Aretha Franklin: The Queen of soul has died

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin has died peacefully with her family at her bedside.

Franklin sold more than 75 million records in her lifetime, won numerous awards and was respected worldwide as one of the greatest performers that ever lived.

She not only sang at President Obama’s inauguration in 2009, in 2015 in another performance she brought President Barack Obama to tears with her performance.

She began her singing career in 1956 singing gospels songs, but by the middle of 60’s her career sky rocketed with an extraordinary run of singles including her cover of Otis Redding’s Respect, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman and I Say a Little Prayer. In 1972, she released the live album Amazing Grace, which showcased her gospel background.

Her performance in the Blues Brothers when she sang 'Think' instantly became a classic and in many ways epitomized strong Black women around the world who simply refused to be oppressed.

Rest in peace Aretha Franklin- you’ll always be the Queen of soul.

Simon Woolley