Aretha Franklin

And that’s just the start. Where did all her music come from? How did it get to be what it is today? Here lies the chance to discover some answers, to get in the know about one of the greatest artists of all time – the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin. And that’s not just our opinion. Kids will find out what today’s greats like Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and others say about Aretha Franklin and will come to appreciate her importance in today’s music scene as they explore the many honors and awards she received. Plus, they’ll discover the person behind the sound, from the child who grew up in the cradle of her parents’ church music, to the teenager who made her first album, to the mature performer who carved her own path to greatness.

Kids interested in history will enjoy discovering that Franklin’s many songs speak to matters of race and gender in the 1960s and beyond. They’ll also explore her connection to civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson. Music enthusiasts will want to learn about genres like soul and gospel and singing styles like melisma. Future artists will appreciate discovering how Franklin learned to trust her instincts and sing the music her way. Everyone will want to see the photos of Franklin and the times in which she lived and sang.