That being said. Her passing today leaves me in serious need of a hug.
How Serious?
The wind in the sails of my art has always...ALWAYS been Aretha Franklin and Richard Pryor.
No I do not sing and I do not tell jokes.
However, I want my art to be as important and urging and great and as important to culture as Aretha's songs and Pryor's jokes.
Yes. I have failed. However, I take some comfort in knowing I have failed by heading for a higher bar than a lower one. Infact Franklin forced me to fail while reaching for the highest artistic bar.
The wind in the sails of my art has always...ALWAYS been Aretha Franklin and Richard Pryor.
No I do not sing and I do not tell jokes.
However, I want my art to be as important and urging and great and as important to culture as Aretha's songs and Pryor's jokes.
Yes. I have failed. However, I take some comfort in knowing I have failed by heading for a higher bar than a lower one. Infact Franklin forced me to fail while reaching for the highest artistic bar.
Here are 5 Things I Miss Already.
5. Her voice.
In my opinion there have only been a handful of top shelf voices, ever and she was at the tip with Sam Cooke, and Nat King Cole. Not quite on her level but also on the top are Teena Marie, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle.
4. Her connection to MUSIC HISTORY.
Miss Franklin started in church and has had a connection with almost every artist that really matters in Gospel. When her father was alive they had hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , Sam Cooke, Albertina Walker and so many more!
3. Her Music Via The Piano.
I remember the first time I saw her live. I was so thrilled being able to see her perform live and then 25 minutes into the show, they wheeled out the piano. I had almost forgot she was a concert pianist.
5. Her voice.
In my opinion there have only been a handful of top shelf voices, ever and she was at the tip with Sam Cooke, and Nat King Cole. Not quite on her level but also on the top are Teena Marie, Lou Rawls, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle.
4. Her connection to MUSIC HISTORY.
Miss Franklin started in church and has had a connection with almost every artist that really matters in Gospel. When her father was alive they had hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , Sam Cooke, Albertina Walker and so many more!
3. Her Music Via The Piano.
I remember the first time I saw her live. I was so thrilled being able to see her perform live and then 25 minutes into the show, they wheeled out the piano. I had almost forgot she was a concert pianist.
2. Her Importance To Culture.
She could sing the phone book.
However, she always made sure that the bulk of her music...spoke to the hearts of the community she came from. She has touched ladies in church praying with standards like Precious Lord but delivering these spirituals in a way that made you cry for people you knew. If she sang Day Dreaming you felt yourself sitting next to a woman on a bus , who just worked 2 shifts but wanted to get back home to her man. When she sang RESPECT ...you felt like you suddenly deserved the queen/king treatment for queen/king work. Her music was enjoyed by all. However, there was never a disconnect from her and the people touched by the music. Black People, the church and America all claimed her and mourn her passing.
She could sing the phone book.
However, she always made sure that the bulk of her music...spoke to the hearts of the community she came from. She has touched ladies in church praying with standards like Precious Lord but delivering these spirituals in a way that made you cry for people you knew. If she sang Day Dreaming you felt yourself sitting next to a woman on a bus , who just worked 2 shifts but wanted to get back home to her man. When she sang RESPECT ...you felt like you suddenly deserved the queen/king treatment for queen/king work. Her music was enjoyed by all. However, there was never a disconnect from her and the people touched by the music. Black People, the church and America all claimed her and mourn her passing.
1. The Gift Of Her Song....
My words mean nothing here....I would instead invite you to listen to Sparkle. One of my favorites that moved me to almost cry when I first heard it an my 20's.....today...I am scared to listen to it..I may fall out....(did I mention I need a hug)
My words mean nothing here....I would instead invite you to listen to Sparkle. One of my favorites that moved me to almost cry when I first heard it an my 20's.....today...I am scared to listen to it..I may fall out....(did I mention I need a hug)
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