Today in History – Aretha Franklin the “Queen of Soul” is Born

2026-03-24 - 21:15

Aretha Franklin (born March 25, 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.—died August 16, 2018, Detroit, Michigan) was an American singer who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s. Considered one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century, Franklin possessed a formidablegospel-trained voice that she used to command a range of music styles, including jazz, blues, pop, rhythm and blues (R&B), rock, and even opera. Her hits include anthems of the ’60s such as “Respect” and “Think” and the searing ballads “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)” and “(You Make Me Feel like) A Natural Woman.” Nicknamed the “Queen of Soul,” she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987).