Aretha Franklin's former love interest and longtime friend, Willie Wilkerson, Jr. has died from the COVID-19 virus at the age of 72. . Theodore Richard White (March 25, 1931 - October 26, 2020) was an American businessman, songwriter, music manager and producer from Detroit, Michigan. Type. Deacon Willie Todd declared, Reverend Franklin couldnt stand Ted, according to Vanity Fair. Franklin also had an acclaimed guest role as a soul food restaurant proprietor and wife of Matt "Guitar" Murphy in the 1980 comedy musical The Blues Brothers. As a child, Franklin was noticed for her gospel singing at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father C. L. Franklin was a minister. Franklin knew Ted was something of a shady character and thought the association would hurt Aretha. Producer Harvey Fuqua had harsher words: Anyone who didnt see Ted White as a straight-up pimp had to be deaf, dumb and blind, he told Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin biographer David Ritz. The follow-up, 1981's Love All the Hurt Away, included her famed duet of the title track with George Benson, while the album also included her Grammy-winning cover of Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'". As a songwriter, White wrote or co-wrote songs for Franklin, including "I Wonder (Where You Are Tonight . "Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R&B, rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. [43], In November 1966, Franklin's Columbia recording contract expired; at that time, she owed the company money because record sales had not met expectations. Franklin's success expanded during the early 1970s, during which she recorded the multi-week R&B number one "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", as well as the top-ten singles "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", and "Day Dreaming". I knew Ted White, as did most entertainers in Detroit, Aretha's sister, the late singer Erma Franklin, said in the book. Following Franklin's divorce from Ted White, her brother Cecil became her manager and maintained that position until his death from lung cancer on December 26, 1989. [155], In 2010, Franklin canceled a number of concerts to have surgery for an undisclosed tumor. [178], A memorial service was held at New Bethel Baptist Church on August 19. In 2010, Franklin accepted an honorary degree from Yale University. "They loved each other. "Respect" became her signature song and was later hailed as a civil rights and feminist anthem. [117], On August 13, 2018, Franklin was reported to be gravely ill at her home in Riverfront Towers, Detroit. By 19, Aretha married her manager, Ted White Snr, who allegedly introduced the singer to weed and alcohol. In my fifth or sixth month, I dropped out of school. While Franklin was pursuing her singing career and "hanging out with [friends]", her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma took turns raising her children. My family supported me in every way, she wrote in her book. [38] Also important was James Cleveland, known as the King of Gospel music, "who helped to focus her early career as a gospel singer"; Cleveland had been recruited by her father as a pianist for the Southern California Community Choir. [121], Franklin was also a strong supporter of Native American rights. I've been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. [153] She admitted in 1994 that her smoking was "messing with my voice",[154] but after quitting smoking she said later, in 2003, that her weight "ballooned". Who is Glynn Turman? But no one appointed me her counselor and I simply shut up and supervised the session. [18] During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear. [93] In 2011, under her own label, Aretha's Records, she issued the album Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love. Ritz David. Surrounded by sympathetic musicians playing spontaneous arrangements and devising the background vocals herself, Franklin refined a style associated with Ray Charlesa rousing mixture of gospel and rhythm and bluesand raised it to new heights. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Aretha Franklin's love life included a whirlwind of emotions. On January 20, 2009, Franklin made international headlines for performing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inaugural ceremony with her church hat becoming a popular topic online. Her father, C.L. After 1988, "Franklin never again had huge hits", according to Rolling Stone. You make mistakes. [145], Franklin was a Christian and was a registered Democrat. Cecil Franklin. Franklin, played by Courtney B. Vance, in "Genius: Aretha.". At age 18, with her fathers blessing, Franklin switched from sacred to secular music. [170] She was initially thought to have died without a will. The couple got married in 1961 and had a series of domestic violence incidents before ending up divorced in 1969 (via Essence ). More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged". Franklin didnt handle things perfectly either. The last time she sang the aria live was for Pope Francis at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September 2015. She moved to New York City, where Columbia Records executive John Hammond, who had signed Count Basie and Billie Holiday, arranged her recording contract and supervised sessions highlighting her in a blues-jazz vein. They did have a son, Kecalf, in March 1970. Children. [31] In 1965, Checker Records released Songs of Faith, featuring the five tracks from the 1956 Spirituals album, with the addition of four previously unreleased recordings. "Precious Lord (Part One)" backed with "Precious Lord (Part Two)" followed in 1959. [202] That same year, she was ranked 19th among the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time top artists.[203][204]. Franklin and Turman separated in 1982 after she returned to Michigan from California and they divorced in 1984. [43][57] The song was released the following month and reached number one on the R&B chart, while also peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Franklin her first top-ten pop single. And Aretha Franklin knew that better than anyone. [116], In 2015, President Barack Obama wrote the following regarding Franklin:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, Nobody embodies more fully the connection between the African-American spiritual, the blues, R. & B., rock and rollthe way that hardship and sorrow were transformed into something full of beauty and vitality and hope. In 2004, Franklin announced that she was leaving Arista after more than 20 years with the label. However, according to Rolling Stone, "they weren't as terrible as some claimed, they were pro forma and never reached for new heights". Aretha Franklin remarried. Franklin and Turman were married in 1978 but divorced in 1984 after a two-year separation. [51][34] Spann ceremonially placed a crown on her head. Editor's note: The following article is an op-ed and the views expressed are the author's own. A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul", was organized by CBS and the Recording Academy[228] on January 13, 2019, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. [152] Discussing the surgery in 2011, she quoted her doctor as saying that it would "add 15 to 20 years" to her life. [129] He provided guitar backing for his mother's band during live concerts. Wayans has two children with Angela Zackery: 21-year-old daughter . Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. He was a handsome man with a smooth manner and excellent taste. [30] In 1956, J.V.B. In 1974, she lost 40 pounds (18kg) on a very-low-calorie diet[150] and maintained her new weight until the end of the decade. Turman, 74, is best known for roles in Cooley High, The Wire, and House of Lies. Her mother died when Aretha was 10. However, just a few weeks later, the engagement ended. Franklin felt the label was not yet established enough, and he turned Gordy down. Franklin only spent one day recording at FAME, as an altercation broke out between her manager and husband Ted White, studio owner Rick Hall, and a horn player, and sessions were abandoned. "Our last year in the studio together was the craziest. For other uses, see. After splitting with White, Franklin met Ken Cunningham in 1969. [25] Ward also served as a role model to the young Aretha. March 17, 2021. [1] White was the manager and first husband of soul singer Aretha Franklin. [110][111] Franklin's final public performance was at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City during Elton John's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation on November 7, 2017. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. THE Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who was one of the most successful American singers of all time, died in August 2018 aged 76 from pancreatic cancer. Aretha needed a man who could point her in a positive direction.. Aretha Louise Franklin (/ri/ -REE-th; March 25, 1942 August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. [163] During a phone interview with the Associated Press in late August 2013, Franklin stated that she had had a "miraculous" recovery from her undisclosed illness but had to cancel shows and appearances until her health was at 100%, estimating she was about "85% healed". Aretha Franklin died of advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. became her first Arista album to be certified platinum. "[118] Her songs "Respect" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" became anthems of these movements for social change. Musicians and professionals alike such as Elton John, Keith Richards, Carole King, and Clive Davis were fans of her piano performances. Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews. [98], In December 2015, Franklin gave an acclaimed performance of "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors during the section for honoree Carole King, who co-wrote the song. Her enormous discography includes 38 studio albums and 6 live albums. In 2009 she electrified a crowd of more than one million with her performance of My Country Tis of Thee at the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama, and her rendition of Carole Kings (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman during the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in 2015 was no less breathtaking. [158], In May 2013, Franklin canceled two performances because of an undisclosed medical treatment. He has written for Billboard, Complex, and i-D, among other outlets. The "all-star" group performed gospel songs, including renditions from Franklin's 1972 album, Amazing Grace. Franklin continued having R&B success with songs such as "Until You Come Back to Me" and "I'm in Love", but by 1975 her albums and songs were no longer top sellers. The next seven years' achievements were less impressive. According to music producer Quincy Jones, while Franklin was still young, Dinah Washington let him know that "Aretha was the 'next one'". Franklin's sisters, Erma and Carolyn, were professional musicians and spent years performing background vocals on Franklin's recordings. Without targeting any particular genre, she sang everything from Broadway ballads to youth-oriented rhythm and blues. By the mid-1960s, Franklin was making $100,000 per year from countless performances in nightclubs and theaters. Later . But who is Turman and where is he now? A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul', "Jennifer Hudson to play Aretha Franklin in Biopic: 'U Have No Idea How Humbled I Am', "Jennifer Hudson Shines as Aretha Franklin in 'Respect' Trailer (Watch)", "Respect trailer released Aretha Franklin Biopic in UK cinemas 22 Jan 2021", "National Geographic Taps Suzan-Lori Parks as Executive Producer and Showrunner for 'Genius: Aretha Franklin', "Queen of Soul's Father Rev. The documentary Amazing Grace, which chronicles her recording of the 1972 album, premiered in 2018. Corrections? Aretha Louise Franklin was the daughter of Rev. Aretha Franklin married an abusive pimp. Franklin continued to record acclaimed albums such as I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967), Lady Soul (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970), Young, Gifted and Black (1972), Amazing Grace (1972), and Sparkle (1976), before experiencing problems with the record company. [201] Following news of Franklin's surgery and recovery in February 2011, the Grammys ceremony paid tribute to the singer with a medley of her classics performed by Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, and Yolanda Adams. Aretha Franklin was in relationships with Eumir Deodato (1973) and Ken Cunningham (I) (1968 - 1971). She had initially been asked to perform in honor of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, in which she appeared with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. [208] The next year, Billboard named her the greatest female R&B artist of all time. The. was bitterly opposed to the whole deal, wrote music journalist Mikal Gilmore in a sprawling 2018 obituary for Rolling Stone. [206][207] Asteroid 249516 Aretha was named in her honor in 2014. adopted (Vaughn didn't learn C.L. [205] Inducted to the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012, Franklin was described as "the voice of the civil rights movement, the voice of black America". She released a gospel album, The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, in 1956, at age 14. The problem has been resolved". In 2008, Franklin issued the holiday album This Christmas, Aretha on DMI Records. [159] Further concert cancellations followed in the summer[160][161][162] and fall. Franklin first met Cissy's young daughter, Whitney Houston, in the early 1970s. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well. Jasper Williams Jr. of Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, as he had eulogized her father as well as speaking at other family memorials. These four tracks, with the addition of "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood", were released on side one of the 1956 album, Spirituals. Ted was 30 years old when he married Aretha Franklin. On November 18, 2008, she performed "Respect" and "Chain of Fools" at Dancing with the Stars. The singer appeared in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers before releasing the successful albums Jump to It (1982), Who's Zoomin' Who? Franklin and White, who was also her manager, married in 1961 when she was just 19 years old; but after seven years of marriage, they separated in 1968. after they . [190][191], Franklin received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1979, had her voice declared a Michigan "natural resource" in 1985,[192] and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The CBS soap actor then took to Twitter to share it with the world. Aretha Franklin dies at 76. She fooled around and got with a man like Ted White, but thats the kind of dude Aretha likes, the dude that flies fancy, singer Mavis Staples told Vanity Fair. "Respect" was Otis Redding's song but Aretha modified it with a "supercharged interlude featuring the emphatic spelling-out of the song's title". "I felt like she needed counseling cause she kept missing gigs and kept taking all kinds of abuse from Ted. "Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly," Franklin reportedly told Us magazine. (1985) and Aretha (1986) on the Arista label. Her life story is explored in the new series, Genius: Aretha. [127] Franklin would visit them often. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Family and friends including Martha Reeves and Bettye Lavette celebrate the life of a. (1985). The song's B-side, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man", reached the R&B top 40, peaking at number 37. Because she and Ted White had basically run off to marry, Aretha felt that she had missed out on a storybook wedding. Following an incident in 1984, she cited a fear of flying that prevented her from traveling overseas; she performed only in North America afterwards. Aretha was as remote as she could be," Otis said. Take a look back at Aretha Franklin's life, as she tells it through a . [41] During this period, Franklin would be coached by choreographer Cholly Atkins to prepare for her pop performances. So I called Sam. "She was a very large part of his life," she said. Label executive John H. Hammond later said he felt Columbia did not understand Franklin's early gospel background and failed to bring that aspect out further during her period there. Besides the foregoing, the singer's well-known hits also include "Ain't No Way", "Call Me", "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", "Spanish Harlem", "Rock Steady", "Day Dreaming", "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", "Something He Can Feel", "Jump to It", "Freeway of Love", "Who's Zoomin' Who" and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (a duet with George Michael). The Queen of Soul. At age 19, Aretha Franklin married Ted White, a man with a highly . [7] In 2019, the Pulitzer Prize jury awarded the songwriter a posthumous special citation "for her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". [62][63][64] Franklin toured outside the US for the first time in May, including an appearance at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, where she played to a near-hysterical audience who covered the stage with flower petals. Somebody else is making her sing the blues., Over the years, other reports have backed up the Time allegations. In 1987, she became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [72] The live performances were filmed for a concert film directed by Sydney Pollack, but due to synching problems and Franklin's own attempts to prevent the film's distribution after Hollywood refused to promote a dark-skinned black woman as a movie star at the time, the film's release was only realized by producer Alan Elliott in November 2018. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. She also was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2012. Franklin was married twice, and had four children, before passing away in 2018 at the age of 76. According to Daily Mail, Aretha Franklin's early career was reportedly bankrolled by Ted White, the man she walked down . White is portrayed by actor Malcolm Barrett in Genius: Aretha. "Ted won because Ted could concentrate completely on Aretha while Daddy couldnt.". Columbia placed her with a variety of producers who marketed her to both adults (If Ever You Should Leave Me, 1963) and teens (Soulville, 1964). Omissions? But that supportive nature did not carry over when Franklin and White grew closer. Glynn Turman Jr. was murdered in 1986 by Henry Eugene . See an exhibit on Aretha Franklin, and the Janis Joplin's famous psychedelic 1965 Porsche at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. [193] The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded her a Grammy Legend Award in 1991, then the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Amazing Grace (1972), a live recording of her performance with a choir at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, is considered one of the great gospel albums of any era. Birthday: March 25, 1942 ( Aries) Born In: Memphis, Tennessee, United States 303 119 Pianists #14 Rhythm & Blues Singers #5 Gospel Singers #2 Quick Facts Also Known As: Aretha Louise Franklin Died At Age: 76 Family: Spouse/Ex-: Glynn Turman (m. 1978-1984), Ted White (m. 1961-1969) father: Clarence LaVaughn Franklin mother: Barbara Siggers [14] At that time, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo with Aretha's half-brother, Vaughn. Aretha Franklin married Ted White when she was a teenager In the early 1960s, Franklin was an up-and-coming singer while White was a sandlot promoter who dabbled in Detroit real estate. A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen of Soul", "Tyler Perry to Host Aretha Franklin Tribute Special for CBS, Recording Academy", "Aretha Franklin Tribute Concert Lines Up Janelle Monae, Alicia Keys, John Legend", "Aretha Franklin honored with star-studded tribute concert", "TV Review: 'Aretha! [234] Franklin's biopic Respect was released in August 2021 in various countries. Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. [76] "Davis was beguiling and had the golden touch", according to Rolling Stone. "It's a legacy of heartbreak, joy, complexity, and triumph.. The show's producers, desperate to fill the time slot, approached Franklin with their dilemma. I didn't need to introduce him to Aretha. A brutal Detroit street criminal and . What are some of Aretha Franklins most famous songs? [40] The 1991 album What You See is What You Sweat flopped on the charts. Critics recognized her talent, but the public remained lukewarm until 1966, when she switched to Atlantic Records, where producer Jerry Wexler allowed her to sculpt her own musical identity. Other gospel greats of the dayAlbertina Walker and Jackie Verdellhelped shape young Franklins style. [91] To complete her Arista obligations, Franklin issued the duets compilation album Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen in 2007. I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You) (1967), recorded at Fame Studios in Florence, Alabama, was her first million-seller. In the pic, Braeden is standing next to the Queen of Soul, the late Aretha Franklin, who passed away on August 16, 2018, as the two . She was called the "Queen of Soul". She was a friend of Pavarotti and had sung the aria two nights prior at the annual MusiCares event. At the age of 19, the future Queen of Soul wed her managerand the seven-year marriage was filled with dark moments. [136] Franklins father and idol, described as unorthodox on every level, knowingly preyed on his pre-teen congregants. In 1985, inspired by a desire to have a "younger sound" in her music, Who's Zoomin' Who? That's why, when she sits down at a piano and sings 'A Natural Woman,' she can move me to tearsthe same way that Ray Charles's version of 'America the Beautiful' will always be in my view the most patriotic piece of music ever performedbecause it captures the fullness of the American experience, the view from the bottom as well as the top, the good and the bad, and the possibility of synthesis, reconciliation, transcendence. The Young and the Restless ' Eric Braeden (Victor) was able to relive a very special moment when a photo popped up on his social media memories. Aretha's father, Reverend C.L. [84] That recording reached number 26 on the Hot 100 and number five on the R&B chart. [24] Serving as her manager, C. L. Franklin agreed to the move and helped to produce a two-song demo that soon was brought to the attention of Columbia Records, who agreed to sign her in 1960, as a "five-percent artist". Franklin in 1936, and the couple went on to have four children: Erma (born in 1938), Cecil (born in 1940), Aretha (born in 1942), and Carolyn (born in 1944).Barbara also had a child from a previous relationship, Vaughn, who was born in 1934 and adopted by C.L. [73], Franklin's career began to experience problems while recording the album Hey Now Hey, which featured production from Quincy Jones. [167][168] She was under hospice care and surrounded by friends and family. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. At Aretha Franklin's funeral in Detroit a year ago, members of her family, dressed in crisp black and white, filled an aisle in the Greater Grace Temple as they walked together toward her. She was 18 years old. [238], "Aretha" and "Queen of Soul" redirect here. The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was a complex figure, . Bio: Aretha's First Husband / Manager Saycon Sengbloh Born: October 23, 1977 Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Erma Franklin Born: March 13, 1938 Birthplace: Shelby, Mississippi, USA Death: September 7, 2002, Detroit, Michigan, USA (lung cancer) Bio: Aretha's Older Sister Hailey Kilgore Born: February 16, 1999 Birthplace: Humble, Texas, USA [65] She appeared on the cover of Time magazine in June.[66]. January 30, 1963) with ex-husband, Ted White & Kecalf Cunningham (b. In one of her handwritten wills, discovered in 2019, Franklin revealed that the father was Edward Jordan. When soul icon Aretha Franklin died in 2018, she left behind not only a mammoth catalog of hits, but four children. [40], In April 2021, Aretha Franklin was featured in National Geographic magazine and in the previous month, the society began airing the third season of the television series Genius about her life and career. At the time of its release, Franklin who died in 2018 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76 was married to her first husband Ted White, who also became her manager. In 2019 she was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation "[f]or her indelible contribution to American music and culture for more than five decades". [233], On January 29, 2018, Gary Graff confirmed that Jennifer Hudson would play Franklin in an upcoming biopic. In addition to being an actor, Turman worked as a producer, writer, and director throughout his career. Aretha had an abusive first marriage to Detroit pimp Ted White ( Image: Michael Ochs. Speaking to Billboard, his daughter, Tiki Wilkerson, talked about her father's connection to Franklin. She was drinking so much, we thought she was on the verge of a breakdown, her sister Carolyn said in Ritzs biography. Franklin's lawyers contacted Florida authorities and uncovered a coercive scheme in which the singer, Vickie Jones, had been threatened with violence and constrained into impersonating her idol, whom she resembled closely both in voice and looks. [citation needed], In 1980, after leaving Atlantic Records,[75] Franklin signed with Clive Davis's Arista Records. Grant Rindner is a culture and music journalist in New York. It took someone that slick to get a great talent like Aretha in his stable.. White and Franklin were married just six months after meeting in 1961 when she was only 18. In 1960 she moved to New York City to pursue a career in secular music. He didnt have no pussycat. The legendary singer is back in the spotlight thanks to Suzan-Lori Parkss Genius: Aretha, a new National Geographic series starring Cynthia Erivo as the singer. Aretha married twice, first to Theodore 'Ted' White in 1961 aged 19. [136] Her half-sister, Carol Ellan Kelley (ne Jennings; 19402019), is C. L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old member of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis where C. L. was pastor. Read more opinions on theGrio. [166] However, she scheduled some 2018 concert dates before canceling them based on her physician's advice. [51], Franklin was the mother of four sons. She then married her second husband, actor Glynn Turman, in 1978, and became stepmother of Turman's three children from a previous marriage. [1] She had often been described as a great singer and musician due to "vocal flexibility, interpretive intelligence, skillful piano-playing, her ear, her experience". [99][100][101][102] During the bridge of the song, Franklin dropped her fur coat to the stage, for which the audience rewarded her with a mid-performance standing ovation. A small boy was so touched by her performance that he came onto the stage and embraced her while Franklin was still singing. [212][213] After working with the artist for nearly four decades, Clive Davis, said that Aretha "understood the essence of both language and melody and was able to take it to a place very fewif anycould". He earned thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country. (Richard DuCree / National Geographic) Unlike most show business biographies, in which an artist . Ken was also serious-minded about art and books and he loved all kinds of music. [180] The August 31 Homegoing Service held at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, included multiple tributes by celebrities, politicians, friends and family members and was streamed by some news agencies[181] such as Fox News, CNN, The Word Network, BET and MSNBC.