Aretha Franklin House

Aretha Franklin House

Aretha Franklin was a huge icon in the music industry. She was a soul singer who was also known as the ‘Queen of Soul’ and is best known for her hit records including ‘I Say A Little Prayer’, ‘Respect’, and ‘Freeway of Love’.

She started her career as a gospel singer at her dad’s Baptist congregation which was named Bethel Baptist Church. But shortly after she found her voice as an amazing soul singer. One of her greatest achievements, among many, is that she was the first ever woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was also an avid civil rights activist who sang “Precious Lord” at the great Martin Luther King Jr’s funeral in 1968, and she also performed at the inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009.

Aretha Franklin's birthplace home, at 406 Lucy Ave. in Memphis, is in danger of demolition by neglect, according to the Tennessee Preservation Trust.

For more information, contact: Tennessee Preservation Trust.