Aretha Franklin's Father Had A Strong Influence On Her Career

If not for her dad, the Queen of Soul may never have inspired women everywhere.

American musical icon Aretha Franklin died at the age of 76 in 2018. She was more than just a legendary soul singer. She was one of the most celebrated (and important) voices in pop history. The standout vocalist and pianist largely attributed her musical talent and feats to her father and Deep South upbringing.

Celebrating A Legendary Career

Franklin's musical resume is a long one, dating back about fifty years. After all, you don't acquire the generous title of "Queen of Soul" without a plethora of tour-de-force vocal performances, hundreds of chart-topping hits, and countless awards.

She was the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and she also previously held the record for being the most-charted female artist ever on Billboard. Couple those honors with her 18 Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom award she received in 2005, and it's not hard to envision just how the "Rock Steady" singer has earned considerable R-E-S-P-E-C-T from women all over the world.

A Story Of Simple Beginnings

Long before Franklin became one of the greatest American singers and civil rights heroines, she was just Daddy's little girl. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1942, and raised in Detroit from age five, she was the daughter of Reverend C.L. Franklin, who served as pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church and also marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In fact, it was at her father's behest during church service where Franklin began her journey to superstardom.

She was influenced at an early age by such musicians as Nat King Cole, who would come to her home and visit with her well-known father. "I was around 8 or 9—my dad asked me to sing that day," said Franklin, in an interview with TIME in 2017. "Had he not been a minister, he could very well have been a great singer. I really didn't want to sing, but he heard the possibilities and continued to encourage me. And thank God he did."

After spending five years singing with her father's traveling gospel show, she struck out on her own to pursue a music career. By the time she started recording at the age of 16, her musical heroes were Sam Cooke and Ray Charles. Ironically, the Queen of Soul never recorded with Motown Records.

A Genre Bending Approach

Surrounded by gospel music for much of her life, Franklin managed to effortlessly blend the sacred genre she grew up on with the rapture of R&B, the fusion of jazz, and the infectious sounds of pop throughout her career. Her innate ability to pen emotionally-charged lyrics and bold anthems of sisterhood and empowerment, is what has captivated female fans for nearly half a century.

"Music is motivating, inspiring, transporting," Franklin told TIME. "I think women immediately relate to the lyrics. We can all learn a little something from each other, so whatever they [women] can take and be inspired by, where my music is concerned, is great." No one before Aretha, not the great Ray Charles, not even her idol and friend Sam Cooke, had successfully crossed out of the church and onto the pop charts with such emotionally complex and potent sound, one that boldly yet gracefully tied together sanctified and secular forms of deeply expressive singing.

Raising A Voice Of Support

Throughout her life and career, Franklin supported and encouraged other women to take their rightful place in the spotlight. She was still urging others to follow her lead in the last year of her life.

"I don't think women need to do anything other than what they're doing right now, and that's moving forward," said Franklin. "Moving forward to the forefront and moving into the areas where men have largely held captive. We're coming." We expect nothing less from the woman who not only demanded respect and power but who also took the time to spell it out—letter by letter.

Watch the rest of the videos from TIME's inspiring ode to women in TIME Firsts here.

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