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A Tribute fit for a Queen...Aretha gets the business in Cleveland Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has been honored with a star-studded tribute at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
The Plain Dealer reports that Lauryn Hill, Dennis Edwards of the Temptations and Chaka Khan were among those who entertained. The 69-year-old soul singer was not scheduled to perform, but toward the end of the three-hour event she took a seat at a piano and traded verses with Edwards in a rendition of "A Song for You." Franklin received a key to the city from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson during the Saturday event and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Case Western Reserve University. The show ended a weeklong American Music Masters tribute to her. Music Royalty in Motion | |
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Queen of Soul got the royal treatment. Aretha Franklin was the guest of honor Saturday night for a sold-out tribute concert at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre. Her praises -- and her songs -- were sung by an all-star lineup that included Lauryn Hill, Dennis Edwards of the Temptations and Chaka Khan. Franklin, 69, was not scheduled to perform, but the spirit apparently moved her. Toward the end of the three-hour affair, she sat down at a piano and belted out a transcendent rendition of "A Song for You," trading lines with Edwards. "I'd like to dedicate this to you and thank you all for coming tonight," Franklin said, sending a special shout-out to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who was in the audience. Related: Read John Soeder's Twitter feed from the event Franklin had surgery last year for an unspecified health problem, but she was in fine form on this occasion. "I am here by the grace of God tonight," she said. "Grace is going to lead me on." Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson gave her a key to the city. The show capped a weeklong American Music Masters salute to Franklin, presented by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Case Western Reserve University. Make that Dr. Franklin. At the start of the concert, she received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from CWRU.
Mike Farris, formerly of the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, launched the musical portion of the evening with a rousing "Mary Don't You Weep," which underscored Franklin's gospel roots. She recorded the spiritual for her seminal 1972 album "Amazing Grace." Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Franklin got her start in the choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church presided over by her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin. More gospel fervor was forthcoming. Twinkie Clark accompanied herself on organ for a sanctified "Never Grow Old." "Can I get a witness?" Clark shouted. She got a few thousand of them. Cissy Houston testified to the tune of "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." She was joined by drummer Bernard Purdie, Franklin's erstwhile bandleader. Jerry "The Iceman" Butler of Impressions renown, now a county commissioner in Illinois, crooned "Brand New Me." Melinda Doolittle, a finalist on "American Idol' in 2007, soared on "Wonderful." Carla Cook brought her jazz stylings to bear on "Skylark" and "Soulville," a pair of songs Franklin cut for Columbia Records before her 1967 breakthrough on Atlantic Records. Accompanying Cook was rising-star pianist Kris Bowers, who recently won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Ronald Isley reminisced about meeting Franklin in 1962 and hearing her sing "Today I Sing the Blues," which he revisited with gusto. Edwards did right by "Chain of Fools." Khan, who has been nominated for Rock Hall induction next year along with her old group, Rufus, brought down the roof with "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." "God bless you, my sister and my friend," Khan told Franklin. Another highlight was a rare appearance by Hill, who has kept a low profile in recent years. The founding member of the Fugees won five Grammy Awards for her 1998 solo debut, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," and wrote the title track of Franklin's "A Rose Is Still a Rose" album, released the same year. Hill got to shine on "A Rose Is Still a Rose," as well as "One Step Ahead" and "Day Dreaming." Musicians who backed Franklin in the 1960s, including keyboardist Spooner Oldham and bassist David Hood, were part of the house band. Patti Austin had been on the bill, too, but she dropped off because she had the flu. Franklin was the first woman enshrined in the Rock Hall, in 1987. This was the 16th annual installment of the American Music Masters series, which began in 1996 with a salute to Woody Guthrie. Other honorees have included Sam Cooke, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Les Paul and Janis Joplin.
SET LIST
MIKE FARRIS Mary Don’t You Weep The Weight
JERRY BUTLER Brand New Me
MELINDA DOOLITTE Wonderful (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone
CARLA COOK AND KRIS BOWERS Skylark Soulville
RONALD ISLEY Call Me Today I Sing the Blues Falling in Love with Jesus
TWINKIE CLARK Never Grow Old How I Got Over
CISSY HOUSTON AND BERNARD PURDIE What a Friend We Have in Jesus Spirit in the Dark
HOUSE BAND See Saw
DENNIS EDWARDS Baby I Love You Chain of Fools
CHAKA KHAN (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Until You Come Back to Me
LAURYN HILL One Step Ahead Day Dreaming A Rose is Still a Rose
ARETHA FRANKLIN A Song for You Music Royalty in Motion | |
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The weight's still dropping. | |
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Aretha may need to consider removing the excess skin and getting a breat reduction...and a better wig. | |
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Video here: | |
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Aretha does Texas http://www.austin360.com/...sic_source Her reign continues... Music Royalty in Motion | |
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