Abstract
This paper traces the life and career of Aretha Franklin, a noted African American rhythm and blues singer. Ms. Franklin's early life and her development as an artist and performer are described. Her various career moves from different record companies are also presented. The paper touches on the challenges she has faced in her life, such as being a very young mother, issues within her marriages and family. The paper concludes by highlighting the numerous awards Ms. Franklin has received and her overall contributions to American music, and R & B in particular.

From the Paper
"Through the first half of the 1960's Aretha recorded many recordings for Columbia. "Rock-a-bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody", reached the Top 40 Single Chart. Unfortunately, that single never broke Aretha out as a star. This proved to be the beginning of the end for Aretha's contract with Columbia Records. Due to the fact that it seemed Columbia was trying too hard to make Aretha an all around entertainer rather than an R&B/Soul Singer."

Tags:Soul, R & B, female performers, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

From the Paper
"Aretha Franklin did more than any other artist to bring the forms and spirit of African-American gospel music into the popular arena. Franklin possesses one of the finest voices in the world and, throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s, she created a stream of hit records that helped define black popular music of the time. Whatever labels, "soul," or "rhythm and blues," or "rock and roll," are placed on her music, Franklin was the primary force in combining the sound and feeling of one major American art form with another.

The history of African American music has been characterized by cross-pollination among various forms. Country blues, urban blues, New Orleans Jazz, Bebop, big-band jazz, and rhythm and blues, have all influenced each other profoundly. These influences flowed back and forth among the various forms. But ..."

Abstract
This paper discusses soul music, focusing on its sound, its history, some of its composers and artists, and its cultural background. Soul music has become the anthem of African-Americans, and it is a unique and satisfying blend of blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues, that has become an important part of American music and culture. The paper shows that soul music is no longer simply a "black" thing; it is an American style of music that has become popular all over the world and has influenced many other types of music. The paper argues, however, that true soul still faces prejudice and an uphill battle for acceptance in white popular music.

From the Paper
"Some music critics believe soul branched into two areas' soul for blacks, and rock and roll for whites, but this theory is only one of several regarding soul. Soul music remains a bit mysterious because it is a black phenomenon, and so, many other races either do not relate to the music, or do not care to. However, soul jumped the boundaries of race, and became popular in white circles as well as black because of the entertainers, the lyrics, and the driving and catching beat of soul music. Soul was (and is) played on white radio stations, and soul artists appeared on the classic television show "American Bandstand" regularly, which also helped bring the music into the mainstream. One of the reasons that Bandstand featured so many soul artists is because the city where it originated, Philadelphia, was a hotbed of soul artists."

Tags:Chubby, Checker, Bandstand, Aretha, Franklin, Motown