When the truly great ones pass — and Aretha was the best singer there was — the loss is more than just of that voice, that light, that vision, that sound. It is also of a way of thinking, of approaching both art and life. There are so many lessons to be learned from Aretha: in rhythm, in control, in how and when to embellish the melody, and even more important, when not to. And in life: she stood up. Here’s Aretha on her offer to put up bail for Angela Davis:
“My daddy (Detroit’s Rev. C.L.Franklin) says I don’t know what I’m doing. Well, I respect him, of course, but I’m going to stick by my beliefs. Angela Davis must go free. Black people will be free. I’ve been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace. Jail is hell to be in. I’m going to see her free if there is any justice in our courts, not because I believe in communism, but because she’s a Black woman and she wants freedom for Black people. I have the money; I got it from Black people—they’ve made me financially able to have it—and I want to use it in ways that will help our people.”
Aretha influenced EVERYBODY. Rock & roll, soul, jazz... hell, she even stepped in for Pavarotti and sang some Puccini on the Grammies in ‘98, and you know if Pavarotti wasn’t listening to Aretha already he never would have allowed it! And as far as her piano-playing, she was a total badass, she made every record she played on — and that’s her you hear on the grand on the classic Atlantic sides, and so much more — swing deeper, speak truer, get to that heart of hearts — than it ever could’ve with another pianist. I’ve always heard that Keith insisted that she play the piano herself when she covered Jumpin Jack Flash. And Keith knows his piano players! She was the deal, simply the deal, and to say “was” in the same sentence as “Aretha” just tears the heart out of me.
Keep listening to Aretha’s records, watching film of her performances, dancing, singing, playing along. And please: learn the lessons, and keep learning, and pass them on.
Rest In Peace in the arms of God, Aretha. And thank you.