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A chance to hear admirers including Elton John, Gloria Estefan, Smokey Robinson, PM Dawn, Bonnie Raitt and Rod Stewart sharing a stage with the Queen of Soul herself.

1993 The concert took place at New York City's Neederlander Theatre in 1993, as an Aids benefit. Elton, Smokey and Rod provide backing vocals on the first number Chain of Fools.

Franklin learned to play the piano by ear. Aretha's mother was a wonderful pianist, and renowned jazz and gospel pianists like Art Tatum and Reverend James Cleveland (who visited her childhood home) provided a strong informal education to the budding artist.

Aretha Franklin was a singer, songwriter, pianist, actress, and civil rights activist. Her multi-octave vocal range moved millions of people around the world during an expansive career that spanned six decades.

At her peak, Aretha boasted an astonishing four-octave vocal range. Aretha was nominated for Grammy Awards 44 times, with 18 wins and three additional special Grammys to her credit. On Rolling Stone magazine's list of the Greatest Singers of All Time, Aretha Franklin is number one.

Queen of Soul Since Franklin first learned to sing in church, that influence could always be heard in her songs, although she was never constrained by it. She blended gospel with jazz, blues and R&B. She took on the world of rock 'n' roll.

How did Aretha Franklin start her career in music? As a teen, Aretha Franklin sang in a junior gospel choir. She released a gospel album, The Gospel Sound of Aretha Franklin, in 1956, at age 14. In 1960 Franklin transitioned from sacred to secular music.

Working with Wexler and Atlantic, Franklin had become "the most successful singer in the nation" by 1968. In 1968, Franklin issued the top-selling albums Lady Soul and Aretha Now, which included some of her most popular hit singles, including "Chain of Fools", "Ain't No Way", "Think", and "I Say a Little Prayer".

Queen of Soul Since Franklin first learned to sing in church, that influence could always be heard in her songs, although she was never constrained by it. She blended gospel with jazz, blues and R&B. She took on the world of rock 'n' roll.

Aretha Franklin was a singer, songwriter, pianist, actress, and civil rights activist. Her multi-octave vocal range moved millions of people around the world during an expansive career that spanned six decades.

Aretha won 18 Grammys, had 112 singles on the Billboard charts, and sold over 75 million records worldwide. She was the first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and remains the most charted female artist in history.