Aretha Franklin: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Aretha Franklin's art grew out of the Detroit gospel church her father pastored, then collided with jazz phrasing, Atlantic's Muscle Shoals rhythm section, and the civil rights movement. This mix traces the gospel matriarchs who taught her, the Southern studio players who freed her, and the singers who still measure themselves against her.

The Kynda mix for Aretha Franklin

• Key Influence · Precious Lord by Mahalia Jackson (1956). Mahalia Jackson was a family friend of the Franklins, visiting C. L. Franklin's Detroit home and helping care for the children after Aretha's mother left; she sang at Aretha's mother's funeral and later at C. L.'s church events. Jackson's huge, unhurried gospel contralto and her refusal to sing secular material set the standard Aretha absorbed as a child, and Aretha sang at Jackson's own 1972 funeral in Chicago.
• Influencia Obscura · Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas A. Dorsey (1938). Dorsey, the former blues pianist "Georgia Tom" who invented modern gospel songwriting, is the under-credited architect behind Aretha's entire vocabulary. His compositions were repertoire staples at New Bethel, and she recorded "Precious Lord" on 1972's Amazing Grace. Dorsey's blues-chord gospel is precisely the hybrid — sacred text over secular harmony — that made soul music structurally possible.
• Local Roots · Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas (1964). Detroit was Aretha's home base and Berry Gordy courted her before Columbia signed her; Gordy had been a family acquaintance and Smokey Robinson was a childhood friend of her brother Cecil. Motown's Funk Brothers-driven records were the sound of her city while she was still cutting standards in New York. This Holland–Dozier–Holland single captures the Detroit energy she eventually answered from Muscle Shoals.
• Beyond the Medium · Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday (1956). At Columbia, John Hammond — who had discovered Holiday — signed Aretha and aimed her at the jazz-vocal tradition, producing albums of standards. Aretha studied Holiday's phrasing and recorded tributes to the jazz songbook; her 1962 single of "God Bless the Child" and her reading of "Skylark" show Holiday's behind-the-beat conversational timing grafted onto a gospel instrument.
• Peer · Lady Soul? no — I Never Loved a Man by Etta James (1967). Etta James was Aretha's closest contemporary: a gospel-raised belter who also recorded at FAME in Muscle Shoals with the same rhythm section, cutting "Tell Mama" there in 1967 just as Aretha was making her Atlantic breakthrough. The two were often set against each other by critics and labels, and James spoke admiringly and competitively about Aretha's arrival as the standard-setter.
• From the Canon · Amazing Grace by Aretha Franklin (1972). Recorded live over two nights at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles with James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir, this double album is the key to her whole career: the best-selling gospel record ever made and a public return to the music she was raised on. Sydney Pollack filmed it; the footage surfaced decades later as the documentary of the same name.
• Key Collaborator · Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett (1966). Jerry Wexler, the Atlantic producer who signed Aretha away from Columbia, had already built the Southern-soul method on Pickett's records with the Muscle Shoals and American Sound players. Hearing what Wexler did with Pickett explains the setting he dropped Aretha into: a lean rhythm section, horn punctuation and space for the singer. Wexler produced nearly all her classic 1967–1973 albums.
• Legacy · The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album by Whitney Houston (1992). Whitney's mother Cissy Houston sang background for Aretha with the Sweet Inspirations, and Aretha was an informal "Auntie Ree" to Whitney, who named her as her model and duetted with her on "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" in 1989. The gospel-trained megamelisma of "I Will Always Love You" is Aretha's church ornamentation carried into stadium pop.

What influenced Aretha Franklin

• Sam Cooke. Cooke is named as one of Franklin's greatest influences. (also via Oh Lord, Stand By Me) “Cooke's contribution to soul music contributed to the rise of Aretha Franklin , Bobby Womack , Al Green , Curtis Mayfield , Stevie Wonder , Marvin Gaye , and Billy Preston , and popularized the work of Otis Redding and James Brown .” (Wikipedia)
• Marvin Gaye (1939). Gaye is named among Franklin's youthful influences. (also via Ain’t No Mountain High Enough) “Other influences in her youth included Marvin Gaye , as well as Ray Charles and Cooke, "two of Franklin's greatest influences".” (Wikipedia)
• Ray Charles. Charles is named as one of Franklin's greatest influences. (also via The Genius of Ray Charles) “Other influences in her youth included Marvin Gaye , as well as Ray Charles and Cooke, "two of Franklin's greatest influences".” (Wikipedia)
• Clara Ward. Ward is identified as a role model for Franklin. (also via The Gospel Sound of Clara Ward) “Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha.” (Wikipedia)
• James Cleveland. Cleveland helped focus Franklin's early gospel career. (also via Peace Be Still) “Also important was James Cleveland , known as the King of Gospel music, "who helped to focus her early career as a gospel singer";” (Wikipedia)
• The Genius of Ray Charles by Ray Charles (1959). The Genius of Ray Charles (Ray Charles) — titan for Aretha Franklin “Other influences in her youth included Marvin Gaye, as well as Ray Charles and Cooke, "two of Franklin's greatest influences".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Cholly Atkins. Atkins coached Franklin for her pop performances. “During this period, Franklin would be coached by choreographer Cholly Atkins to prepare for her pop performances.” (Wikipedia)
• Genius: Aretha by National Geographic. The series dramatizes Franklin’s life and recording career. “It had been a long and productive day, as the National Geographic series Genius: Aretha shot the sixth episode in which the Queen of Soul records the “Amazing Grace” live album.” (National Geographic)
• Precious Lord by Mahalia Jackson (1956). Precious Lord (Mahalia Jackson) — titan for Aretha Franklin “Several women, including Aretha's grandmother Rachel and Mahalia Jackson, took turns helping with the children at the Franklin home.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Gospel Sound of Clara Ward by Clara Ward (1962). The Gospel Sound of Clara Ward (Clara Ward) — titan for Aretha Franklin “Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas A. Dorsey (1938). Precious Lord, Take My Hand (Thomas A. Dorsey) — ghost for Aretha Franklin “Four years later, Aretha Franklin sang it at Jackson's funeral.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Oh Lord, Stand By Me by Sam Cooke (1955). Oh Lord, Stand By Me (Sam Cooke) — ghost for Aretha Franklin “Martin Luther King Jr, Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday (1956). Lady Sings the Blues (Billie Holiday) — culture for Aretha Franklin (musicbrainz.org)
• I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. (1963). I Have a Dream (Martin Luther King Jr.) — culture for Aretha Franklin “Martin Luther King Jr., and she would ultimately sing at his funeral in 1968.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. Porgy and Bess (George Gershwin) — culture for Aretha Franklin (wikidata.org)

Peers and kindred spirits

• Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston (1963). Houston selected Franklin to perform a song for the soundtrack. (also via Amazing Grace, The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album) “That year, Franklin contributed to the soundtrack of Waiting to Exhale , after being handpicked by Whitney Houston to perform the ballad "It Hurts Like Hell",” (Wikipedia)
• Tony Bennett (1926). Bennett recorded a duet with Aretha Franklin. “He sang duets with seventeen prominent singers of varying techniques, including Aretha Franklin , Willie Nelson , Queen Latifah , and Lady Gaga .” (Wikipedia)
• Respect by Otis Redding. Franklin recorded a modified version of Redding's song. “" Respect " was Otis Redding 's song but Aretha modified it with a "supercharged interlude featuring the emphatic spelling-out of the song's title".” (Wikipedia)
• Rolling in the Deep by Adele. Franklin included a cover of Adele's song on her album. “But now she’s earned major “Respect” from the all-time greatest, Aretha Franklin , who’s shared her cover version of “Rolling in the Deep.”” (Rolling Stone)
• Erma Franklin. Erma Franklin sang background vocals on her sister's recordings. (also via Piece of My Heart) “Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn , were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings.” (Wikipedia)
• Cissy Houston by Cissy Houston. Houston provided background vocals for Franklin's song. “Houston sang background on Franklin's hit "Ain't No Way".” (Wikipedia)
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album combines Franklin's archived recordings with the orchestra. “Franklin released the album A Brand New Me in November 2017 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , which uses archived recordings from Franklin.” (Wikipedia)
• Amy Winehouse. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit traced a lineage including Aretha Franklin to Winehouse. (also via Back to Black) “One thread started with Billie Holiday , continued with Aretha Franklin and Mary J. Blige , and then finished with Winehouse.” (Wikipedia)
• Tom Dowd. Describes Dowd's collaboration with Aretha Franklin as recording engineer. “for three decades worked with performers from John Coltrane, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Eric Clapton” (Fresh Air (NPR))
• To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Nina Simone and Weldon Irvine. Franklin recorded a rendition of Simone and Irvine’s song. “A studio recording was released as a single, and renditions of the song have been recorded by Aretha Franklin (on her 1972 album Young, Gifted and Black ) and Donny Hathaway .” (Wikipedia)
• Soul Serenade by King Curtis (1964). Soul Serenade (King Curtis) — peer for Aretha Franklin “He played riffs and solos on hit singles such as "Respect" by Aretha Franklin (1967), and "Yakety Yak" by the Coasters (1958) and his own "Soul Twist" (1962), "Soul Serenade" (1964), and "Memphis Soul Stew" (1967).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett (1966). Mustang Sally (Wilson Pickett) — collaborator for Aretha Franklin “He coined the term "rhythm and blues", and was integral in signing and/or producing many of the biggest acts of the time, including Ray Charles, the Allman Brothers, Chris Connor, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett, Dire Strai…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Piece of My Heart by Erma Franklin (1967). Piece of My Heart (Erma Franklin) — collaborator for Aretha Franklin “Franklin was the elder sister of singer Aretha Franklin.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Clyde Otis. Otis produced much of Franklin's Columbia material. “Mostly produced by Clyde Otis , Franklin's Columbia recordings saw her performing in diverse genres, such as standards , vocal jazz , blues , doo-wop and rhythm and blues .” (Wikipedia)
• Jerry Wexler. Wexler helped create many of Franklin's peak Atlantic recordings. “The Atlantic days would lead to a series of hits for Aretha Franklin between 1967 and early 1972; her rapport with Wexler helped in the creation of the majority of her peak recordings on the Atlantic label.” (Wikipedia)
• How I Got Over by Mahalia Jackson. Franklin reinterpreted a song associated with Jackson on Amazing Grace. “In January 1972, she returned to gospel music in a two-night, live-church recording, with the album Amazing Grace , in which she reinterpreted standards such as Mahalia Jackson's " How I Got Over ".” (Wikipedia)
• Yesterday. Franklin sang the Beatles' song on The Mike Douglas Show. “On November 7, 1979, she guested The Mike Douglas Show with her yellow costume from her La Diva album, and sang "Ladies Only", "What If I Should Ever Need You" and " Yesterday " by the Beatles .” (Wikipedia)
• I Can't Turn You Loose by Otis Redding. Franklin covered Redding's song. “While not released as a single, Franklin's funk -influenced cover of Otis Redding's " I Can't Turn You Loose " on the same album resulted in her first Grammy nomination in four years.” (Wikipedia)
• George Benson. Franklin sang a duet with Benson on the album's title track. “The follow-up album, Love All the Hurt Away (1981) featured her hit R&B duet of the title track with George Benson ,” (Wikipedia)
• Hold On, I'm Comin' by Sam & Dave. Franklin recorded a rendition of Sam & Dave's song. “while a post-disco rendition of Sam & Dave 's " Hold On, I'm Comin' " won Franklin her first Grammy in six years.” (Wikipedia)
• Eurythmics. Franklin recorded a duet with Eurythmics. “Franklin also achieved a top 20 hit with the duet, " Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves " with the new wave band Eurythmics .” (Wikipedia)
• George Michael (1981). Franklin recorded a successful duet with Michael. “The Walden-produced album went gold on the strength of her globally successful duet with George Michael , " I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) ",” (Wikipedia)
• Jumpin' Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones. Franklin released a rendition of the Rolling Stones song. “Other hit singles on Aretha included a pop-rock rendition of " Jumpin' Jack Flash ", culled from the Whoopi Goldberg -starring film of the same name ,” (Wikipedia)
• Babyface. Franklin worked with Babyface during the period of Willing to Forgive. “A year later, Franklin began working with Babyface , landing her first top 40 single in five years with the R&B ballad, " Willing to Forgive ".” (Wikipedia)
• Aaron Neville. Neville performed the national anthem with Franklin. “In February 2006, she performed " The Star-Spangled Banner " with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL , held in her hometown of Detroit.” (Wikipedia)
• Dr. John. Dr. John performed the national anthem with Franklin. “In February 2006, she performed " The Star-Spangled Banner " with Aaron Neville and Dr. John for Super Bowl XL , held in her hometown of Detroit.” (Wikipedia)
• Carolyn Franklin. Carolyn Franklin sang background vocals on her sister's recordings. “Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn , were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings.” (Wikipedia)
• The Sweet Inspirations. Members of the Sweet Inspirations sang with Franklin. “Franklin's music business friends included Dionne Warwick , Mavis Staples , and Cissy Houston , who began singing with Franklin as members of the Sweet Inspirations .” (Wikipedia)
• Patti Austin by Patti Austin. The album label credits Austin with leading new backing vocals paired with Franklin’s archival performances. “The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded the music at Abbey Road Studios in London, with brand new backing vocals led by Grammy®-winning singer Patti Austin.” (Rhino)
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Reed notes that Franklin incorporated the song’s chorus into her “Rolling in the Deep” cover. “Franklin gives the 2011 smash a fiery makeover, tossing off melismatic vocal runs and even incorporating the chorus from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s Motown classic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”” (Rolling Stone)
• Diana Ross (1944). I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (Aretha Franklin) — peer for Diana Ross (via I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You) “Ross has been described as one of the Five Mighty Pop Divas of the Sixties along with Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves, and Dionne Warwick.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas. Dancing in the Street (Martha and the Vandellas) — geography for Aretha Franklin “Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and recently signed Motown act Gladys Knight & the Pips brought in grittier soul music while the Temptations and Marvin Gaye were starting to record psychedelic soul, which forced many other …” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Baby I Need Your Loving by Four Tops (1964). Baby I Need Your Loving (Four Tops) — geography for Aretha Franklin “The Arista contract provided an opportunity to pair Levi Stubbs with fellow Arista artist, another R&B vocalist from Detroit, Aretha Franklin, who was at the height of her own 1980s hit streak.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Peace Be Still by James Cleveland (1963). Peace Be Still (James Cleveland) — collaborator for Aretha Franklin “Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Shop Around by The Miracles (1960). Shop Around (The Miracles) — geography for Aretha Franklin
• Lady Soul? no — I Never Loved a Man by Etta James (1967). Lady Soul? no — I Never Loved a Man (Etta James) — peer for Aretha Franklin
• I'll Take You There by The Staple Singers (1972). I'll Take You There (The Staple Singers) — peer for Aretha Franklin

Who Aretha Franklin influenced

• Lauryn Hill (1975). Names Aretha Franklin as a musical influence on the album. (also via A Rose Is Still a Rose) “shunning Billboard chart trends in favor of 1960s–1970s influences from Aretha Franklin, Al Green , and Sam Cooke .” (Wikipedia)
• Mariah Carey. The article reports that Carey named Franklin among her influences. (also via Amazing Grace) “Carey has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Billie Holiday , Sarah Vaughan as well as R&B and soul musicians including Al Green , Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight , Aretha Franklin, and George Michael .” (Wikipedia)
• Hey Nineteen. Steely Dan's song name-checks Franklin. “In it, the middle-aged protagonist (Donald Fagen) is aghast that ‘Ninteen’ (a teenage suitor) does not know who Aretha Franklin is.” (Music Musings & Such)
• Ex-Factor. 'Ex-Factor' was compared to Aretha Franklin. “1960s-influenced soul track "Ex-Factor" received comparisons to Minnie Riperton and Aretha Franklin .” (Wikipedia)
• Sabrina Carpenter (1999). Carpenter named Aretha Franklin as an early musical influence. “Carpenter has also named Aretha Franklin ,” (Wikipedia)
• Songs in A Minor by Alicia Keys (2001). Songs in A Minor (Alicia Keys) — legacy for Aretha Franklin “The concert included performances by Smokey Robinson, Janelle Monáe, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Alessia Cara, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R., SZA, Brandi Carlile, Yolanda Adams and Shirl…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Back to Black by Amy Winehouse (2006). Back to Black (Amy Winehouse) — legacy for Aretha Franklin “One thread started with Billie Holiday, continued with Aretha Franklin and Mary J.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Siouxsie Sioux. Siouxsie Sioux named Franklin her favourite female singer. “At the beginning of her career, Siouxsie Sioux named her as her favourite female singer.” (Wikipedia)
• Genius. A season of Genius portrays Franklin, played by Cynthia Erivo. “The season, starring Cynthia Erivo as Franklin, was aired in March 2021.” (Wikipedia)
• Farewell But Not Goodbye. The article identifies Price's song as a tribute to Franklin. “Rick Price wrote a tribute "Farewell But Not Goodbye" for his Soulville album released in 2021.” (Wikipedia)
• Ms. Lauryn Hill. Amazing Grace (Aretha Franklin) — titan for Ms. Lauryn Hill (via Amazing Grace) “She wrote "A Rose Is Still a Rose" by Aretha Franklin, and produced recordings for Whitney Houston, Mary J.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album by Whitney Houston (1992). The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (Whitney Houston) — legacy for Aretha Franklin “Despite the appearances of Elton John and fellow label mate and "honorary niece" Whitney Houston, the album sold poorly, as did her 1991 follow-up, What You See is What You Sweat.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Tony Berg. Amazing Grace (Aretha Franklin) — titan for Tony Berg (via Amazing Grace) (musicbrainz.org)