featured her first single to chart the Billboard Hot 100, "Won't Be Long", which also peaked at number 7 on the R&B chart. [152] A former chain smoker who struggled with alcoholism, she quit smoking in 1992. Although the fan tributes were later taken down, the subway system's operator, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, placed permanent black-and-white stickers with the word "Respect" next to the "Franklin" name signs in each station. She fooled around and got with a man like Ted White, but thats the kind of dude Aretha likes, the dude that flies fancy, singer Mavis Staples told Vanity Fair. Franklin had two more children and was married twice. "Ted won because Ted could concentrate completely on Aretha while Daddy couldnt.". [136] Her half-sister, Carol Ellan Kelley (ne Jennings; 19402019), is C. L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old member of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis where C. L. was pastor. Inside Aretha Franklins Relationship with Her First Husband Ted White, Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, Rock Icon KISS Is Saying Goodbye (For Real), Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. During that time, Franklin immersed herself in getting her career back on the ascent, and Respect frames Turman as having a difficult time feeling like the less notable member of a celebrity couple. "[104] Describing Franklin's voice on her first album, Songs of Faith, released in 1956 when she was just 14, Jerry Wexler explained that it "was not that of a child but rather of an ecstatic hierophant". Cecil Franklin. I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You) (1967), recorded at Fame Studios in Florence, Alabama, was her first million-seller. I'm going to see her free if there is any justice in our courts, not because I believe in communism, but because she's a Black woman and she wants freedom for Black people. [157] On May 19, 2011, Franklin had her comeback show at the Chicago Theatre. Franklin, played by Courtney B. Vance, in "Genius: Aretha.". Aretha married twice, first to Theodore 'Ted' White in 1961 aged 19. Grant Rindner is a culture and music journalist in New York. Her parents separated, and Aretha lived with . For the next half-dozen years, she became a hit maker of unprecedented proportions; she was Lady Soul.. [137], Franklin was performing at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 10, 1979, when her father, C. L., was shot twice at point-blank range in his Detroit home. A gifted singer and pianist, Aretha Franklin toured with her father's traveling revival show and later visited New York, where she signed with Columbia. [81] The next year's Aretha album nearly matched this success with the hit singles "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "Jimmy Lee" and "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me", her international number-one duet with George Michael. He had a tiger on his hands when that girl got drunk.. [31] In 1965, Checker Records released Songs of Faith, featuring the five tracks from the 1956 Spirituals album, with the addition of four previously unreleased recordings. Deacon Willie Todd declared, Reverend Franklin couldnt stand Ted, according to Vanity Fair. [67] That year, Franklin was the subject of a criminal impersonation scheme. [94] On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year, and performed "Never Gonna Break My Faith", which had won her the Grammy for best Gospel performance[95] the year before. [24] She was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005,[197] and the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. Aretha Franklin's first marriage was to Ted White. Was she ever married? Her mother Barbara left early on and had died by the time Franklin reached her tenth birthday. Later . The scene cuts there, but in a . "It's a legacy of heartbreak, joy, complexity, and triumph.. [20], Aretha's father's emotionally driven sermons resulted in his being known as the man with the "million-dollar voice". In 1998, Franklin returned to the Top 40 with the Lauryn Hill-produced song "A Rose Is Still a Rose"; later, she released an album with the same name. In March 1969, Franklin was unanimously voted winner of Acadmie du Jazz's R&B award, Prix Otis Redding, for her albums Lady Soul, Aretha Now, and Aretha in Paris. She provided money for civil rights groups, at times covering payroll, and performed at benefits and protests. [74] On November 7, 1979, she guested The Mike Douglas Show with her yellow costume from her La Diva album, and sang "Ladies Only", "What If I Should Ever Need You" and "Yesterday" by the Beatles. After a difficult marriage that involved domestic violence, they separated in 1968. American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. A small boy was so touched by her performance that he came onto the stage and embraced her while Franklin was still singing. Despite the success of the single "Angel", the album bombed[citation needed] upon its release in 1973. She signed with Columbia Records in New York and released her first single, Today I Sing the Blues, in 1960. Her sister Carolyn died in April 1988 from breast cancer and her eldest sister Erma died from throat cancer in September 2002. A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen of Soul", "Tyler Perry to Host Aretha Franklin Tribute Special for CBS, Recording Academy", "Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert Lines Up Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys, John Legend", "Aretha Franklin honored with star-studded tribute concert", "TV Review: 'Aretha! He was kind of abusive., As for Franklin herself, all she ever said even in her very own autobiography was I didnt realize I was in way over my head, calling White a take-charge kind of guy., That taking charge seemed to overshadow both her personal and professional lives, exploding in a violent incident between White and producer Rick Hall that, according to Hall, turned into a full-blown fist fight., READ MORE: Inside the Lifelong Friendship of Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson. [52] By 1964, Franklin began recording more pop music, reaching the top 10 on the R&B chart with the ballad "Runnin' Out of Fools", in early 1965. Theres nothing he wouldn't do for her. [112], According to Richie Unterberger, Franklin was "one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. Just under 10 years after her turbulent first marriage to former manager Ted White came to an end, the Queen of Soul married partner Glynn Turman. [106] It peaked at number five on the Billboard Top Classical Albums chart before her death and rose to number two after her death. Franklin left Atlantic in 1979 and signed with Arista Records. [44], In January 1961, Columbia issued Franklin's first album, Aretha: With The Ray Bryant Combo. During that period, Franklin provided vocals to the theme songs of the TV shows A Different World and Together. Aretha Franklin's funeral fit for a queen 03:59 CNN Aretha Franklin, whose gospel-rooted singing and bluesy yet expansive delivery earned her the title " the Queen of Soul ," has died,. Glynn Russell Turman is a proud father of three children. In 2009 she electrified a crowd of more than one million with her performance of My Country Tis of Thee at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama, and her rendition of Carole Kings (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman during the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in 2015 was no less breathtaking. It ended years later, and many sources affirm that it was due to domestic abuse. [136] Franklins father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. Theodore Richard White (March 25, 1931 - October 26, 2020) was an American businessman, songwriter, music manager and producer from Detroit, Michigan. "If anybody could rejuvenate Franklin's puzzlingly stuck career, it was Davis. Aretha told me she could use it on one condition: only if I drove. You make mistakes. [165], In February 2017, Franklin announced in an interview with local Detroit television anchor Evrod Cassimy, that 2017 would be her final year touring. According to Daily Mail, Aretha Franklin's early career was reportedly bankrolled by Ted White, the man she walked down . Aretha Franklin was in the music business for nearly 60 years. [7] In 2019, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded the songwriter a posthumous special citation "for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". [180] The August 31 Homegoing Service held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, included multiple tributes by celebrities, politicians, friends and family members and was streamed by some news agencies[181] such as Fox News, CNN, The Word Network, BET and MSNBC. Aretha Franklin was in relationships with Eumir Deodato (1973) and Ken Cunningham (I) (1968 - 1971). They had one child, son Teddy Richards. She was the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year, performing at the Grammys days later. Their talent takes over their lives and overwhelms everything else, Cecil said. As a teen, Aretha Franklin sang in a junior gospel choir. after they . Ted White ", According to Respect, the late Detroit-based soul singer Harvey Fuqua was critical of White, though Ritz noted that "in Aretha's [own] book, there is not a hint of White's shady activities.". And Aretha Franklin knew that better than anyone. The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was a complex figure, . They married six months after meeting While Franklin was still a teen when she met White, she was also a mother of two, having given birth to her first son Clarence when she was 12 and Edward. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. [113] Franklin's voice was described as being a "powerful mezzo-soprano voice". We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.