The “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin passed away on August 16, 2018. Born March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, Aretha’s passion for singing began with childhood performances as a gospel singer at her minister father’s church where she toured as a member of his “gospel caravan.” In 1961, Franklin released her first album with Columbia Records, featuring the single, “Won’t Be Long,” which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, it wasn’t until she signed with Atlantic Records in 1967 that she truly achieved commercial and critical success. With such hits as “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Think” and “I Say A Little Prayer,” Aretha frequently ranked on the R&B Top 40 and soon earned her first Grammy. Her success continued into the 90s with hits such as “Chain of Fools,” “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” and her duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).” Franklin is the most charted female artist in Billboard’s history, with 112 charted singles. She has won 18 Grammy Awards and sold over 75 million records worldwide. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2014, Harvard University bestowed Franklin with the honorary degree of Doctor of Arts for her contributions to music. Franklin received numerous other awards and recognitions during her lifetime including a Grammy Legend Award, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Honoree and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Following her performance of “A Natural Woman” at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors, President Barack Obama said of Franklin, “American history wells up when Aretha sings. Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and roll--the way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope.” Aretha Franklin was 76 years old.