Aretha Franklin
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Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Regarded as the "Queen of Soul", she was twice named by Rolling Stone magazine as the greatest singer of all time.
Franklin in 1968
Franklin's birthplace, 406 Lucy Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
Billboard ad for Franklin's debut single, "Today I Sing the Blues", November 21, 1960
Franklin in 1967
Erma Franklin
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Erma Vernice Franklin was an American gospel and soul singer. She recorded the original version of "Piece of My Heart", written and produced by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns in 1967, for which she was
Aretha Franklin
…father to sign her with his label, RCA Victor, but she had already decided to go with Columbia. Berry Gordy had also asked Franklin and her elder sister Erma to sign with his Tamla label, but C. L. Franklin turned Gordy down, as he felt Tamla was not yet an established label. Franklin's first Columbia single…
Franklin in 1967