Welcome to H-O-M-E.org, your one stop shop for all the best in entertainment, movies, music, celebrities, health, lifestyle, sports, technology and education. Her voice is truy remarkable and it is clear why she has become an acclaimed singer-songwriter. Carolyn Franklin was born on April 13, 1944 in Memphis, Tennessee. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Hoosier Back Up Singer Remembers Aretha Franklin - YouTube Iconic tracks by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Staple Singers, Bobbie Gentry, Bob Seger and many others. After studying cosmetology and working as a waitress, Mariah Carey finally landed a gig singing backing vocals for the '80s pop and R&B sensation. Her technical skill levels were off She was often linked to close friend and assistant Robyn Crawford. Duane Allman, standout guitarist on Pickett, Franklin and Boz Scaggs tracks, went on to found legendary Southern rock group the Allman Brothers Band. Yet the group tackled sensual themes as well, as seen with "Do It Again," a praise of intimacy and another No. She was 76. WebDec 25, 2018 - Vintage Black Photos Aretha & her backup singers, the Prima Donnas. Are Seahorses Mammals? She was a gospel singer who provided backup vocals for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, and several others. Houston died in 2012 at the age of 48. Keep scrolling to check out who's on the list. Under Atlantic Records, the multiple Grammy winner became a household name in the mid-to-late 1960s with momentous hits like "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," "Respect," "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman," "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Chain of Fools." The son of a deacon, Otis Redding developed his skills as a performer singing as part of the junior choir in Vineville Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, and also performed with an outside gospel quartet. Learn how and when to remove this template message, Elvis in Person at the International Hotel, "Elvis Presley Estelle Brown Sweet Inspirations Backup Singer Interview The Spa Guy", "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2010 July to December", "Peter Gabriel Receives Top Honor at BMI London Awards", "The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland", "Myrna Smith - Interview - Elvis Information Network", From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances, Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II, Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology, The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters, Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters, Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Sweet_Inspirations&oldid=1141321166, Articles needing additional references from December 2010, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2011, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Sylvia Shemwell mezzo-soprano/2nd soprano (1966?1979, 19942001; died 2010), Estelle Brown contralto/2nd alto (19651979, 1994present), Ann Williams soprano/1st soprano (19691970), Kelly Jones mezzo soprano/soprano (2010present), This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 13:22. The group at this point was composed of Houston, Brown, Shemwell, and Smith. Together, they created a powerful trio of voices that complemented and amplified Arethas soulful vocals. But Columbia seemed unable to determine a "niche" for the young artist, primarily because they had her singing old standards instead of exploiting her affinity to gospel music. In 2000, Aykroyd and John Goodman teamed up with John Landis in a film sequel, Blues Brothers 2000. Last night for her performance, Franklin was joined by five backup singers, including Whitney Houstons mother and Gospel singing legend, Cissy Houston. She was a gospel singer who provided backup vocals for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, and several others. In conclusion, Aretha Franklins sisters Carolyn and Erma Franklin played an important role in the success of her hit single Respect. Though their first singles lacked much chart success, Atlantic was committed to the group, and an August session in Memphis yielded the bulk of songs used for the group's self-titled debut album, released in the late fall of 1967. The basic notion behind all of these shows is that unknown performers compete by auditioning songs before a panel of judges, and viewers can vote for their favorites using social media. She began to sing in her father's church and accompany him on gospel caravan tours. And here she is performing it. The Franklin Sisters: Aretha's Iconic Backup Vocals - H.O.M.E. In early 2018, FAME mastermind Rick Hall died at age 85 from cancer complications. [CHORUS] You better think (think) Think about what you're trying to do to me Think (think, think) Let your mind go, let yourself be free, Let's go back, let's go back Let's go way on back when I didn't even know you You couldn't have been too much more than ten (just a child), I ain't no psychiatrist, I ain't no doctor with degrees It don't take too much high IQ's To see what you're doing to me, Oh, freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom) Oh, freedom, yeah, freedom Freedom (freedom), freedom (freedom) Freedom, oh freedom. This was soon followed with more commercial success with the ballad "Don't Ask My Neighbors" and the Earth, Wind & Fire collaboration "Boogie Wonderland," where gospel-based harmonies were front and center. Vincent, my friend. What is your obsession with one celebrity/performer/sports figure etc. being better than another? My Questions for you space Answer: Yes, Aretha Franklins sisters, Carolyn and Erma Franklin, sang backup vocals for her on the iconic single Respect. That was something I had to earn, for him to trust me to do my thing, and I think we got there. Aretha's first big hit with Jerry Wexler was the Otis Redding song Respect. Sadly, in addition to Rick Hall, many of those interviewed for the doc have since passed. Marvin Gaye. Mills released the gospel album Personal Inspiration in 1995, and in an homage two decades later to her Broadway roots, appeared in the 2015 live TV event The Wiz Live! The backup singers are her sisters Carolyn and Erma, and the tune is punctuated by some terrific riffs from saxophonist Lou Marini. Aretha turned "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" into not only a gospel-blues classic, but a feminist anthem. It meant the world to him, you know, it really did, Rodney Hall says. [2] By 1979, Estelle Brown had quit the group and was replaced by Gloria Brown, who toured with them but did not sing on the Sweet Inspirations last LP, Hot Butterfly, on RSO Records, with singer Pat Terry featured on the actual recording. A Caucasian, hes married to a Black woman, and they have a mixed child together. Stefani started out singing backup vocals for the band but in 1987 after Spence tragically died by suicide, Stefani took over as lead vocalist and cemented her status as one of punk rock's greatest singers. The Swampers, aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, recorded two of their all-time hits, Wild Horses and Brown Sugar at Muscle Shoals Sound, Spooner [Oldham, Shoals keyboardist extraordinaire, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. She sang at Dr. Kings funeral. Aretha Franklins estate was inherited by her four adult sons, who agreed to designate their cousin, Sabrina Owens, as the executor. Aretha had her first child shortly after turning 13 and her second at age 14, and she never revealed the identities of the fathers. I never watched American Idol, but for many years it was a blockbuster TV show. Her father was shot in his home by an intruder in 1979, and remained in a coma for five years before he passed away. Working with other soul luminaries, he would also helm the soundtracks for the films Claudine, Let's Do It Again and Sparkle. The song Think was co-written by Aretha and her husband at the time, Ted White. We've rounded up 12 singers who started their careers as backup vocalists. The act continued to make waves on the R&B charts after teaming with Maurice White and in 1977 had a No. However, her mother made her thoughts on the topic very clear. The show employs three judges who critique the performances, and initially one of those judges was the acerbic Simon Cowell, who had been a judge on the British series. Today. Growing up in Birmingham, England, in a devout family of Caribbean descent, Laura Mvula's church experiences led her to focus on penning and conducting music, and she thus attended the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. It included Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn from Booker T & the MGs, drummer Willie Hall who had worked with Isaac Hayes, blues guitarist Matt Murphy, and horn players Lou Marini, Tom Malone and Alan Rubin from Blood, Sweat and Tears. Soon after, they landed a Top 5 R&B hit "So I Can Love You." Behind 12 of Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits Aretha Franklin had two sisters; Erma Franklin and Carolyn Franklin. Aretha Franklin and 11 Other Black Singers Who Got Their Start in Church, Photo: Bill Marino/Sygma via Getty Images, Freddie Mercurys Exquisite Clutter Up for Sale, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. A hero to several generations, Mayfield died in 1999. In a similar vein, not many musicians will release a copy of an Aretha Franklin song. In many ways a traditional stylist, Legend has constructed a sound that has fused soul, hip-hop, gospel, pop, jazz, and Broadway, cementing his status as a contemporary crooner with an appeal to a large adult audience. ", On March 30, 1968, the group scored their first and only top forty hit on the Billboard Top 40 Pop Chart with the song "Sweet Inspiration" on Atlantic Records. Clearly, the appropriate response after the song would be to shout "Amen!". According to biographer David Ritz, there is a belief that Burke fathered Arethas oldest son Clarence when she was 12 years old in 1955. Dec 25, 2018 - Vintage Black Photos Aretha & her backup singers, the Prima Donnas. She ultimately had dozens of singles that reached the soul Top 10. Carolyn was a gospel and R&B singer who sang alongside Aretha as one of her backup singers on many occasions. But he had to overcome personal tragedies and steep challenges to get there, as told in the documentary. And I just loved the way she came in dressed. Aretha Franklin in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, 1993 by Annie Leibovitz. Once that was corrected, her grades shot up. The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin died Thursday morning of advanced pancreatic cancer. She was 76 years old. After years of speculation about her health, her representatives confirmed her cancer battle. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Records with Sony Music. Erma Franklin was an American gospel and soul singer who passed away on September 7, 2002 at the age of 64. She had two half-siblings: a half-brother named Vaughn and a half-sister named Carl Ellan Kelley. As a civil rights figure. Her sister Carolyn, who sang backup on the album, also helped work up the song. Aretha recorded this in New York City with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a group of four studio musicians who also played sessions in Nashville and Muscle Shoals, Alabama before starting their own Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. Erma was a successful soul singer in her own right with her biggest hit being Piece of My Heart. This Whitney Houston movie on Netflix aint terrible. Naomi Ackie did an amazing job!. Half a century later, you can still feel the echoes of all the history thats gone down inside the studios wood-paneled walls. The song was released in 1968 as a single from her Aretha Now album. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). By October 2010, she was a patient at the Canyon Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Canoga Park, California. The group was led by patriarch Roebuck "Pop" Staples, featuring daughters Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne, with son Pervis in the lineup for some time as well. Despite the show's success, critics were deeply divided over the virtues of American Idol. Eventually the Blues Brothers reach Chicago City Hall and pay off the property tax lien, before they are arrested by the entire Cook County police force. Erma Franklin was a singer and songwriter who released several singles in the 1950s and 60s, including her biggest hit Piece of My Heart. Cissy published the book Remembering Whitney in 2013, in memory of her superstar daughter. 1 choice for artists including David Bowie, Bette Midler, Chic, and Ringo Starr who wanted to add a soulful punch to their harmonies. In 1969, the group recorded their fourth album, Sweets for my Sweet. He got the Muscle Shoals gig after a camera assistant he works with in Los Angeles mentioned a friend was doing the documentary and asked permission to pass along Arendts name as a candidate for director of photography. This all changed in 1967, when Aretha switched labels from Columbia to Atlantic Records; hooked up with producer Jerry Wexler; and was introduced to the Muscle Shoals musicians. Who were Aretha Franklin's backup singers? - Quora Once back in the U.S., her condition continued to deteriorate, as she suffered kidney failure, further complicated by a severe stroke. While making Muscle Shoals, Arendt experienced myriad cool moments. [4] In October 2007, Morrison was awarded a Million-Air certificate by BMI for 8 million air plays of "Brown Eyed Girl".[5]. Critic Michael Slezak summed up both the positive and negative aspects of the show as follows: "for all its bloated, synthetic, product-shilling, money-making trappings, Idol provides a once-a-year chance for the average American to combat the evils of today's music business.". But she also had a firm place in American history. Various R&B greats, including John Lee Hooker, Ray Charles, and Cab Calloway, are featured in guest spots in The Blues Brothers. Who Was Aretha Franklin Backup Singers in the Blues Brothers Schedule and more info at cityofmuscleshoals.com. He remembered everything. In March 2010, while on a European tour for Elvis: The Concert, Smith developed pneumonia. The show was a gigantic hit. Born in Memphis, Aretha Franklin moved to Detroit in early childhood her first album, at the age of 14, was a live recording of her singing in church (Credit: Getty On the studio side, Rodney Hall says, it [the documentary] brought a lot of exposure to us. Some 10 years later, Arendt doesnt recall what Franklin ordered from room service that day. The concert documentary Amazing Grace, chronicling the making of the album of the same name, was released posthumously soon after Franklin's death in 2018. There's no one right way to make it big as a singer. Gregg Allman, Jerry Wexler, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins, to name a few. Released in June 1980, The Blues Brothers film became a smash hit, grossing more than $100 million. And then we just kind of chatted and we werent even filming. Her biggest hit was a cover version of Otis Reddings song Piece Of My Heart which peaked at number twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. 1 pop hit "I'll Take You There," all clearly concerned with spiritual transcendence and care. The Unique and Unexpected Voice Behind Edna Mode, The Mystery Around Thomas Edisons First Wife, Mary Stilwell Edison. Some famous singers shot straight to stardom as lead acts while others had to cut their teeth as backing vocalists before making it on their own right. Through the rapper, Legend began singing backing vocals and contributing piano to artists including Alicia Keys, Talib Kweli, and the Black Eyed Peas, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Her mother, Cissy Houston, was part of the gospel-oriented group the Sweet Inspirations, known for their work with Franklin, and Dionne Warwick was a cousin. We will first review Aretha's original recording. Carolyn not only provied vocals for the track, but also helped write some of the iconic parts. We are here to help you make your home a better place by providing you with the latest information and trends from around the world. The record producer and songwriter initially had Cher singing backup vocals for multiple artists he worked with. In reality, the Blues Brothers band was an ensemble of musicians from great 60s groups. So here is Aretha Franklin in a live performance of Think. He and Badger are part of a special 10-year screening of the Muscle Shoals doc, 7:30 p.m. at Florences Shoals Community Theatre, at 123 N. Seminary St. Theres also a VIP 6 p.m. cocktail event with the filmmakers before the screening, at the GunRunner Hotel bar 310 E. Tennessee St. Tickets and more info at theshoalstheatre.org. Some Shoals studio musicians ascended beyond supporting roles. Five Luther Vandross Performances That Prove He Is The The Sweet Inspirations worked with Presley until his death in 1977. Legend helped West make his 2004 hit album, "College Dropout," and, not long after, the rapper made his own record label G.O.O.D. She was replaced by Myrna Smith. singer [7] They also backed Dusty Springfield on her album Dusty in Memphis.[3]. It was all being there for the same purpose, and, boy, you could just tell that she just how important Muscle Shoals was to her.. Aretha Franklin - "Ain't No Way": Cissy Houston's Soprano They had just a little bit of time to set up lights and cameras in the New York hotel room before Aretha Franklin got there. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 1 R&B track "Don't Play That Song for Me.". Pinterest. But thankfully he lived long enough to see the Muscle Shoals doc lift up his contributions to not just Muscle Shoals but American music and beyond. It will likely be stirring for their surviving friends and musical colleagues to see them on the big screen again. Erma Franklins legacy lives on through her music and contributions to the music industry. Dan Aykroyd's original script outline was roughly three times the length of a normal screenplay, so John Landis re-wrote it. That awareness led to dramatically increased music tourism in Muscle Shoals, Rodney Hall says. She released several solo albums throughout the 1960s and 70s, including the Grammy-nominated single Aint No Way which she co-wrote with Aretha. Now weve got thousands of people a year coming through here [FAME] and Muscle Shoals Sound, and the hall of fame is doing better than its ever done. Recently, Hall says, FAME Studios has welcomed visiting fans from as far as Finland and Australia. However, years later in another interview with Bishop Joseph W Tolton, Cissy had different things to share. When John Hammond signed Aretha to a record deal with Columbia Records, stardom seemed like a "can't-miss proposition." Aretha Franklin It was really nice., Some 10 years later, Arendt doesnt recall what Franklin ordered from room service that day. Chicago-based sisters Sheila, Wanda and Jeanette Hutchinson formed the vocal group The Emotions during the 1960s with gospel as a foundation. The doc also jump-started a rebirth for recording at Shoals studios. Milliner: Paul Regan. She too had an impressive career as a solo artist before joining her siblings to form The Sweethearts of Soul in 1967. Following Gabriel's departure, Collins moved from behind the kit to the front of the stage where he proved he could carry his own weight as a lead singer he also became famous for his tambourine dance. Given the cruelty of young kids, Ms. McPhee must have had quite a rough time in school, and I was impressed at her willingness to discuss these incidents. Aretha Franklin: Biography, Singer, Queen of Soul, Grammy Winner It's no secret that a legion of R&B singers trace their musical origins to the church, with the aesthetics of spirituals, gospel and the blues forming the bedrock of sounds that have invigorated soul, rock, pop, and other genres. She was a gospel singer who provided backup vocals for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Roy Hamilton, Dionne Warwick, and several others. It was released in 1968 under the name "Cissy Drinkard & The Sweet Inspirations. Since 2013, major artists including Chris Stapleton, Steven Tyler, Demi Lovato, Ann Wilson, Nuno Bettencourt and Gregg Allman recorded new material at Muscle Shoals studios. We are shocked and saddened that she is gone, but we have her songs to console us. Both sisters had successful singing careers of their own and both were accomplished gospel and soul singers. Think about it (think, think): would you paint a copy of Starry Night, knowing that your work would necessarily be compared to Vincent Van Gogh's masterpiece? READ MORE: Inside Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's Tumultuous Relationship. In 1979, the group toured with The Bee Gees during their U.S. One of the major factors in American Idol's success was allowing the viewers to vote through social media. Marie Curie. After the runaway success of Belushi's movie Animal House, the Animal House director John Landis was chosen to direct The Blues Brothers film. In the early 1960s, Gaye met Motown founder Berry Gordy and worked with the label as a drummer and singer before embarking on a solo career that would lead him to become a powerhouse pop/soul act with Top 10 singles like "Ain't That Peculiar," "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Your Precious Love" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing.". The backup singers are her sisters Carolyn and Erma, and the tune is punctuated by some Her second studio album, 2016's The Dreaming Room, continued explorations of both grand and personal themes with neo-spirituals like "Bread" and "People." Here is Aretha singing Think in The Blues Brothers. The Sweet Inspirations - Wikipedia Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022) is finally available on Netflix and the film has got many viewers talking about Whitneys family, including her famous mom Cissy Houston. As a backup group, the Sweet Inspirations was in high demand among producers, publishers, artists, and songwriters in the early 1960s. I had no idea what Muscle Shoals was. He and director Freddy Camalier had four or so phone conversations before filming. She received a slew of honors, all of them richly deserved. Manthat Whitney Houston movie on @netflix I Wanna Dance with Somebody was fire! As a result, Aretha's lip-synching never matched the vocal track. Who were backup singers on Aretha Franklin's say a little prayer? But it was provided a poignant full circle moment for the doc. The charismatic Redding, naming Little Richard as a huge influence, eventually became a renowned solo recording artist with a voice that registered strength, vulnerability and care. The rest of the hotel rooms furniture, cleared out of the frame. After all, those shows frequently require their contestants to perform songs by a particular artist, or a specific genre, or songs released in a given calendar year. However, for many fans, one of the most intriguing aspects of Whitneys life was her relationship with her mom Cissy. In fact, she left rehab for bulimia only a month or two before her appearance on American Idol. Franklin arrived at the hotel for her Muscle Shoals interview looking radiant, in a shimmering top, dark skirt, gushing curls and elegant makeup. Still, its not easy to turn a hotel room -- even an upscale one like Trump Tower, where Franklin was filmed into a cool looking setting for a film. Daughter of Reverend C.L. its beautiful and it shows who Whitney really was a second fan thought. Aretha was reportedly the victim of serious domestic abuse at the hands of her first husband, her manager Ted White. At that time, Sylvia Shemwell (sister of Judy Clay) replaced Troy, while Cissy Houston took over from Dionne, with Dee Dee Warwick as the group's official leader. Her earlier performance of the gospel song "Wonderful Counselor," with mother Cissy and brother Gary at the 1988 American Music Awards, was unshakeable in its electricity and power. Yes, Cynthia Erivo did her own singing in the Nat Geo video clip. Aretha Franklin had an estimated net worth of approximately $80 million at the time of her death in 2018. He had a number of hits on the R&B charts during the 1960s, including "Chained and Bound," "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)," "Respect," "Satisfaction," "Try a Little Tenderness" and "Tramp," the latter with Carla Thomas. Brenda also sang alongside Aretha as part of her backup singers, known as The Sweethearts of Soul. Although the ratings of Idol have fallen drastically since the height of its fame, the show changed the landscape of prime-time television, and a handful of its most successful competitors have become stars in their own right. Aretha Franklins family was not wealthy. Alas, all this was blown to bits when John Belushi died in March, 1982 after being injected with a "speedball," a mixture of heroin and cocaine. Her younger sister Carolyn was also an accomplished singer and both relished the opportunity to share the spotlight with Aretha. A final Atlantic session in June 1970 brought the group (now a trio with Brown, Smith, and Shemwell) its last two singles for the label; "This World" (from the musical The Me Nobody Knows), and "Evidence".
