Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1942. Landing in Detroit, Michigan in the late 1940s, she became a musical prodigy under the guidance of her preacher father - the Reverend C. L. Franklin.Notwithstanding early tragedy and heartbreak, Aretha's talent bloomed in her East Boston Boulevard home and in her dad's New Bethel Baptist Church. Moving from Gospel to Jazz, she signed a major recording contract with Columbia Records at the age of 18. After six years and ten studio albums, Miss Franklin had yet to break out in the music industry.In 1967, Aretha Franklin signed on with Atlantic Records and became the hottest singer in the music business.

It was at Atlantic that Aretha earned her royal and lifetime title: THE QUEEN OF SOUL!After a lull in her success, Aretha signed with Arista Records and rebuilt her powerful career. She returned to #1 and Gold status with 1982's Jump To It release. 1985's Who's Zoomin' Who? was the biggest-selling album of her sixty year recording life-span. She remained a contemporary force in a changing, youth-oriented business long after most of her peers had faded. At the end of the Twentieth Century, the Queen issued her Gold-certified Hip Hop disc - A Rose Is Still A Rose - to critical praise and long-running sales.Through major health problems, family deaths, and personal catastrophes, Aretha Franklin valiantly worked the road, singing in venues throughout the United States and Canada. She remains a living legend and one of - if not the - greatest voice(s) to emerge from the Twentieth Century. *ABOUT THE AUTHOR*Mark Watson - often referred to as The Motor City Music Historian - is a musicologist, freelance journalist, and music critic with several decades of involvement in entertainment.

He holds numerous degrees and certifications. Mr. Watson has interviewed over 100 name celebrities. Currently based in the Metropolitan Detroit area, he has also spent abundant time in Florida, Arizona, and California.