Aretha Franklin Biography
Although she would earn the title of Queen on Soul during the second half of the 1960s, Aretha Franklin’s early recordings for Columbia Records showcase a very different—yet highly compelling—side of her talent. The young singer cut a series of memorable sessions for Columbia between 1960 and 1965, recording in a more restrained vein that showcased the subtler shadings of her gospel-steeped voice.
The daughter of the Reverend C.L. Franklin, the prominent Detroit-based Baptist preacher and civil-rights activist, Aretha Franklin literally grew up in church, playing piano and singing with sisters Carolyn and Erma (both of whom would also have notable recording careers). Such was her father’s prominence in the African-American community that the Franklin household would often be visited by touring R&B stars, including Sam Cooke, who would be a major influence upon Aretha.
After Aretha decided to pursue a secular recording career, she turned down offers from RCA and Motown to sign with Columbia in 1960. Under the direction of legendary producer and A&R man John Hammond, Franklin recorded a large body of material that largely moved her away from gospel roots and embraced blues and jazz influences, although such songs as “Soulville” and “Lee Cross” previewed the raw, full-throated style that would eventually make her a superstar.
Franklin had a minor pop hit in 1961 with a version of “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby (With A Dixie Melody),” and scored a trio of Top 10 R&B hits, “Today I Sing The Blues,” “Won’t Be Long” and “Operation Heartbreak,” in 1965. But mainstream success remained elusive until late 1966, when Franklin left Columbia to pursue her destiny at Atlantic Records.
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