Aretha Franklin, one of the most honored singers in the history of the Grammy Awards, died at her home in Detroit on Thursday at 76, surrounded by family and friends, CNN reported.
Her gospel-rooted singing, honed under the watchful eye of her father in his traveling revival show, and bluesy, expansive delivery earned her the title "the Queen of Soul."
Here are nine of her intertwined singing hits and career highlights:
1."Spirituals, 1962:" This was Franklin's first release as a teenager on Battle records, which was actually a re-release of material produced on the local label J.V.B. in 1956. Five of the tracks from "Spirituals" made up the core of her 1964 album "Songs of Faith: The Gospel of Aretha Franklin," according to her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame biography.
2. Atlantic Records signing, 1966: The move from Columbia Records to Atlantic marked one of Franklin's biggest career moves when she scored some of her first and biggest hits that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame said revolutionize the soul music genre.
3. "Respect," 1967: The song, off of her Atlantic debut "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You" album became synonymous with the singer and is still one of her most recognizable hits. The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album possibly "the greatest single soul album of all time." The song hit No. 1 on both the R&B and pop charts and won Franklin her first two of 18 Grammy Awards, Biography.com noted.
4. Rev. Martin Luther King's Funeral, 1968: Franklin was called up to sing "Precious Lord" at the slain civil right leader funeral. She was later asked that year to sing the national anthem to begin the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
5. "Queen of Soul," 1968: Franklin was given the title by legendary DJ Pervis Spann as Franklin hit the height of her career, cranking out albums "Aretha Arrives" (1967), "Lady Soul" (1968) and "Aretha Now" (1968) in short order.
6. Arista Records signing, 1980: Signed by former Columbia president Clive Davis, Franklin returned to the top of the music charts, sparked by hits "Jump to It," "Get It Right," "Freeway of Love," and "Who's Zoomin' Who."
7. No. 1 Again, 1987: Franklin's duet with George Michael, "I Knew You Were Waiting" returned her to the top spot on the pop charts 20 years after "Respect" hit No. 1.
8. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, 1987: Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
9. Last Grammy 2008: Franklin won a Grammy Award for best gospel/contemporary music, making it the 18th time capturing the industry's highest award, noted her Hall of Fame bio.
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