The World Loses the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin.... the Queen of Soul and one of America's music legends' has passed on. According to news reports, she died in her Detroit home at 9.50 a.m today; surrounded by her friends and family. She was 76.

Her family's statement:

In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds. 

"We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.

Franklin's music career began as a child, with her singing gospel songs at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father was a minister.

 In 1960, at the age of 18, she recorded with Columbia Records,  then after signing to Atlantic Records in 1967, Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as Respect, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Spanish Harlem and Think. By the end of the 1960s,  she had gained the title she will be forever be known as,  'The Queen of Soul'. 

ARETHA FRANKLIN (1942- 2018)