Episode 149: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
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The Story of CL Franklin
CL Franklin started putting together gospel tours, consisting of music but with himself giving a sermon as a headline act. By 1956 he was getting around $4,000 per appearance, roughly equivalent to $43,000 today. He also sold half a million records that year. Various gospel singers would perform on the tours he organised and one of those performers was Franklin's middle daughter Aretha. Her first recordings made when she was just 14 show what an astonishing talent she already was at that young age. It's George Rapping to listen to these records of her 14 year old and immediately recognise them as a fully formed Aretha Franklin.
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