Miss Aretha Franklin “was a talent, definitely a talent”, and “she had a gift.” But natural talent, also means and demands, a lot of work in the mastery of singing, a lot of work in the field of phrasing, timing, interpretation, …, she set her mind to, under the fatherly guidance of Mr. Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (1915-1984).

1. ARETHA FRANKLIN : THE QUEEN OF SOUL : (1942-2018)
I liked this woman, I liked this artist, so that I couldn’t help sharing my personal take and
more, on the passing of music icon Aretha Franklin (1942-2018), with the world.
The first name of one of Aretha Franklin’s sons is Ted, and of course, if your first name is
close to my own first name : Teddy, there is a point here, to start grasping my attention.
In a 2014 interview with the Wall Street Journal, and Senior Editor Christopher John Farley,
Miss Aretha Franklin said about Whitney Houston (1963-2012) : “Whitney was a talent,
definitely a talent, she had a gift.”
This take on Whitney Houston from Miss Aretha Franklin applies also to herself;
Miss Aretha Franklin “was a talent, definitely a talent”, and “she had a gift.” But natural
talent, also means and demands, a lot of work in the mastery of singing, a lot of work in the
field of phrasing, timing, interpretation, …, she set her mind to, under the fatherly guidance of
Mr. Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (1915-1984).
Even though I haven’t seen an interview of Whitney Houston (1963-2012) talking about disco
icon Donna Summer (1948 – 2012), Whitney Houston, like me, grew up during the disco era,
and both icons : Whitney Houston and Donna Summer died the same year, in 2012.
In May, 2012, Miss Aretha Franklin found some time also, on CNN, to pay tribute to the
memory of disco icon Donna Summer (1948 – 2012), saying about the latter : “A very good
singer. She was the Disco Queen.”
So it is my turn today, thanks to this essay, to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul : Miss Aretha
Franklin (1942-2018).
Since the passing of Miss Aretha Franklin, we have heard condolences from Quincy Jones,
Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle
Obama, Baptist Minister Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr., …
We also heard from President Trump with his tactless wording : “The Queen of Soul, Aretha
Franklin, is dead.”
It would have been tactful to write : The Queen of Soul, Miss Aretha Franklin has passed or
has gone to sing with her peers :
Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007), George Michael (1963-2016),
Robert Goulet (1933-2007), Édith Piaf (1915-1963), Mario Lanza (1921-1959), Maria Callas
(1923-1977), Jussi Björling (1911-1960), Cora Vaucaire (1918-2011), Minnie Riperton (1947
-1979), Phyllis Hyman (1949-1995), …
Among her countless achievements, Miss Aretha Franklin earned at least 18 Grammy
Awards, and is a Presidential Medal Of Freedom recipient.
The memory of Miss Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) brings me back to my adolescence, and to
my wonderful tenure as anchor at Radio Saint-Louis, where I came across Aretha Franklin’s

2. 1972 bestselling album : Amazing Grace, an album that sold over 2 million copies in the
United States.
In my adolescence, to practice my English, I used to meet and fraternize with some Marines,
who were door to me, to the American world and lifestyle. It was in the 80s, way before the
America of Donald Trump, that is not America to me.
So going back to this lovely Marines story, one of the Marines I came across, while his ship
was on a short stay in my country, presented to me a George Benson’s album, an album, if I
remember it well, like Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972), entitled “The White Album”, and in
this George Benson’s album was to be heard, one of my favorite duets from Aretha Franklin :
“Love All The Hurt Away”.
Aretha Franklin, herself, seemed to have considered this duet with George Benson in “Love
All The Hurt Away”, as pure bliss and delight. Aretha Franklin’s voice blending with George
Benson’s voice so magically and so perfectly.
Memories of my adolescence, memories of my idea of America, well conveyed in the song :
“The House I Live In”, a song sung by Frank Sinatra (1915-1998).
I also want to salute the Woman of Courage that was Miss Aretha Franklin, a Champion for
Civil Rights, and who, with grace and courage, fought against cancer.
For all the countless good things you are, Miss Aretha Franklin (1942-2018), the world thanks
you.
© 2018 Teddy Crispin
AUTHOR TEDDY CRISPIN’S BIBLIOGRAPHY
« DU FIN FOND DE SAINT-BARTH, PENSEZ-VOUS ENCORE À MOI ? » JOHNNY
HALLYDAY (1943-2017) (French Edition) Paperback : ISBN 9781976888519. Distribution
Amazon
DALIDA (1933-1987) : Trentième Anniversaire (French Edition) : ISBN 9783000567575 :
Paperback : Distribution Amazon
DALIDA (1933-1987): Trentième Anniversaire (French Edition) : ISBN 9783000569845 :
eBook : Kindle (Amazon)
DIX PETITS POEMES And More: Ten Little Poems And More: The Augmented Version :
ISBN 9783000552151 : Paperback : Distribution Amazon
DIX PETITS POEMES And More: Ten Little Poems And More (English - French Edition) :
ISBN 9783000542800 : eBook : Kindle (Amazon)
THAT'S CHRISTMAS TO ME: (The Teddy Crispin's Christmas Poem envisioned to become
a Christmas Evergreen) (English - French Edition) : eBook : Kindle (Amazon)