Early+life

​


 * The Early life of Aretha Franklin **

Aretha Franklin was born on March 25, 1942. She had four other siblings. Her father was Reverend C.L. Franklin who was famous for his preachings at a 4,500 member Baptist church and was known as 'the Man with the Million dollar voice'. Her mother Barbara Siggers Franklin who also was a Gospel singer and pianist. Arethras' father was close friends with musicians Clara Ward, Sam Cooke, James Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson who helped Aretha with her vocals and also influenced her. When Aretha was six her mother abandoned their family leaving her to be raised by her paternal Grandmother, Rachel Franklin. Aretha Franklin was a self taught piano prodigy. At the age of fourteen she had gotten her first record deal with JVB and had recorded her first album. That same year Aretha gave birth to her first son Clerance. And at age sixteen she had her second son Edward. Aretha Franklin had gone through a lot of hardships, like her mother abandoning her family then dieing four years later. Her grandmother taught her that just because you were an African female did not mean you were any less of a person, and I think that came out in her songs later on in life. Since Aretha was brought up in a family full of Gospel singers that aspect of her life was clearly shown through her vocals and melodys. Later in life Aretha would be known as the 'Queen of Soul'. -Savannah Jackson [|Source 1] [|Source 2] [|Source 3]