Lady Soul

Aretha Franklin died today.

She had been in failing health for a few months and, at 76, was in hospice care for the remaining days of her life.

What Elvis Presley (who, coincidentally, died 41 years today), was to rock and roll (the King), Aretha Franklin was to rhythm and blues - the Queen of Soul. She had a warm, spirited delivery in her voice that no one could match, fueled by a strong devotion to her Christian faith and her advocacy for social justice and equality.  There was never a female soul singer like her before, and there will never be another one like her again.  No matter how hard today's R&B divas try.

Her legacy is too large and too significant to document with just a song or two on my Music Video Of the Week feature.  Here are four performances from Aretha Franklin of some of her best-known songs.

"(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman"
 

"Respect"

"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"

"Chain of Fools"

My Music Videos of the Week only stay for that long - a week. These clips are staying on my blog permanently - which is how long Aretha Franklin's music is going to be around.

Hard times befallen the sole survivors . . .