Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Aretha Franklin and The African American Museum of Detroit

Problem
I can't get to Detroit to see Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, 'A Natural Woman' as one of her songs said, in her 24-carat gold-plated casket, in August 2018. She was born in 1942. What a singer.


What a life. In 2009 she sang at President Obama's inauguration.


She lived to the age of 76. Her body, glamorous from head to toe, with red lipstick, a red lace dress, and red shoes, arrived at the museum in a 1940 vintage white Cadillac hearse. Crowds of Aretha Franklin fans lined up, wearing black tee-shirts the words in white I (red heart for love) Aretha, and tee-shirts with multiple pictures of her. Flowers and balloons and messages of tribute were along the outside wall.

The private funeral on Friday 30th is at greater Grace Temple, where those invited include singer Stevie Wonder, who will sing, and former US President Bill Clinton, who will speak.
 Her final resting place is Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery.

Answer
Never mind. I'll put it on my wishlist. The museum is sure to display a picture later. The museum was also the place for the display of Rosa Parkes in 2005.

File:Charles Wright African-American Museum.jpg

Front entrance of the museum. Photo author Quick Fix. More details on copyright and permission in Wikimedia.

I remember going to see the Hitsville USA building in Midtown New Center museum to look at other singers of the day. I was interested in the girl groups from the Sixties such as The Supremes.
I was asked if I would like to meet Berry Gordon. Unfortunately, my driver insisted we had no time and must push on.

Wikipedia has this to say:
File:Hitsville USA.jpg
  • Photo of Motown Museum released into public domain by Blob4000. For more details on copyright wee Wiipedia under Motown Museum.

  • 14 Motown Museum / Hitsville U.S.A2648 W Grand Blvd +1 313 875-2264T-Sa 10AM-6PM"Hitsville U.S.A." is the nickname of Motown Records first headquarters. It was purchased by Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1959, and converted into the record label's administrative building and recording studio. All of the early Motown hits by artists such as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, The Temptations, The Supremes, Martha & the Vandellas, The Jackson 5, and The Four Tops, among others, were recorded in the studio at Hitsville. Since 1985, The Hitsville U.S.A. building has been the site of the Motown Historical Museum, dedicated to the legacy of the record label, its artists, and its music. Owned and operated by Esther Gordy Edwards, sister of Berry Gordy, the Motown Museum contains exhibits featuring costumes, photos, and records from Motown's success era. Also featured are Motown's "Studio A" and Berry Gordy's upstairs apartment, decorated to appear as they did during the 1960s. $15 adults, $10 seniors & children. Hitsville U.S.A. on Wikipedia Hitsville U.S.A. (Q1987935) on Wikidata

Where Next?


Also see the street named after her, Aretha Franklin Way, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

See her five point brass star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Useful Websites

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45329576 (About the display at the African American Museum)

Video of the inside of the museum with her on display:

thewright.org (Museum website)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

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