[msb-alumni] Aretha Franklin Dies at 76
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2018 17:44:55 -0400
Blank(This is an earlier article, overview of her career follows).
Soul icon Aretha Franklin is seriously ill By Mesfin Fekadu Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Fans and friends, including Mariah Carey and Missy Elliott, offered
prayers and well wishes to Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who is seriously ill.
A person close to Franklin, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the
person was not allowed to publicly talk about the topic, told The Associated
Press on Monday that the singer
is seriously ill. No more details were provided. Carey, who considers Franklin
one of her biggest influences, wrote on Twitter that she is "praying for the
Queen of Soul. Missy Elliott said that the public has to celebrate iconic
artists before they die. "So many (of them) have given us decades of Timeless
music," the rapper wrote on Twitter. Mark Frost, Andy Cohen and Ciara also
posted about Franklin, who is considered one of the greatest singers of all-time
and is known for hits like "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural
Woman.
Franklin, who had battled undisclosed health issues in recent years, canceled
planned concerts earlier this year after she was ordered by her doctor to stay
off the road and rest up.
She was originally scheduled to perform on her 76th birthday in March in
Newark,
New Jersey, and at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April. Last
year, the icon announced her plans to retire, saying she would perform at "some
select things. One of those select events was a gala for Elton John's 25th
anniversary of his AIDS foundation
in November in New York City, where Franklin closed the event with a collection
of songs including "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Freeway.
Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the lone surviving original member of the Four Tops, told
the AP on Monday morning they have been "very close" for decades and their most
recent conversation was about a week ago by phone. Fakir said they talked after
Franklin had stopped by his Detroit house when he wasn't there. "She was
telling
me she rides around the city every now and then -- she talks about how
beautiful
it is again," Fakir said. "We were reminiscing about how blessed we were --
only
a couple two of us are around -- from that era. We were just kind of
reminiscing
about the good times we had."
Fakir, who calls Franklin "baby sis" because he's older than she is by six
years, said despite her health troubles "she was talking about the future. "She
talked about this great, big special she was going to have in New York, with
all
her great friends performing," he said. "It made me feel good as well she was
still hoping and wishing and dreaming as we do
in this business."
*****
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