ARETHA FRANKLIN TO PLAY TRUMP TAJ MAHAL

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ATLANTIC CITY GOSSIP

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Aretha Franklin

Trump Taj Mahal presents Aretha Franklin in the Arena at Trump Taj Mahal on Saturday, October 6, 2012. Show time is at 8pm. Ticket prices are $125, $75 & $60. Tickets can be obtained by either calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or visiting on line at www.ticketmaster.com.

For six decades, Aretha Franklin has been a beacon of creative originality. She is revered and loved with a passion reserved only for the immortals. She is considered the great voice of her people. And those people--black and white, European and Asian, Latin and African—all acknowledge her royalty and permanent place in this planet’s cultural history. 

Since the moment Aretha stepped to the pulpit at her father’s famed New Bethel Baptist Church as a young girl singing in the great gospel tradition, the world has recognized her as a musical miracle. Her professional career has had three dramatic turning points, one more exciting than the next. The first was her move from gospel to secular. In the early 1960’s, She performed in New York’s hippest jazz clubs with artists like Art Blakey and John Coltrane. Additionally, in conjunction with writer producer Clyde Otis, Aretha enjoyed a string of R&B hits: “Running Out of Fools,” “Soulville,” and “You’ll Lose A Good Thing.” 

The second shift was seismic. In 1967, Aretha took soul to another level. Anchored at the piano, she also took a co-producer role in arranging both music and vocals. The result altered history. Starting with “I Never Loved A Man (the Way I Loved You),” she claimed ownership of the best-selling charts. Her “Respect” became a multi-dimensional anthem. “Dr. Feelgood,” “Chain of Fools,” “Do Right Woman—Do Right Man”—Aretha defined the sixties. 

Her third turning point came in 1980 with a series of brilliant albums and singles. Aretha teamed with star producers Luther Vandross (“Jump to It”) and Narada Michael Walden (“Freeway of Love” and “Who’s Zooming Who.”) She sang hits duet with George Michael (“I Knew You Were Waiting [For Me])” and Elton John (“Through the Storm”). In 1987, she self-produced her second landmark gospel record, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. 

Aretha was the musical highlight of Whoopi Goldberg’s film Jumpin’ Jack Flash, backed up by the Rolling Stones. And her appearances in both Blues Brothers films received universal acclaim. The legend expanded in the nineties when Aretha’s “Rose Is Still A Rose,” penned and produced by Lauryn Hill, was named “soul hit of the decade” by the L.A. Times. In 1987, Aretha became the very first woman to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Photo By: RD/Dziekan/Retna