Today, Billboard magazine is honoring the late Aretha Franklin in their official post-humous tribute issue featuring Billboard’s obituary on the Queen of Soul as the main cover feature - written by Associate Professor of Journalism at Loyola Marymount University, Evelyn McDonnell titled “The Role of Struggle in Aretha Franklin’s Path to Greatness”:
Excerpt:
…To say that Franklin was one of the greatest female singers of all time is to miss the point. Aretha -- an original one-named diva -- was one of the greatest artists, period. Her talent and her impact transcended gender, race, genre and geography.
This was a woman who could sing disco, gospel, rock, opera and, of course, soul. In addition to possessing astonishing vocal talent, she was a pianist, songwriter, arranger and performer. She was one of the towering figures whose talents expressed the seismic cultural shifts of a decade of momentous change.
The only peer of similar import and impact is Bob Dylan, and I would argue that as the voice of the struggle for equal rights for blacks and for women, Franklin embodied her generation more. Her death on Aug. 16 marks a mighty loss….
Full Obituary HERE