Remembering Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin died at 76 of pancreatic cancer on August 16th. The Queen of Soul was one of the most influential American singers, known for her R&B, soul, and gospel stylings and her impact as a symbol of black pride and women’s liberation.

To read more about her life, click here.

You can hear Jerry Wexler talking about his work with Aretha Franklin, Ray and Jimmy Johnson speaking about Aretha’s influence on the Muscle Shoals’ sound, her father speaking about her and the church, and a clip from Aretha herself about working with Sam Cooke in our archives.

Other Recent Posts

Nick Spitzer: Impresario of American Routes

March 6th, 2024

Ring Around the Rosie: Metafolklore, Rhyme and Reason

February 28th, 2024

In Remembrance of Ken Mills

December 13th, 2023

Nick Spitzer featured on DETOURS from Country Roads Magazine

November 17th, 2023

Nick Spitzer Honored at NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award Public Ceremony

September 26th, 2023

Remembering Chris Strachwitz

May 8th, 2023

Remembering Harry Belafonte

April 26th, 2023

Nick Spitzer and Brian Edwards at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University

March 23rd, 2023

American Routes Host, Nick Spitzer, is the 2023 Recipient of the Bess Lomax Hawes National Heritage Fellowship

February 28th, 2023

Remembering Huey "Piano" Smith

February 16th, 2023

Remembering Walter "Wolfman" Washington and Topsy Chapman

January 3rd, 2023

Remembering Captain Doc Hawley

November 14th, 2022

Remembering Jerry Lee Lewis

October 28th, 2022

Remembering Loretta Lynn

October 4th, 2022

Remembering Pharoah Sanders and Joe Bussard

September 29th, 2022

Remembering Ramsey Lewis and Mable John

September 14th, 2022

American Routes at the Public Radio Content Conference 2022

September 7th, 2022

American Routes at Montana Folk Festival

July 18th, 2022

NEA Work Samples

July 12th, 2022

Remembering Ronnie Hawkins

May 31st, 2022