Aretha Franklin; the Queen of Soul.

Aretha Franklin is the undisputed Queen of Soul and the focus of this week’s Way Back Wednesday. Really, as one of the most influential artists of our time, there will never be a time better than the present to honor her enormous contribution of popular culture.

With her rich tone, powerful voice and indescribable ability to interpret any material, Franklin has impacted the lives of every singer who hit the music scene during the last 50 years. She is without question the most important female artist to ever breathe on a microphone.

Watch some of Franklin’s most memorable performances below:

‘Ain’t but the One (With Ray Charles)’

‘Can’t Turn You Loose’

‘Chain of Fools’

‘Don’t Play that Song for Me’

‘I Never Loved a Man’

‘I Say a Little Prayer’

‘Natural Woman’

‘Nessun Dorma’

‘Respect’

‘Spirit in the Dark’

If you’re a fan of Whitney Houston,
Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Beyonce or basically any other artist then you are indirectly a fan of Franklin. She is the definition of a singer and ever act from R&B to Country music have been influenced by her musical stylings.

It is often stated that Ray Charles was the mastermind of Soul music but it was Franklin’s voice that took the genre to the global scale. Her voice is a landmark of the music industry and the reason why there is only one Aretha Franklin.

Thoughts?