Aretha Franklin Timeline

Legendary artist Aretha Franklin, whose gospel-charged singing and bluesy performances earned her the title of Queen of Soul, passed away at her home in Detroit on the 16th of August. With a career spanning over five decades and with a list of hits that inspired countless musicians and fans, Ms. Franklin created a legacy that paved the way for many strong female performers within the industry.

In memory of the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we give you the Aretha Franklin Timeline, which illustrates significant events and achievements in the life of the singer and self-taught pianist, including her most popular albums. Beginning her career as a child singing gospel at the church where her father was minister, she had her first album, Songs of Faith, released when she was only 14. Two years later, she was touring with Dr. Martin Luther King, at whose funeral she performed in 1968.

After turning 18, the young gospel singer decided to pursue a career in pop music and signed a deal with Columbia Records in 1960, releasing her first secular album a year later. Although this brought her numerous performances in nightclubs and theaters, it was her second album - “I Never Loved a Man the Way I love You”- that ensured her commercial success. “Respect”, the opening track on this breakthrough album, would become her career-defining anthem and earn her the first 2 Grammys (from an impressive total of 18 in her entire career).

The Aretha Franklin chronology was created with Office Timeline, an intuitive plugin for PowerPoint that allows users to quickly and easily generate stylish timelines, Gantt charts and other similar visuals. The image, which is free to copy and share, can be further restyled and updated using the Plus version of the tool.

Download the Aretha Franklin Timeline for PowerPoint here.