Music2Nite Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Aretha Franklin's Debut Album with a Giveaway!

Sony Music Entertainment is proud to celebrate the 50th ANNIVERSARY of Aretha Franklin's debut pop album release this week. Signed to Columbia Records by the legendary John Hammond in the spring of 1960 (soon after her 18th birthday), Aretha released her first pop LP, Aretha (With The Ray Bryant Combo), on February 27, 1961. Her coming of age at Columbia as a young artist in New York City is one of the great stories in the annals of popular music, and set the stage for her ascendance as the Queen of Soul.

In honor of this very special anniversary, Music2Nite will offer ONE copy of  the album "Aretha Franklin: The Great American Songbook" each day of this week!

ENTER MUSIC2NITE'S ARETHA FRANKLIN GIVEAWAY:

SUBSCRIBE TO MUSIC2NITE
LIKE MUSIC2NITE ON FACEBOOK 

FOLLOW MUSIC2NITE ON TWITTER

You will be automatically entered to win a copy of "Aretha Franklin: The Great American Songbook", once you subscribe to, like or follow Music2Nite. It's that easy, and we've got 8 copies to give away! That's 1 copy each day!

This incredible giveaway will run from Sunday, February 27th through Sunday, March 6th 11:59pm EST!

WINNERS: will be contacted directly through e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.

Columbia / Legacy also commemorate this momentous anniversary with TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA, available March 22, 2011 (www.arethafranklin.net).

Aretha Franklin - Works on New Album

Aretha Franklin, who recently cancelled all public appearances and shows, is on her road to recovery and is currently working on a new album. Last week, a tribute was given at the Grammys for the soul singer, it was a very special performance which Aretha Franklin appreciated greatly.

Not only did she make her first public appearance last week, but now she also confirmed that she is planning to release her new album "Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love" on May 3rd. Guest appearances on the album have been confirmed from R Kelly and Billy Dee Williams.

Aretha Franklin is set to perform next at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Buffalo, New York on May 28th. This will be her first show since she had to take some time off.

The Best of the 2011 Grammys

I've put together a list of videos of the performances I enjoyed the most during tonight's Grammy Awards. These include the tribute to Aretha Franklin, Esperanza Spalding, Barbra Streisand, Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq, Bruno Mars, B.o.B, Janelle Monae, Lady Antebellum, and Cee-Lo Green and the Muppets (without Gwyneth Paltrow, can't remember her actually).

The best surprise of the night was Esperanza Spalding's win in the Best New Artist category. I was rooting for her so much, couldn't be happier for her! What an artist!

Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq were a great duo on stage, they really worked it! Would be nice to see them again collaborating on something else.

I was also thrilled to see Lady Antebellum win so many awards, they play so well together. Great vocals, great songs, and great music.

The Pre-GRAMMY Telecast was also great, lots of very talented artists were rewarded. Among these include Mavis Staples and Herbie Hancock. Mavis Staples also performed with Cyndi Lauper, Maria Muldaur, and Betty Wright during the Pre-GRAMMY Telecast. Super funky Trombone Shorty was also phenomenal, make sure to check him out!

New Aretha Franklin Box-Set & Grammy Awards Honor

 

Sony Music commemorates the 50th Year Anniversary of Aretha Franklin's first Columbia Records album release, and ascent into the pop music scene, with TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA (Available March 22 – www.arethafranklin.net). 

The Undisputed Queen of Soul will be honored at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards® Ceremony this Sunday 2/13 with a star-studded musical celebration including performances by Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, and Florence Welch!

TAKE A LOOK: ARETHA FRANKLIN COMPLETE ON COLUMBIA 

•11CD + 1DVD box set presents Aretha's entire Columbia output in one package for the first time in replica LP artwork: 7 original Columbia albums, 2 CDs of studio sessions, and 2 new CD compilations. 

•Includes master takes, unissued performances, rare mono mixes and studio conversations. 

•DVD presents a breath-taking Aretha singing 5 songs on the Steve Allen Show (1964).

•explores how Aretha Franklin’s musical and aesthetic development at Columbia Records set the path for her later hits at Atlantic – how the “Queen In Waiting” became the Queen of Soul.

Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin – Apollo Legends

 

Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin are both set to be inducted into the Apollo Theatre's Hall of Fame in New York, on June 14th. Both singers will be named Apollo Legends during the gala. The Apollo was an important time in the launch of Michael Jackson’s career, as he appeared with the Jackson Five in the late 1960s for the Apollo’s Amateur Night.

Others to be honored for their humanitarian work include Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis. They will receive the Arts and Humanitarian Award.

Jamie Foxx will host the gala, which will start at 6:30 p.m. with a red carpet event, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony.

Mandela Day Line Up

Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Queen Latifah have all signed up for the 'Mandela Day'.

According to organizers, each artist will participate in a July 18 concert to raise awareness and funds with the intention of creating an official Mandela Day to be held annually on his birthday, July 18.

Tickets for the event, taking place at Radio City Music Hall, are currently on sale through Ticketmaster, Live Nation and thegarden.com.

Other artists and actors lined up for this event include Will.I.Am, Wyclef Jean, Dave Stewart, Lil Kim, Jesse McCartney, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Gaynor, Emmanuael Jal, Suzanna Owiyo, Whoppi Goldberg, Forest Whitaker, and Morgan Freeman.

Read more about Mandela Day here.

Aretha Franklin - Rolling Stone's “Greatest Singer of the Rock Era”

Aretha Franklin has been named the “Greatest Singer of the Rock Era” in a new poll conducted by Rolling Stone Magazine.

The 66-year-old songstress came in ahead of Ray Charles at No. 2, Elvis Presley at No. 3, Sam Cooke at No. 4, and John Lennon at No. 5, according to the magazine’s survey of 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors, and other music-industry bigwigs.

The complete list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All-Time” will be published in a special issue of Rolling Stone, which arrives on newsstands this Friday. November 14, 2008.

Check out the complete list here!

New Aretha Franklin Album!

Arista recording artist Aretha Franklin, the incomparable Queen Of Soul and 17-time Grammy winner, adds another jewel to her crown with the release of a must have collection of show-stopping duets from her new album, JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN. Franklin, a Grammy Living Legend, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will release this stellar collection on November 13, 2007.

Franklin duets with a combination of music icons and some of the hottest voices in music today including Whitney Houston (”It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be”), John Legend (”What Y’All Came To Do”), Luther Vandross (”Doctor’s Orders”), Annie Lennox (”Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves”), Keith Richards (”Jumping Jack Flash”), Elton John (”Through The Storm”) Frank Sinatra (”What Now My Love”), George Michael (”I Knew You Were Waiting”), Michael McDonald (”Ever Changing Times”), George Benson (”Love All The Hurt Away”), and good friend Mary J. Blige (”Don’t Waste My Time”). Aretha and Mary J. also join on a second tune, “Never Gonna Break My Faith” (with the Harlem Boys Choir). Rounding out the collection are two thrilling performances, both tributes to Aretha on her classics, “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)” with Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Estefan; and “Chain Of Fools” with Mariah Carey.

“Put You Up On Game” with Fantasia, is the lead single from JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN, impacting radio on October 1st.

This is my favorite song of the album, what's yours?!

Musical - Aretha Franklin

Source

A musical about Aretha Franklin autobiography is scheduled to launch in Detroit sometime during March 2008. The queen of soul will be passing auditions herself in suburban Detroit from May 1st through May 3rd.

There will be singing and non singing parts, therefore for anyone who feels like acting is more their cup of tea they can still try out!

She also received a film offer for the very same musical, and Jennifer Hudson might be considered to play her in the film.

I hope that I will personally see this musical in the future, and hey I would love to also see a movie or musical about Chaka Khan!