Aretha

This beautifully illustrated unofficial retrospective celebrates the Queen of
Soul, Aretha Franklin, and reflects on her life, music, and legacy.

Aretha Franklin's voice was legendary, unforgettable: deeply rooted in gospel,
yet versatile enough to brilliantly interpret R&B;, rock, soul, pop, and jazz
standards, it fueled a six-decade career. Her vocal wallop was a mix of
preaching, rebuke, and elation. From the languorous "I Never Loved a Man (the
Way That I Love You)," to the funky "Chain of Fools," to the fiercely feminist
"Think," to the definitive, demanding version of Otis Redding's "Respect,"
Franklin's songs played out against the tumultuous sociopolitical backdrop of
the late '60s like a soundtrack meant to set things right. Her accolades were
many: she received the Kennedy Center honor in 1994, won 18 Grammys®, was the
first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and performed for
presidents and the Pope. Illustrated with 85 photos, and with insightful text
from noted radio personality and author Meredith Ochs, Aretha explores the
diva's life, from her formative years growing up in Detroit, to her singing
and recording career from the 1950s until her untimely death in 2018, to her
numerous honors, awards, and causes, including her advocacy for civil rights
and the arts.