Remembering The Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin Dies at 76.

It is with great sadness that we even have to pen these words. Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul, has died at the age of 76.

Aretha Franklin rose to fame in the early 1960's when she branched out from her church roots and began to sing secular music. She was best known for her chart topping hits like "Respect", "Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You)", and "Chain of Fools". She was a very private person who suffered a long time illness quietly, working even up until a few months ago singing and making public appearances.

Many have speculated that Franklin had been battling pancreatic cancer for some years. She was rumored to be down to only 86 pounds, a shadow of the healthy woman she once was. We are told that The Queen of Soul passed at her Detroit residence surrounded by her family.

Ms. Franklin was more than a singer, she was a blueprint for which other great singers were built. She was the voice of a movement, a new generation's icon of shade and the auntie we all wanted to cook for us. A powerhouse of a presence.

Aretha Franklin leaves to cherish her memory four sons and a nation of music lovers who have been touched by her voice forever.