Aretha Franklin Quotes

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Aretha Franklin

Profession : Musician

Birth : March 25, 1942

John Legend is, in my opinion, classic. He is one of the best finds that has come along in a long time.

Aretha Franklin

I think women and children and older people are the three least-respected groups in our society.

Aretha Franklin

I had not been in the jazz environment, having been brought up in the church. But once I got to New York, and I was signed to perform at The Village Gate and the Vanguard and clubs like that, and these - the Vanguard was one of the most elite, if not the most elite, jazz club out there.

Aretha Franklin

I know people I feel are extremely talented, but I don't know that I've ever heard any geniuses.

Aretha Franklin

Let's start with the church. As you know, it's my background, it's a natural setting for me and it's definitely my roots.

Aretha Franklin

President Clinton, I sang at his post-inauguration party out in Maryland.

Aretha Franklin

I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It's very, very gratifying.

Aretha Franklin

I wouldn't be without Google, and I love Facebook.

Aretha Franklin

My upbringing was in the church. We had to attend regularly. And, of course, the church provided a training ground for me, so to speak, as a young vocalist and certainly gave me all of the spiritual values that I needed as a young lady.

Aretha Franklin

Well, 20 Grammys is not bad.

Aretha Franklin

Columbia was a wonderful label for me. Wonderful. The records I made there garnered me an audience. I won a number of polls during the years that I was at Columbia. The Downbeat Jazz Poll. Leonard Feather, who was a huge critic back in the day, different polls that he had. The Playboy poll, a number of polls. So the music was great.

Aretha Franklin

You could call my piano my trademark, or one of my trademarks.

Aretha Franklin

For many years, I've wanted to do one, and I've always mentioned it to the chieftains, and they would say things like, 'Oh well. Christmas albums don't sell,' and things like that. But that's not the point. Christmas albums are important. The music is important. The season is important.

Aretha Franklin

I picked up some wonderful things just listening to other pianists that I appreciate, and that would be Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Vladimir Horowitz, and Art Tatum. Those are the pianists I really enjoy and admire.

Aretha Franklin

I wanted to design a line based on Hollywood's Golden Era. I talked with Stephen Burrows and with Willi Smith and with one or two other people, but it just seems like such a hard field to break into. I need someone like Calvin Klein's manager to get behind me!

Aretha Franklin

Beyonce is very outspoken on feminist issues. So I think that's good. That could be brought to the forefront more.

Aretha Franklin

I can say that my big records and my success have been due to the backing which Atlantic have put behind me.

Aretha Franklin

I love Wal-Mart, and not just because my record is there. You can get some things there that you cannot find at Saks or Bergdorf's or other upscale stores.

Aretha Franklin

Yeah, I want a job in Barack's Cabinet. How about a job, Mr. Obama? Please? Please?

Aretha Franklin

He was definitely an original and a one-of-a-kind. Truly there was only one Prince.

Aretha Franklin