Aretha Franklin -

She began performing professionally in her early teens and recorded her first gospel tracks at age 14. Career Milestones

Franklin’s musical education began in her father's New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where she was tutored by gospel legends like Mahalia Jackson. aretha franklin

Aretha Franklin , famously known as the was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist whose career spanned seven decades and fundamentally shaped the landscape of popular music . Born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, she became a global icon of artistic integrity, civil rights, and female empowerment. Early Life and Musical Roots She began performing professionally in her early teens

She was the daughter of Barbara Siggers Franklin, a gospel singer, and Reverend C.L. Franklin, a prominent Baptist minister. a gospel singer