Jan 03 2009
Famous In Michigan: Aretha Franklin
Though Aretha Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee and lived for a brief moment in Buffalo, New York, she grew up the fourth of five children in the city of Detroit, Michigan. She was a child prodigy with stellar piano skills and an angelic voice – but when she gave birth at the age of 14 her plans of following a music career had to be put on hold.
In 1960, now with 2 children, Aretha continued her pursuit in signed with Columbia Records, and even turned down contracts from Motown and RCA. She had little success with Columbia however, and soon signed onto Atlantic Records, which launched her gospel music career into stardom.
