Gratitude for the Life
and Legacy of Aretha Franklin
Today,
as we celebrate her life and seminal contribution to music, I am grateful for
the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin, the undisputed “Queen of Soul.” I woke up hearing “Respect” and “Natural
Woman.” Then, I recalled two of my
favorite Aretha songs, “Muddy Water” and “Rock Steady.” I paused and considered
how deeply I along with countless others am so deeply affected by her
death. It signifies the passing of a
generation of distinct and self-determinatively African American Rhythm and
Blues and Soul singers and artists.
Mostly popular in the 1970s, these performers and musicians furthered
the expansion of Black consciousness through their unapologetic African and
African American style, clothing, hairdos and performance art. As I write, very fond memories of listening
to James Brown, Larry Graham, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin among other
artists on WWDM in Sumter, SC as my siblings and I prepared for school during
the week and completed chores on the weekend.
I spent several childhood summers in Miami with relatives; there we
listened to these artists in WEDR. The
lyrics of their songs offer hope to persevere within personal trials and
encouragement to seek a better tomorrow despite contrary circumstances.
Whereas
pain, challenge, injustice and hardship are prevalent within the African
Diaspora, these artists assisted listeners in finding self-determination,
resilience and other internal resources to surmount their daily struggles as
they progress toward the lives that they imagine in their youth. The beauty and majesty of their music extend
to anyone who listens with an open heart and abundant soul. Distinguished among them, Aretha Franklin
rightly deserves the characterization, inimitable. Beyond being unique and incomparable, to be
inimitable is to be superlatively distinct and thus incapable of imitation.
Regardless of how talented any artist is or how hard anyone tries, he or she
cannot perform any of Aretha Franklin’s work as she did. Essentially, she “owned” every song she
recorded and performed. Whether an aria,
anthem, blues, gospel, folk hymn, jazz, soul, spiritual or another genre, she
sang as if it were just written for her.
Amongst her generation of artist, she possessed this unparalleled
ability and range to perform within myriad genres without sacrificing quality. Whether with a jazz band, symphony or within a
studio, she gave an impressionable and indelible performance each time.
The
daughter of a famous pastor and nurtured within the context of the vibrant
Black Church culture of Detroit, Franklin’s voice and performance style resounds
with the deep and wide spiritual and soulful roots she developed. Accordingly, her music touches a listener’s
soul. Momentary liberation from boredom,
oppressive feelings and daily difficulties usually followed the first sounds of
her recordings. Responding often with a silent
“Amen” occurs when hearing one of the enduring hymns of the Church or a real-life
blues song like “Muddy Water.” Unsurprisingly,
you spontaneously break into your famous dance moves with the first chords of “Rock
Steady” or a comparable song. In addition
to surmounting sad situations and various obstacles, her music fuels creativity
and inspires a person to believe that the life he or she envisions is indeed
possible.
I
imagine a treasure trove of stories of her tribulations, friendships, social
activism and anonymous participation in the struggle for freedom and justice
exist. Future biographers will detail the
interesting, dramatic and mysterious dimensions of her life of which we were not
privy. These writers will introduce us
to a more holistic portrait of her humanness.
Combining her story with her music will more greatly inspire us. In the interim, I offer thanksgiving for her
six decades of enriching the lives of hundreds of millions of adoring and appreciative
fans. Mostly, I am grateful that she
taught us the importance of “Respect” in all relationships. It seems inconceivable that any future artist
will ever dethrone the “Queen of Soul.”
How
magnificent that future generations will inherit and enjoy her music as we
have!
