Aretha Franklin, Queen Of Soul And ‘Greatest Singer Of All Time,’ Dead

Aretha Franklin

By Cami Ezenwa, with agency reports

The pop world is in mourning, for one of its greatest, Aretha Franklin is dead.

Known as the Queen of Soul, she died today, Thursday 16 August, at her Detroit United States of America home.

Report of her death monitored from Associated Press said the singer and performer died surrounded by family and friends.

Aged 76, she had been battling an undisclosed ailment.

The death had already stirred the global entertainment community, especially in the states where her pals have begun to pay tribute.

As the news spread, early visitors included Stevie Wonder and the globally known civil rights fighter, Rev. Jesse Jackson

Both reportedly paid their respects at her bedside.

For about seven decades, Franklin dominated the music scene, not just in America but beyond, her voice a popular one at disc joints and dance halls.

Not only did she establish her talent and personal theatrics, she established herself as one of the most important artists in music history, winning 18 Grammy Awards.

She also sold over 75 million records worldwide, becoming the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Franklin also recorded 112 charted singles on Billboard, thus setting the record for the most charted female artist in the trade magazine’s history.

More stories on the singer shortly