Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, seen here singing at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in 1973

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Aretha Franklin, born 25 March 1942 in Memphis, daughter of a preacher. Childhood friend of Mahalia Jackson began cutting records when she was a child of 14. Today she is one of the giants of soul music. At 18 she left her father and signed to Columbia. In 1966 joined Atlantic and recorded 'I Never Loved A Man' which was her first No1 at top of soul charts. There followed a string of No1s, now she has reeived more No1s than everybody except James Brown. She has recorded 'Spanish Harlem', 'Bridge over Troubled Water' and 'Amazing Grace' and 'I Dreamed A Dream' and still goes on recording.

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Size: 5137px × 3512px
Location: France
Photo credit: © Tom Hanley / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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