Did you know that Aretha Franklin’s signature song, ‘Respect’, was originally performed by Otis Redding?

‘Respect’ was written and released by Redding from his ‘Otis Blue’ album in 1965. The tune peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his second top 40 hit on the listing following ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’, which peaked at #21 as his highest-charting single prior to his death in 1967.

Franklin’s version of ‘Respect’, on the other hand, was an even bigger hit and it topped the Hot 100 in 1967 as her first #1 single. Moreover, she also won two Grammy Awards for the track in 1968 – Best R&B Recording and Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Female. In fact, Franklin’s ‘Respect’ was even given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1987.

Several artists, including Ike & Tina Turner and Minnie Riperton as a member of the band Rotary Connection, have covered ‘Respect’ throughout the years. Watch performances of some fo the most memorable versions of the tune below:

Otis Redding

Aretha Franklin

Ike & Tina Turner

Minnie Riperton

Now you know!