Aretha Franklin died on Thursday, August 16th, 2018. She was a young 76 years old. The cause of her death was reported to be a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
At least we had an idea that this one was coming. It was not the shocker that we had with the deaths of Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Prince, or Amy Winehouse.
The loss of Aretha Franklin, one of our musical and civil rights icons, would not wake us up to a shock. It was a slow pace to the inevitable. But when it came we could not help but feel the loss, something missing — not that of a family member but a vacuum that will never again get filled as she lived in our lifetime. But she left us this!
Aretha Franklin singing Natural Woman
Aretha Franklin is dead but she lives on in the manner most of us knew her. And as such, she lives on and will live on forever. Interestingly with new technology, it is unlikely she has given her last performance. With the aid of those who love her body of work, they will live on in mixes, remixes, samples, and holography.
Aretha’s second act is yet to come. And I am sure many of us are waiting. So folks, no tears needed. Celebrate what she left us. I am blogging as I listen to her music and smiling right now, knowing she lived a good and worthwhile life. Most of us sit back and hope we would have a fraction of her success, influence, and impact on the lives of others.
And “Think,” “I Knew You Were Waiting” to ensure “Ain’t No Way” we would forget that we must always “Respect” a “Natural Woman.”
Rest in peace Queen of Soul. Rest in peace political & civil rights activist. Rest in peace Aretha Franklin.