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Music world mourns passing of legendary Aretha Franklin

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Aretha Franklin (266657)
Aretha Franklin

Fans gathered this morning at the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of Aretha Franklin, 6920 Hollywood Blvd. (near Orange Street), to pay tribute to one of the most dynamic and influential singers of a generation. The legendary performer lost her battle with pancreatic cancer today and died at age 76 at her home in Detroit, Mich.

“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins knew no bounds,” Franklin’s family said in a statement.

Tributes began immediately pouring in from the music industry, the motion picture industry and from politicians. President Donald Trump this morning offered “Condolences to the family of a person I knew as well. She brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. People loved Aretha. She was a special woman.” Former President Barack Obama said, “Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, and all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect.” Franklin performed

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” at Obama’s 2009 presidential inauguration. Rev. Jesse Jackson said this week after he and Stevie Wonder had visited her, “While her music was big, her heart was even bigger.”

Diana Ross, a decades-long contemporary of Franklin on the R&B charts, tweeted: “I’m sitting in prayer for the wonderful golden spirit of Aretha Franklin.” Patti LaBelle this week called Franklin “…the greatest singer of all time,” while music producer producer Clive Davis said, “I’m absolutely devastated by Aretha’s passing. She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation through the

world.” The outpouring continued throughout the morning as figures such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, “Hamilton” star Lin-Manuel Miranda, and musician Carole King, who wrote one of Franklin’s biggest hits “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” remembered the iconic

singer. “What a life. What a legacy! So much love, respect and gratitude. RIP,” King said. Paul McCartney tweeted: “Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the ‘Queen’ of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed, but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever.” Barbra Streisand tweeted: “It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer, but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world.”

Elton John wrote a series of tweets: “The whole world will miss her but will always rejoice in her remarkable legacy. We shared the same birthday, and that meant so much to me. The Queen of Soul is dead. Long live the Queen.” And John Legend commented on twitter: “”Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I’ve ever known.”

During her six-decade career, Franklin earned 44 Grammy nominations, 18 Grammy Awards, and was recognized by the Recording Academy on several occasions for her accomplishments as an artist and philanthropist, Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement.

“We were privileged to honor her with the Recording Academy’s Grammy Legend Award in 1991, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, and as the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year for her extraordinary artistic achievements and charitable efforts,” he said. “Her distinctive sound, unforgettable recordings, and giving spirit will continue to be celebrated worldwide.

Aretha will be dearly missed, and our thoughts go out to her loved ones during this

difficult time.” Portnow said that “Aretha Franklin was an incomparable artist who came to be recognized as one of the most profound voices in music. Known universally as the Queen of Soul, Franklin solidified her legendary status in the late 1960s with chart-topping recordings that included

“Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” “Say A Little Prayer,” “Rock Steady,” “Spanish Harlem,” “Do Right Woman-Do Right Man” and “Until You Come Back To Me.”

This morning, Najee Ali of of Project Islamic Hope and other Los Angeles Black community leaders in Los Angeles were expected to lay will lay flowers on Franklin’s star. “Aretha had a voice that was truly a divine gift from God,” Ali said. “She used her gift not only to entertain the world with timeless hit records, but also to be staunch champion of civil rights and social justice. Her legacy will never be forgotten.” Funeral services for Franklin are pending.

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