Aretha Franklin

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/aretha-franklin

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Aretha Franklin born?March 25, 1942, Memphis, Tennessee
2. When did Aretha Franklin die?August 16, 2018
3. What is the record sales?Over 75 million records sold worldwide
4. What is the musical influences?Gospel music, R&B, blues, jazz, and pop
5. Who was Aretha Franklin?Aretha Franklin was a famous singer known as the Queen of Soul. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 25, 1942.
6. How did Aretha Franklin start singing?She grew up singing in her father's gospel church. Her father was a Baptist minister who taught her powerful singing.

Gospel Music: A genre of Christian music characterized by strong vocal performances, often featuring improvisation and emotional expression.
Soul Music: A genre that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, blending R&B and gospel music, known for its heartfelt lyrics and vocal delivery.
Melisma: Singing a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession.
Posthumous Award: An honor or recognition given to an individual after their death, acknowledging their contributions.