It’s hard to believe Aretha Franklin has been gone five years.
The legendary singer and performer, and philanthropist, was 76 when she passed away from a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2018. She’d been ill for close to 10 years and refused to discuss it. For most of the illness, Aretha kept to her touring schedule. She rarely missed a show and never complained. She was devoted to the music and to her audience.
Since Aretha died we’ve had the excellent movie, “Respect,” with Jennifer Hudson, and the “Genius” TV series with Cynthia Erivo. Now that Aretha’s estate has been settled, we can only hope there will be new projects that feature her amazing life.
Knowing Aretha was trying to keep your hands on a hurricane, or a whirling dervish. She was never boring. She kept everyone she knew on their feet! You had to be ready at a moment’s notice when the phone rang and a voice said, “We are on the bus and coming to New York for theater and shopping. Can we see” — and she would name a show that was sold out — “tonight?”
The answer had to be yes. Aretha was not good with time, so there were a couple of instances when curtains had to be held until she and her entourage arrived. But once she was seated — to thunderous applause from the audiences — she was focused and astute as a reviewer. She knew more, as they say, than could forget.
God bless you, Aretha. Your memory is a blessing.
