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Aretha Franklin: Father
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Her parents separated when she was six, and Franklin remained with her father in Detroit. Her mother died when Aretha was 10. As a young teen, Franklin performed with her father on his gospel programs in major cities throughout the country and was recognized as a vocal prodigy. Her central influence, Clara Ward of the renowned Ward Singers, was a family friend. Other gospel greats of the day—Albertina Walker and Jackie Verdell—helped shape young Franklin's style. Her album The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin (1956) captures the electricity of her performances as a 14-year-old.
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Cool stuff: Franklin was born in Memphis in 1942 but was raised in Detroit. That's where she got her start in music, singing in the Detroit church of her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin.
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Born in Memphis, Tenn., Franklin grew up in Detroit immersed in music from an early age. Her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin of the New Bethel Baptist Church, was a fiery orator and a leader of the civil rights movement, and his daughter grew up singing gospel in his church.
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Later Aretha moved from Atlantic to Arista Records. This was the period when she successfully collaborated with various artists. During this time her father was shot dead by an armed robber who was trying to infiltrate the house.
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