(February 8, 2017) Aretha Franklin, known around the world as the “Queen of Soul,” has told a local television station in Detroit that she plans to retire from performing in 2017 after the release of her upcoming, Stevie Wonder-produced album, which she will be recording exclusively in Detroit.
Aretha told Channel 4 WDIV, “This will be my last year. I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert... I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from, and where it is now." She did leave open, however, the possibility of doing special events in the future from time to time. “I’ll be pretty much satisfied, but I’m not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn’t be good either.”
(February 8, 2017) Aretha Franklin, known around the world as the “Queen of Soul,” has told a local television station in Detroit that she plans to retire from performing in 2017 after the release of her upcoming, Stevie Wonder-produced album, which she will be recording exclusively in Detroit.
Aretha told Channel 4 WDIV, “This will be my last year. I will be recording, but this will be my last year in concert... I feel very, very enriched and satisfied with respect to where my career came from, and where it is now." She did leave open, however, the possibility of doing special events in the future from time to time. “I’ll be pretty much satisfied, but I’m not going to go anywhere and just sit down and do nothing. That wouldn’t be good either.”
See the full WDIV interview article
Franklin’s announcement comes at a particularly sensitive time for soul and jazz music fans, on the heels of an announcement this week that fellow music legend Al Jarreau was also retiring from live performances, in his case due to health issues.
Franklin has had an amazing five decade career that has found success in gospel, jazz, pop and particularly in soul, where her instantly recognizable voice has graced dozens of hits, and established for her the kind of fame that few artists achieve: where simply saying her first name tells it all.
We’re excited to hear the planned Aretha/Stevie collaboration and definitely plan to see her when she performs in our area this year.