Musicians pay tribute to 'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin
The 'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin has passed away, but her music will live on forever.
The music industry is mourning the death of one of its most talented musicians - Aretha Franklin. The 76-year-old passed away on Thursday following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
Dozens of celebrities, including some of the world's biggest music stars, took to social media to pay tribute to the 'Queen of Soul'
Singer and actress Barbra Streisand says it's hard to imagine a world without Aretha.
"This photo was taken in 2012 when Aretha & I performed at a tribute celebration for our friend Marvin Hamlisch. It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer, but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world," she tweeted.
'Hello' hitmaker Lionel Richie says Aretha was truly the 'Queen of Soul'.
"Her voice; her presence; her style, no one did it better. Truly the Queen of Soul. I will miss you!" he wrote on Twitter.
Grammy Award-winner Mariah Carey says the music icon will "forever have all our respect".
"I will forever cherish the moments I spent in your presence. Your indelible impact was earned not only by your incomparable voice but by your bigger than life personality, wit and humor. I say a BIG prayer for you. You will forever have all our RESPECT."
South African musicians have also paid tribute to the star.
Thandiswa Mazwai, who shared a stage with Aretha at a 2009 concert in New York City, says Aretha's voice "gave power where it was needed".
'Feel Good' singer Lira wrote on Instagram: "Her voice and music formed part of the sound track to my youth! Thank you Queen Of Soul! Sending you love and light. Deepest condolences to your loved ones and fans around the globe! #RIPArethaFranklin."
Circa 2009 NYC #RadioCityMusicHall Rest in Power Mama Aretha Franklin. That voice gave power where it was needed! pic.twitter.com/nb6yHrTsgO
— KingTha (@thandiswamazwai) August 16, 2018
A great tree has fallen. Rest in Music to the #queenofsoul the great Aretha Franklin! To have had the privilege to perform on the same stage as her and watch from the wings as she sang… https://t.co/T8B5WLmv27
— KingTha (@thandiswamazwai) August 16, 2018
This photo was taken in 2012 when Aretha & I performed at a tribute celebration for our friend Marvin Hamlisch. It’s difficult to conceive of a world without her. Not only was she a uniquely brilliant singer,but her commitment to civil rights made an indelible impact on the world pic.twitter.com/Px9zVB90MM
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) August 16, 2018
Her voice; her presence; her style
— Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) August 16, 2018
No one did it better
Truly the Queen of Soul
I will miss you!@ArethaFranklin #QueenOfSoul pic.twitter.com/Gw5XEhsxjH
I will forever cherish the moments I spent in your presence. Your indelible impact was earned not only by your incomparable voice but by your bigger than life personality, wit and humor. I say a BIG prayer for you. You will forever have all our RESPECT. Love, Mariah ♥️ pic.twitter.com/97qk0J64rO
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) August 16, 2018
I will always remember and love Aretha Franklin. I remember @bigjimwright making me a CD of allllllll the songs that I should listen to by Aretha because no one could groove, croon, riff,… https://t.co/1fUOLc5Wbv
— Michelle Williams (@RealMichelleW) August 16, 2018
this is truly a sad day. rest peacefully queen. icon. my sincere condolences to her family. #ArethaFranklin
— KELENDRIA ROWLAND (@KELLYROWLAND) August 16, 2018
Let’s all take a moment to give thanks for the beautiful life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of our souls, who inspired us all for many many years. She will be missed but the memory of her greatness as a musician and a fine human being will live with us forever. Love Paul pic.twitter.com/jW4Gpwfdts
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) August 16, 2018
Salute to the Queen. The greatest vocalist I've ever known. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 #Aretha
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 16, 2018
Rest in peace Aretha. ❤ pic.twitter.com/QT7HeY5SIf
— Patti LaBelle (@MsPattiPatti) August 16, 2018
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ☁️ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ pic.twitter.com/J2Y1eEbSXo
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) August 16, 2018
The loss of @ArethaFranklin is a blow for everybody who loves real music: Music from the heart, the soul and the Church. Her voice was unique, her piano playing underrated – she was one of my favourite pianists. pic.twitter.com/ug5oZYywAz
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) August 16, 2018
We’ll miss you Queen. #ArethaQueenForever pic.twitter.com/hus3lw5pwG
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) August 16, 2018
Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/bfASqKlLc5
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2018
Up until March 2017, Aretha was the only artist to have 73 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 - America's music industry standard record chart.
Some of her biggest hits on the chart include, 'Respect' (1976) and 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)' ft. George Michael (1987) - which both spent two weeks at number one.
'Chain of Fools' (1968) peaked at number two on the chart, while 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)' reached the number three spot in 1974.
'I Say a Little Prayer' (1968), 'A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)' (1967), and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' (1971) also made the Top 10.
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