Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 25, 1942. She began singing in the choir of her father's church and soon became a star soloist. Her first studio album, Aretha, was released in 1961. She recorded albums for five decades. Some of her songs included I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You), Think, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Chain of Fools, and Respect. She received 19 Grammy Awards including a lifetime achievement award in 1994. In 1987, she was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She died from advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018 at the age of 76.
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