Fromer President Jerry John Rawlings has Joined other world leaders to ulogise Aretha Franklin, the US singer known as the Queen of Soul, who has died at 76.
She carried our love and sweet romance to greater heights. @ArethaFranklin opened the doors to good music and rhythm. There wasn’t a single corner of the world that didn’t rise and swing to her music.
— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) August 16, 2018
Flt Lt (rtd) Jerry John Rawlings tweeted that, there wasn’t a single corner of the world that didn’t rise and swing to her music
“She carried our love and sweet romance to greater heights. @ArethaFranklin opened the doors to good music and rhythm. There wasn’t a single corner of the world that didn’t rise and swing to her music.”
She was indeed the Queen of Soul. Her music used to drive us sweet crazy. Rest in peace @ArethaFranklin
— Jerry John Rawlings (@officeofJJR) August 16, 2018
“She was indeed the Queen of Soul. Her music used to drive us sweet crazy. Rest in peace”
Other tributes poured in from the worlds of entertainment and politics for Aretha Franklin.
Aretha Franklin performed at inauguration events for three US presidents and was a powerful advocate for the civil rights movement.
According to Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary in a joint statement said: “For more than 50 years, she stirred our souls.”
She was “one of America’s greatest national treasures”, the Clintons said. “She was elegant, graceful, and utterly uncompromising in her artistry.”
In 2005, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W Bush, when she was saluted for “capturing the hearts of millions of Americans”.
Barack Obama for his part, said her music had “helped define the American Experience”.
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
Mr. and Mrs. Obama, in a joint statement said: “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.
“She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.”
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 16, 2018
The current US President, Donald Trump, tweeted that Franklin had been a “great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice”.
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton said he was “deeply saddened by the passing of a beloved friend and queen/warrior”.
American musical vocal group, Sister Sledge and the Fellow Civil Rights Figure, Rev Jesse Jackson are among those who also paid tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Jesse Jackson remarked, “Earth has lost a lot of music today.”
Nasa, the US space agency, noted that the asteroid bearing her name would keep on orbiting.
We’re saddened by the loss of Aretha Franklin. Asteroid 249516 Aretha, found by our NEOWISE mission and named after the singer to commemorate the #QueenOfSoul, will keep orbiting beyond Mars. See more details: https://t.co/NlW4vkmKDq pic.twitter.com/yZ0E5ofSQT
— NASA (@NASA) August 16, 2018
The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) said Franklin had made sure “black women wouldn’t be ignored”.
Aretha Franklin provided the civil rights movement with a powerful voice — and financial support — and made sure Black women wouldn't be ignored.
Today we say goodbye to a lifelong champion for racial justice. pic.twitter.com/7ncCenbJRC
— ACLU (@ACLU) August 16, 2018
Born in Memphis to a gospel singer/pianist and a celebrated Baptist preacher, Franklin was tutored from an early age by such gospel stars as Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward.
She struggled to find fame in the early years – the Columbia record label was unsure how to frame her powerful voice.
After moving to Atlantic Records in 1966, she made her breakthrough, releasing some of her most iconic songs like Respect.
By 1968 she was renowned throughout America and Europe as “Lady Soul” – a symbol of black pride who appeared on the cover of Time and was given an award by Martin Luther King.
Aretha Franklin will be remembered for hits like ” Today I Sing The Blues “, “I Say A Little Prayer,” “I Never Loved a Man”, “Willing to Forgive”, “Don’t Play That Song” and may others’.
She won 18 Grammys and had 17 Top Ten (10) US chart hits over a musical career spanning seven decades.
She was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and announced last year she was retiring from music.
The singer died at her home in Detroit surrounded by family and loved ones, her family said in a statement.
Compiled by Ruth Abla Adjorlolo
