THIS WEEK’S MUSE
ARETHA FRANKLIN
“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.”
Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Alongside her incredible success as a performer and recording artist, she was an outspoken advocate of civil rights and gender equality throughout her life.
She was born in 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee, and sang in her church as a child, encouraged by her minister father, known as “C.L.,” an accomplished gospel singer and civil rights activist in the 1950s.
The twelve-year-old Aretha began singing on her father’s “gospel caravan” church tours, and it’s where she met and mixed with many of the people who would have a major influence on her life and career. Dinah Washington, Harry Belafonte, Clara Ward, Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, and many others all encouraged and nurtured her talent.
“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”
She released her first record, singing and playing piano, at 16. Two years later she was living in New York, signed to a major record label. During her career, she released over 50 albums and remains one of the best-selling artists of the 20th century.
She grew up immersed in the civil rights and women’s rights struggles and was outspoken about those injustices throughout her life. She survived an abusive marriage in the 1960s and later, after her career took off, gave money to support groups, performed at benefits and protest events, and lent her name to increase the profiles of and publicity for the causes.
Early in her career, she insisted her contracts state that she would not perform to segregated audiences. A courageous but controversial position to take, since segregation was still the norm in the US in the 1960s.
In 1967, Franklin released “Respect,” a song—written by Otis Redding eighteen months before—that to this day remains an anthem for racial and gendered political movements worldwide.
In her memoir Aretha: From These Roots, she wrote the song reflected, “the need of a nation, the need of the average man and woman in the street—everyone wanted respect.” The song became the battle cry of the civil rights movement and took on a new significance, far beyond its commercial success.
Following her death in 2018, Barack Obama said she “helped define the American experience.” Civil rights activist Al Sharpton called her a “civil rights and humanitarian icon.” Franklin herself was aware of the importance of the work she did to improve civil and women’s rights. Nevertheless, she could be down to earth: “I’m a big woman. I need big hair. “
HAPPENING
TENOR
Saturday, March 26, at 7:30pm
Live in Concert – “Ireland’s Finest Tenor,” Anthony Kearns
Anthony Kearns is a founding member of The Irish Tenors and took American tv audiences by storm! By way of a slightly extended St. Patricks Day celebration, we are thrilled to bring this internationally renowned recording artist to the Cultural Center. His program will include a mix of American folk songs, Irish ballads, opera/light opera, Viennese and Neapolitan songs, art songs, spirituals, plus much more. Book soon – tickets are selling fast!
$40– Member, $50 – Non-Member
TICKETS HERE!
A DINNER PRELUDE
Saturday, March 26, from 5–7pm
“Ireland’s Finest Tenor:” A Dinner Prelude
With Chef Joe Cizynski
Ahead of the beautiful music of Irish tenor Anthony Kearn’s performance, first enjoy some of gourmet dining, buffet style. Relish a roast leg of lamb with olive, garlic, and braised little gems and peas.
Sample delicious salmon glazed with Irish whiskey and apple cider, along with lemon garlic potatoes, and spinach.
Taste the aromatic Guinness braised chicken with house cured Irish bacon and wild mushrooms.
Help yourself to warm Irish soda bread and top it off with Irish cheeses for dessert. Then, onto the music!
$50– Member, $60 – Non-Member
RESERVE A TABLE!