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The world mourns the 'Queen of Soul'

Published:Thursday | August 16, 2018 | 12:00 AM
AP
Flowers and signs are placed on Aretha Franklin's star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday in Los Angeles. Franklin died Thursday at 76. She was born and rose to fame during the segregation era and went on to sing at the inauguration of the first black president, often used her talent, fortune and platform to inspire millions of black Americans and support the fight for racial equality.

NEW YORK (AP):

The clarity and the command. The daring and the discipline. The thrill of her voice and the truth of her emotions.

Like the best actors and poets, nothing came between how Aretha Franklin felt and what she could express, between what she expressed and how we responded. Blissful on (You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman. Despairing on Ain't No Way. Up front forever on her feminist and civil rights anthem Respect.

Franklin, the glorious 'Queen of Soul' and genius of American song, died on Thursday morning at her home in Detroit of pancreatic cancer. She was 76. Few performers were so universally idolised by peers and critics and so exalted and yet so familiar to their fans.