Aretha Louise Franklin (/ri/ -REE-th; March 25, 1942 August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. [82] In 1987, she issued her third gospel album, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, which was recorded at her late father's New Bethel church, followed by Through the Storm in 1989. . Franklin's cover of "Rolling in the Deep" was featured among nine other songs in her first RCA release, Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics, released in October 2014. Theres nothing he wouldn't do for her. [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. I dont think Ree was built for long-term romantic commitment. [198] Franklin became the second woman inducted to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. What Happens Now? In 1967s I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), she sang the words, I don't know why I let you do these things to me / My friends keep telling me that you ain't no good / But they don't know that I'd leave you if I could.. [107][108][109] At the Ravinia Festival on September 3, 2017, she gave her last full concert. In Respect, the struggles of Franklins romantic life are portrayed by some around her as being connected to her tremendous artistic gifts, most notably by her brother, Rev. He earned thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country. was bitterly opposed to the whole deal, wrote music journalist Mikal Gilmore in a sprawling 2018 obituary for Rolling Stone. According to sources in Respect, Franklin was happy to know she was having a child with Cunningham, but was hesitant at the time to marry again following her difficult split from White. [1] She had often been described as a great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience". 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. White and Franklin were married just six months after meeting in 1961 when she was only 18. The couple had a contentious. Michael Ochs Archives/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Franklin and White married in. Aretha Franklin remarried. [1] White was the manager and first husband of soul singer Aretha Franklin. .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Aretha Franklins decades-long career dominance was rooted in songs that unleashed the power women so often had to hide. In the same vein, his second wife, Aretha welcomed a second child, Glynn Turman Jr. in 1965. In 1974, she lost 40 pounds (18kg) on a very-low-calorie diet[150] and maintained her new weight until the end of the decade. Jail is hell to be in. [136] Franklins father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. [125] Franklin did not like to discuss her early pregnancies with interviewers. Her father, Clarence L. Franklin, was a Baptist minister, and her mother, Barbara, a musician. 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. Franklin and Turman, who had no children together, separated in 1982 and divorced in 1984. [46] By the end of 1961, Franklin was named as a "new-star female vocalist" in DownBeat magazine. 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. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. The Young and the Restless ' Eric Braeden (Victor) was able to relive a very special moment when a photo popped up on his social media memories. This self-taught musician was married to Ted White first, at the age of 18 in 1961. Aretha Franklin died of advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. By marrying Turman, Franklin became stepmother of Turman's three children. [165], In February 2017, Franklin announced in an interview with local Detroit television anchor Evrod Cassimy, that 2017 would be her final year touring. The Rev. [114] According to David Remnick, what "distinguishes her is not merely the breadth of her catalog or the cataract force of her vocal instrument; it's her musical intelligence, her way of singing behind the beat, of spraying a wash of notes over a single word or syllable, of constructing, moment by moment, the emotional power of a three-minute song. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University. You try to learn from them, and when you dont it hurts even more. On an ABC promo aired on July 27, 2010, announcing Franklin and, Rev. [99][100][101][102] During the bridge of the song, Franklin dropped her fur coat to the stage, for which the audience rewarded her with a mid-performance standing ovation. She called him all the time. She launched a multi-city tour in mid-2014, starting with a performance on June 14 in New York at Radio City Music Hall. [32] Record label owner Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and her elder sister Erma to sign with his Tamla label. Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, Faith Hill, Fantasia, the Clark Sisters, Ronald Isley, Angie Stone, Chaka Khan, Jennifer Holliday, Loretta Devine, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Shirley Caesar,[183] Shirma Rouse,[184] Stevie Wonder, Eric Holder, Gladys Knight, Cedric the Entertainer, Tyler Perry, Smokey Robinson, Yolanda Adams, and Rev. Arethas brother said their father Reverend C.L. He was a handsome man with a smooth manner and excellent taste. While her career did not immediately flourish, Franklin found acclaim and commercial success once she signed with Atlantic Records in 1966. [73], Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey, which featured production from Quincy Jones. Her mother died when Aretha was 10. Her father, C.L. The "all-star" group performed gospel songs, including renditions from Franklin's 1972 album, Amazing Grace. [237] The season, starring Cynthia Erivo as Franklin, was aired in March 2021. [132][133] She had actually seen White the first time at a party held at her house in 1954. [62][63][64] Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in May, including an appearance at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, where she played to a near-hysterical audience who covered the stage with flower petals. [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. You make mistakes. Franklin was married to Glynn Turman from 1978 to 1984. Franklin recorded 112 charted singles on the US Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries and 20 number-one R&B singles. Franklins cousin and backup singer Brenda Franklin-Corbett told Ritz that Cunningham had a much better impact on Franklins life than White did. My family supported me in every way, she wrote in her book. Editor's note: The following article is an op-ed and the views expressed are the author's own. [200], In 2010 Franklin was ranked first on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time"[7] and ninth on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Franklin felt the label was not yet established enough, and he turned Gordy down. ", "Soul Survivor: The revival and hidden treasure of Aretha Franklin", "That time Aretha Franklin dazzled America on Thanksgiving with national anthem", "Aretha Franklin's classic old records get Royal Philharmonic garnish", "Aretha Franklin gives Detroit something to remember", "Review: Aretha Franklin buoyant at Chicago Theatre", "The Diva Has Returned: Aretha Franklin Reveals Stunning Weight Loss", "Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin dies: A look back at her legacy", "Relive Aretha Franklin at Ravinia for what wound up being her final full concert ever! He didnt have no pussycat. Ted and Aretha welcomed their son Ted White Jr. in February 1964. Little is known about Edward Jordan Sr., and Franklin rarely . He shares a daughter Stephanie Turman with her first wife, Ula M. Walker. But no one appointed me her counselor and I simply shut up and supervised the session. He had a tiger on his hands when that girl got drunk.. Label executive John H. Hammond later said he felt Columbia did not understand Franklin's early gospel background and failed to bring that aspect out further during her period there. 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. I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You) (1967), recorded at Fame Studios in Florence, Alabama, was her first million-seller. [54][55] Wexler decided that he wanted to take advantage of her gospel background; his philosophy in general was to encourage a "tenacious form of rhythm & blues that became increasingly identified as soul". That seemed to be the kind of attention Franklin craved. Shes a genius, and geniuses are plagued by their talent. Franklin's success expanded during the early 1970s, during which she recorded the multi-week R&B number one "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", as well as the top-ten singles "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", and "Day Dreaming". She provided money for civil rights groups, at times covering payroll, and performed at benefits and protests. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Birthday: March 25, 1942 ( Aries) Born In: Memphis, Tennessee, United States 303 119 Pianists #14 Rhythm & Blues Singers #5 Gospel Singers #2 Quick Facts Also Known As: Aretha Louise Franklin Died At Age: 76 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Glynn Turman (m. 1978-1984), Ted White (m. 1961-1969) father: Clarence LaVaughn Franklin mother: Barbara Siggers Tragedy struck when Aretha's father was shot in 1979 and in a coma until his passing in 1984. Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn, were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings. Might be showing my age, but who knew Aretha remarried to actor, Glynn Russell Turman. Her album The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin (1956) captures the electricity of her performances as a 14-year-old. At Aretha Franklin's funeral in Detroit a year ago, members of her family, dressed in crisp black and white, filled an aisle in the Greater Grace Temple as they walked together toward her. At the time of their marriage, Franklin had four children and Turman had three of his own. Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. Aretha Franklin married an abusive pimp. The. Aretha Franklin's Granddaughter Performs Iconic Singer's 'Ain't No Way' for 'American Idol' Audition. [16][15] Aretha's mother died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952, before Aretha's 10th birthday. [129] He provided guitar backing for his mother's band during live concerts. But that supportive nature did not carry over when Franklin and White grew closer. [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. [152] A former chain smoker who struggled with alcoholism, she quit smoking in 1992. As a child, Franklin was noticed for her gospel singing at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. Franklin married Ted White in 1961 but divorced him in 1969. Franklin, over the direction of her career. Read more opinions on theGrio. They were like best friends. Critics recognized her talent, but the public remained lukewarm until 1966, when she switched to Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler allowed her to sculpt her own musical identity. They had a special relationship.". [33] As a young gospel singer, Franklin spent summers on the gospel circuit in Chicago and stayed with Mavis Staples' family. They were engaged in March of 1978. Franklin's movie about her life, titled Respect starring Jennifer Hudson, hits theaters on August 13, 2021. in 1936; she had a son, Vaughn, from a previous relationship, whom C.L. However, she struggled with commercial success while at Columbia. The marriage between Mrs. Franklin and White ended up in a nasty divorce after a domestic violence dispute they decided . [citation needed], While Franklin canceled some concerts in 2017 due to health reasons, and during an outdoor Detroit show, she asked the audience to "keep me in your prayers", she was still garnering highly favorable reviews for her skill and showmanship. THE Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who was one of the most successful American singers of all time, died in August 2018 aged 76 from pancreatic cancer. Cecil Franklin. In 1985, inspired by a desire to have a "younger sound" in her music, Who's Zoomin' Who? Based on Ritz's reporting, Franklin's relationship to White may have been related to her increasing tension with her father, the minister C.L. Aretha Franklin, in full Aretha Louise Franklin, (born March 25, 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.died August 16, 2018, Detroit, Michigan), American singer who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s. Bush. Franklin received numerous honors throughout her career. Franklin's movie about her life, titled. 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. A singer himself, he was noted for his brilliant sermons, many of which were recorded by Chess Records. Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin. Her father was something of a celebrity in Detroit . [146][147][148][149], Franklin had weight issues for many years. ", 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.". Get Rebel Wilson Married The prodigal Disney CEO is whipping the company into shape by facilitating celebrity Rebel Wilson 's . Aretha Franklin, legendary 'Queen of Soul,' dies in 2018 at 76. Somebody else is making her sing the blues., Over the years, other reports have backed up the Time allegations. [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. [61] On February 16, Franklin was honored with a day named for her and was greeted by longtime friend Martin Luther King Jr., who gave her the SCLC Drum Beat Award for Musicians two months before his death. R.I.P. The Queen: Aretha Franklin She was a traumatized child, a teenage mother, a gospel prodigy and a civil-rights champion. She had initially been asked to perform in honor of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, in which she appeared with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. [117], On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. Wayans has two children with Angela Zackery: 21-year-old daughter . According to National Geographic, this recording "would catapult Franklin to fame". [134] After a contentious marriage that was marred by domestic abuse, Franklin separated from White in 1968 and divorced him in 1969. 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. Aretha is the kind of girl, youve got to love her hard, pianist Teddy Harris said. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin, Aretha Franklin - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Aretha Franklin - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1987). Following the surgery, Franklin lost 85 lbs. She returned to the charts in 1993 with the dance song "A Deeper Love" and returned to the top 40 with the song "Willing to Forgive" in 1994. She asked to hear Pavarotti's rehearsal recording, and after listening, agreed that she could sing it in the tenor range that the orchestra was prepared to play in. [53], Producer Jerry Wexler convinced her to move to Atlantic Records. [65] She appeared on the cover of Time magazine in June.[66]. [233], On January 29, 2018, Gary Graff confirmed that Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic. Ted was into something else. Ted wasnt really talking to me and I was happy not to talk to him. [21][22] His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. From that first session, Today I Sing the Blues (1960) remains a classic. Later . [76] "Davis was beguiling and had the golden touch", according to Rolling Stone. However, C.L. 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. ", 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. At age 18, with her fathers blessing, Franklin switched from sacred to secular music. The problem has been resolved". Franklin and Turman separated in 1982 after she returned to Michigan from California and they divorced in 1984. In addition to being an actor, Turman worked as a producer, writer, and director throughout his career. [43], In November 1966, Franklin's Columbia recording contract expired; at that time, she owed the company money because record sales had not met expectations. She channeled a world of pain into a sound all her own, but till the end,. I knew Ted White, as did most entertainers in Detroit, Aretha's sister, the late singer Erma Franklin, said in the book. It ended years later, and many sources affirm that it was due to domestic abuse. [118] When Angela Davis was jailed in 1970, Franklin told Jet: "Angela Davis must go free Black people will be free. The album of the same name was released after the single. [12] By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to Detroit, where he took over the pastorship of the New Bethel Baptist Church. This was reissued by Battle Records in 1962, under the same title. As a teen, Aretha Franklin sang in a junior gospel choir. "Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly," Franklin reportedly told Us magazine. [39] Her frenetic version was released in April and reached number one on both the R&B and pop charts. Glynn Turman Jr. was murdered in 1986 by Henry Eugene . Franklin's follow-up albums for Atlantic, including Sweet Passion (1977), Almighty Fire (1978) and La Diva (1979), bombed on the charts,[citation needed] and in 1979 Franklin left the company. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images. Her parents separated when she was six, and Franklin remained with her father in Detroit. And Aretha Franklin knew that better than anyone. In case you never noticed, the singer always had her . Alternate titles: Aretha Louise Franklin, Queen of Soul. released Franklin's first single, "Never Grow Old", backed with "You Grow Closer". In 1987 Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. C.L. So I called Sam. Other gospel greats of the dayAlbertina Walker and Jackie Verdellhelped shape young Franklins style. [25] Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha. The Respect singer was not married at the time of her passing, but she was in a serious relationship with her longtime partner,. 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. [37] Other influences in her youth included Marvin Gaye (who was a boyfriend of her sister), as well as Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, "two of Franklin's greatest influences". In 2020, he had supporting roles in the acclaimed features The Way Back and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. [34] Aretha Franklin married for the first time when she was only 19 years old with Ted White. 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. [40], In April 2021, Aretha Franklin was featured in National Geographic magazine and in the previous month, the society began airing the third season of the television series Genius about her life and career. While her album sales in the 1990s and 2000s failed to approach the numbers of previous decades, Franklin remained the Queen of Soul. [84] That recording reached number 26 on the Hot 100 and number five on the R&B chart. Recording equipment was installed inside New Bethel Baptist Church and nine tracks were recorded.[when?] Barbara Siggers was born in Shelby, Mississippi in 1917 (per The Sun).According to Smooth Radio, she married pastor C.L. [169] Franklin died at her home on August 16, 2018, aged 76. [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. [182] Among those who paid tribute to Aretha at the service were Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton, Rev. After 1988, "Franklin never again had huge hits", according to Rolling Stone. She attended Northern High School. [40] The Atlantic days would lead to a series of hits for Aretha Franklin from 1967 to early 1972; her rapport with Wexler helped in the creation of the majority of her peak recordings with Atlantic. 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. Twelve years later, an unheard performance of "Never Gonna Break My Faith" was released in June 2020 to commemorate Juneteenth with a new video visualizing the American human rights movement. In addition, she received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1994, a National Medal of Arts in 1999, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. At the time of its release, Franklin who died in 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 was married to her first husband Ted White, who also became her manager. She was a genius songwriter and singer but could never escape her sibling's shadow - and died at just 43. The follow-up, 1981's Love All the Hurt Away, included her famed duet of the title track with George Benson, while the album also included her Grammy-winning cover of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'". Aretha married twice, first to Theodore 'Ted' White in 1961 aged 19. Aretha moved back to Detroit in late 1982 to assist with the care of her father, who died at Detroit's New Light Nursing Home on July 27, 1984. [170] She was initially thought to have died without a will. Franklin and White divorced in 1969, and had one child, Teddy Richards, a successful musician who played guitar in his mother's band. But the lyrics for one of her first big hits may have struck closer to her heart than many realized. Franklin only spent one day recording at FAME, as an altercation broke out between her manager and husband Ted White, studio owner Rick Hall, and a horn player, and sessions were abandoned. Whatever happened behind those closed doors, it wasnt long after that alleged incident that Franklin and White divorced. He counted White as an enemy. [208] The next year, Billboard named her the greatest female R&B artist of all time. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Jasper Williams Jr. of Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, as he had eulogized her father as well as speaking at other family memorials. [213], Franklin received honorary degrees from Harvard University and New York University in 2014,[214] as well as honorary doctorates in music from Princeton University, 2012;[215] Yale University, 2010;[216] Brown University, 2009;[217] University of Pennsylvania, 2007;[218] Berklee College of Music, 2006;[219] New England Conservatory of Music, 1997;[220] and University of Michigan, 1987. The last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015. Aretha and actor Glynn Turman married on April 11, 1978, at her father's church. However, just a few weeks later, the engagement ended. [43][58] Upon hearing her version, Otis Redding said admiringly: "That little girl done took my song away from me. She said, 'L.C., I need you to do me a favor. The end of their marriage was dogged by. In Respect, Etta James likens the relationship between Aretha and White to that of Ike and Tina Turner, which was abusive, and in an interview as part of the book, legendary record producer Clyde Otis talked about being at tense sessions with the two of them. I didn't need to introduce him to Aretha. [221] She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Case Western Reserve University 2011[222] and Wayne State University in 1990 and an honorary Doctor of Law degree by BethuneCookman University in 1975. Aretha Franklin's first marriage was to Ted White. His name is a combination of his parents initials (Ken E. Cunningham and Aretha L. Franklin). He came along at just the right time. With the fresh anthology about Franklin currently streaming on Hulu, heres a primer on the men she once shared her life with. Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018) was an American soul and R&B singer. Turman and Franklin had both been previously married and entered their union with previous children. However, their marriage ended painfully, and she never remarried. Besides the foregoing, the singer's well-known hits also include "Ain't No Way", "Call Me", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", "Day Dreaming", "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", "Something He Can Feel", "Jump to It", "Freeway of Love", "Who's Zoomin' Who" and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (a duet with George Michael). She was the mother of four, and her first son was born in 1955 when she was 12. [106] It peaked at number five on the Billboard Top Classical Albums chart before her death and rose to number two after her death. Her main commitment is to her music. I asked my father if we could use his new car to go on Sam's tour.' Her father [the legendary Reverend C.L. 'Respect' is as precise an artifact as a Ming vase. Aretha needed a man who could point her in a positive direction.. became her first Arista album to be certified platinum. She released a gospel album, The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, in 1956, at age 14. Aretha Franklin's first husband, Ted White, was allegedly abusive. [199] Franklin was the first individual woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. Aretha Franklin married Ted White in 1961 at age 19, and he served as her manager up until 1969, when the two got divorced. Her family always had her back, with Franklin saying her dad was not judgmental, narrow or scolding about her youthful pregnancies. New York: Little Brown & Company. 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. Aretha and actor Glynn Turman married on April 11, 1978, at her father's church. 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. "American history wells up when Aretha sings", President Obama explained in response to her performance of "A Natural Woman" at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors.