The first thought coming to mind upon learning Aretha Franklin had died Aug. 16, was of a phone call from Wink Rodgers Aug. 16, 1977.

Aretha Franklin was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the second year the ceremony was held to honor definitive music artists. She had more than 100 singles in the ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Aretha Franklin, known as the Queen of Soul, was more than just a singer—she was a storyteller, an activist ...

For a musician like guitarist Craig McMullen, who’s played with the best of the best, calling Aretha THE best is saying something. “Yeah she’s got to be the best singer period,” said McMullen.

A new show dedicated to the Queen of Soul meticulously reproduced the trail the singer blazed—down to the studio switchboards and sequined gowns. Cynthia Erivo as Aretha Franklin plays at a small club ...