Cologne celebrates the soul legend: Aretha Franklin live at the summer festival!

Cologne celebrates the soul legend: Aretha Franklin live at the summer festival!

The spirit of soul legend Aretha Franklin is currently coming to life in the Lindenthal district of Cologne. The record store “Good Mood Records”, run by Michele Sander, has become a meeting place for all music lovers and fans of the artist. In this context, entertainer Ron Williams and singer Darnita Williams recently caused a sensation with their performance of the song "Ain't But The One", which gave insights into the upcoming show "Respect - The Aretha Franklin Story", which will take place from July 29th to August 3rd at the Philharmonie as part of the Cologne Summer Festivalhttps://www.ksta.de/koeln/lindenthal/koeln-musiker-interpretieren-songs-von-aretha-franklin-in-der-philharmonie-1044009.

The show is a warm tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, who passed away in 2018 and set unforgettable musical milestones with hits like “Respect” and “Think”. Ron Williams, known from the ARD series “Fun on Tuesday”, will host the program. Together with Darnita Williams, he will delight the audience not only with the most famous songs, but also with moving stories about Franklin's life. Darnita will appear at various ages of Aretha Franklin and will showcase her distinctive voice, including in the famous song “Natural Woman.”https://www.rundschau-online.de/koeln/koelner-sommerfestival-zieht-repect-the-aretha-franklin-story-1043998.

A look at Aretha Franklin

But who was this impressive woman whose music shaped generations? Aretha Louise Franklin, born on March 25, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, became known as the “Queen of Soul” and covered the musical spectrum from soul to R'n'B and gospel to jazz and pop. Her career began with gospel-oriented albums, but her big break came in 1967 on Atlantic Records with the legendary single "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" and the hit "Respect," which became the anthem of the African-American civil rights movementhttps://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin.

Franklin has sold over 75 million records worldwide, received a total of 18 Grammy Awards and was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Famous performances, such as at the inaugurations of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, show the importance she had in the music and cultural scene. Her powerful voice and her ability to express emotions made her, as Ron Williams aptly put it, the best singer in the United Stateshttps://www.rundschau-online.de/koeln/koelner-sommerfestival-zieht-repect-the-aretha-franklin-story-1043998.

A festival of emotions

The upcoming show promises an exciting experience for every soul fan: a ten-piece live band, complemented by three backing singers and four lead singers, will perform over 25 songs by Aretha Franklin. This all takes place in the venerable Cologne Philharmonic Hall, which is perfect for such a homage. Tickets are available from just €44.50, and music lovers shouldn't miss this opportunityhttps://www.ksta.de/koeln/lindenthal/koeln-musiker-interpretieren-songs-von-aretha-franklin-in-der-philharmonie-1044009.

Ron and Darnita Williams' performances not only show the respect they pay to Aretha Franklin, but also provide a deep insight into her eventful life, which was filled with ups and downs. With a blend of vocal talent and emotional depth, “Respect – The Aretha Franklin Story” will be an opportunity to celebrate the music of one of the greatest artists in history and keep her legacy alive.