Jazz Singer

Aretha Franklin: Jazz to Soul, Then Back to Jazz

"There are singers," said Ray Charles. "Then there is Aretha. She towers above the rest. Others are good, but Aretha is great. She's my only sure-enough sister."

Aretha Franklin is the "Queen of Soul" because she is indeed the quintessential voice of American pop culture. Unlike any other performer, Franklin personifies soul at the heart of gospel singing, an international institution, bringing the soul of music to every heart of the world.  We are familiar with her charged voice of late '60s hits with Atlantic Records - "Think," "Respect," "I Say a Little Prayer," "I Never Loved a Man," "Chain of Fools," "Baby I Love You" and "The House That Jack Built."  However, some jazz followers may not know she is a talented jazz singer and has performed jazz renditions throughout her career.

Franklin was born in the house of a gospel minister, Reverend C.L. Franklin. With her sisters Carolyn and Erma, singers in their own right with recording careers, she sang at her father's Detroit church while growing up in the 1950s. Indeed, when she was only 14, she made her first recordings as a gospel artist. Rumors have it that Franklin was approach by Motown. The tiny start-up was interested in signing her. As the truth is told, Franklin started her recording career with Columbia, in which she was signed by the legendary talent scout John Hammond.

It was during her time with Columbia in the early ‘60s where Franklin embraced jazz recordings for the first time.  Sure, she cut an occasional R&B hit, and even earned one Top Forty single, "Rock-a-bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody."  But it was at Columbia where Franklin was trying to find her niche, or style, as a recording artist. Several of her recordings included uptown Jazz.  Her Columbia CD "Jazz to Soul" shares some fine renditions of her jazz potential, with songs like "Less Cross," "Walk on By" and "Skylark."

Although many could say that Franklin's true aspirations were being dulled at Columbia due to pop-oriented material and production, she was still able to experiment with her talents.  Indeed, there's a moderate amount of fine recordings to be found on the Columbia LPs where she belts out jazzy renditions with undeniable gusto.

When Franklin left Columbia and arrived at Atlantic records, she not only brought success to Atlantic records, but she was able to crossover from soul and R&B to pop without a hitch. She arrived to black music at a time that propelled her to fame, appealing to all levels of society.

Today, Aretha Franklin is still known as the "Queen of Soul," but often performs at popular jazz festivals around the world. Some notable ones are Toronto, Newport and Montreux, Switzerland. To listen to her rendition of "Brand New Me," the opener for the Newport Jazz Festival 2008 is truly a gift from the Heavens.

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About the Author

Brad Parmerter has almost 20 years experience in theentertainment industry as a writer, programmer, and merchandiser. He has professionally interviewed and photographed such artists as: Rush, Metallica, Celine Dion, Live, Phil Collins, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Live, Van Halen, Queensryche, Anna Nalick, Styx, Def Leppard, and many more.

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Neil Diamond - The Jazz Singer