Aretha Franklin – ChatterQuote April 2014

“I’m a Big Woman. I Need Big Hair.”

Image from Wikipedia: Trade Ad for “Baby, I Love You” Billboard Magazine, page 9 – July 15, 1967

What better than an Aries to say, “I’m a big woman, I need big hair.”Anatomically Aries rules the head, which also means hair, hats, wigs, and so forth, but they are also extremely “headstrong” personalities, and The Queen of Soul certainly fits that description. Aretha Louise Franklin, an Aries, was born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee. She began her illustrious career as a child, singing gospel at her father’s church. In 1960, at the age of 18 she initially signed with Columbia Records, but it wasn’t until she moved to Atlantic Recordsin 1967 that her career really took off. And by the end of the decade she had already earned herself the title, The Queen of Soul.

In 1979 she moved from Atlantic to Arista Records, which led to her cameo role in The Blues Brothers movie. Some of her most successful hits were “Think,” (You Make Me Feel) Like a Woman,” and “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” (yes, that’s the one our President was unable to spell correctly a few months back. I mean, I know we all make mistakes, but seriously…?) In 1987 Aretha was the First Female Performer ever – as in ever – to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Let’s consider for a moment that single-handed game-changing achievement … and how well it ties in to the pioneering spirit of the Aries. It’s no Accident that Aretha Franklin paved the way for many more black female artists who came after her. She was also inducted in to the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

iTunes screen grab showing just a few of Aretha Franklin’s albums…

To date, our Aries Aretha has won a total of 18 Grammys (and counting) and is one of the Best-Selling Female Recording Artists of all time – as in all time – having sold over 75 Million Recordsworldwide. She recorded 88 Charted Singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 Entries and 21 Number One R&B Singles, becoming the Most Charted Female Artist in the chart’s history. Seriously? Then, as if that wasn’t enough, on Rolling Stone Magazine’s “100 Greatest Singers Of All Time” list, Aretha placed – go on, take a guess – yes, she took Number One. No big surprise there, not only because of her undeniable talent and track record, but Aries literally is the sign that says, “I am – I am the first sign – I am the first one – I am number one.”