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Aretha Franklin cancels all her concerts

On doctors’ recommendations, the Soul Queen Aretha Franklin has canceled all of her concerts scheduled until May 2011.

Currently 68 years old, the singer has recently experienced hospitalization due to an undisclosed illness. Despite the uncertainty surrounding her condition, she remains optimistic about fulfilling her concert obligations next year.

Over the years, she has gained some weight, but I sincerely wish for her recovery so that fans can enjoy the artistry of this great Soul Queen.

Her voice is exceptionally remarkable and distinctive, particularly within a genre that boasts numerous talented singers.

My first encounter with her was while watching the Blues Brothers, a fantastic movie featuring John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd as two men on a ‘Mission from God’ to fundraise and prevent an orphanage from shutting down. They assemble a band and evade the police, ultimately achieving their fundraising goal.

It’s a superb film, and I remember attending a re-release screening with friends; every time a song played, people would start dancing in the aisles… inside the cinema! However, the dancing erupted only during Aretha’s rendition of “Think.” It’s unbelievable to imagine that dancing took place in a cinematic setting. These days, there wouldn’t be enough individuals to execute a decent “Okie Cokie.”

Aretha stands out as one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history, holding 18 competitive Grammy Awards as well as two honorary Grammys. She has achieved an impressive total of 20 No. 1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart.

Among these, her debut No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 was “Respect” (1967). Additionally, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (1987), a collaboration with George Michael, became her second No. 1 on that chart.

Since 1961, Franklin has amassed an impressive 45 “Top 40” hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also holds the record for most million-selling singles of any female artist, with a total of 14. From 1967 to 1982, Aretha released 10 No. 1 R&B albums, surpassing any other female artist in this achievement.

In 1987, she made history as the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Furthermore, Aretha Franklin was the sole featured singer at Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration in 2009.

by Wallace McTavish

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