Name	Aretha Franklin
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Aretha Louise Franklin
Birth date	March 25, 1942
Birth place	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, pianist
Years active	1956–present
Genre	Soul, jazz, blues, R&B;, gospel, funk, rock
Instrument	Vocals, piano
Label	Columbia (1960–1966)Atlantic (1967–1979)Arista (1980–2003)Aretha Records (2004–)
Associated acts	Sweet Inspirations, Carolyn Franklin, Erma Franklin, Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston, George Benson, George Michael, Michael McDonald, Eurythmics, Mahalia Jackson }}

Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as the Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B;, gospel music, and rock.

''Rolling Stone'' magazine ranked her atop its "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" list, as well as the ninth greatest artist of all time. She has won 18 Grammys and received two honorary Grammys. She has 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B; Singles Chart and two No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Respect" (1967) and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987), a duet with George Michael. Since 1961, she has scored a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 No.1 R&B; albums—more than any other female artist. In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Biography

Early life and career: 1942–1959

Aretha Louise Franklin (named for two aunts) was born in a two-room house in Memphis, Tennessee, at 406 Lucy Avenue. She was the third of four children born to Barbara (née Siggers) and C.L. Franklin and the fifth of six overall in between past relationships by her parents. Aretha's family moved to Buffalo when she was two years old, and then by four they had settled in Detroit. Following the move to Detroit, Franklin's parents, who had a troubled marriage, split. Due to her father's work as a Baptist minister, Franklin was primarily raised by her grandmother, Rachel. Her mother died in Buffalo when Aretha was ten. Franklin sang in church at an early age and learned how to play piano by ear.

By her late preteens, Franklin was regularly singing solo numbers in her father's New Bethel Baptist Church. C.L. (né Clarence LaVaughn) Franklin, Aretha's father, was a respected local preacher. She grew up with local and national celebrities hanging out at her father's home, including gospel greats Albertina Walker and her group The Caravans, Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, three women who played a pivotal role in her vocal development as a child.

Early success: 1960–1966

She released her first single for Columbia in September 1960, aged 18. It reached No. 10 on ''Billboard'''s R&B; chart. Her first album was released in January 1961. The label had her record mainly jazz-influenced pop music, hoping for success with this format as the label had with Billie Holiday. Columbia founder John H. Hammond acknowledged in an interview years later that he felt Columbia did not really understand Franklin's background in gospel and failed to bring that aspect out in her secular recordings. After scoring two more Top 10 R&B; hits with "Operation Heartbreak" and "Won't Be Long" in 1961, Franklin scored her first Top 40 pop hit with her rendition of "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody", B-side of "operation Heartbreak". Later releases failed to find similar success, although Franklin had a near-Top 50 hit with "Runnin' Out of Fools" (1964) and the following year "bubbled under" with (No, No) I'm Losing You. In 1966 she scored a top 30 R&B; hit with Ashford & Simpson's "Cry Like A Baby".

After the release of a tribute album to Dinah Washington, Columbia drifted away from their early jazz dreams for Franklin and had the singer record renditions of girl group-oriented hits including "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", "Every Little Bit Hurts" and "Mockingbird" but every attempt to bring her success with the material failed. This did not, however, prevent her building a reputation as a multi-talented vocalist and musician. During a show in 1965, the master of ceremonies gave Franklin a tiara and declared her "the queen of soul". The title would prove to be prophetic. By 1966, struggling with recording for Columbia, Franklin decided not to sign a new contract with the label and settled on a deal with Atlantic. After she gained success at Atlantic, Columbia began releasing Franklin material from its vaults, and continues doing so.

Stardom: 1967–1972

Franklin began recording her first songs for Atlantic in early 1967. Initially sent to Muscle Shoals's legendary FAME studios where the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section was the in-house band, Franklin cut her first song – the blues ballad "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", which finally allowed Franklin to show her gospel side. Tensions between Franklin's then-husband and then-manager Ted White and a musician led to Franklin and White hiding from public view in New York. Franklin eventually returned to the studio in New York to record the b-side, the gospel-oriented "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". "I Never Loved a Man" soared up both the pop and R&B; charts upon its release peaking at number-nine and number-one respectively.

Her second single with Atlantic would also be her biggest, most acclaimed work. "Respect", originally recorded and written by R&B; singer Otis Redding, would become a bigger hit after Franklin's gospel-fueled rendition of the song. The song also started a pattern of Franklin in later songs during this period producing a call and response vocal with Franklin usually backed up by her sisters Erma and Carolyn Franklin or The Sweet Inspirations. Franklin is credited with arranging the background vocals and ad-libbing the line, "r-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me/take care of TCB", while her sisters shouted afterwards, "sock it to me". Franklin's version peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming a 1960s anthem. Franklin had three more top ten hits in 1967 – "Baby I Love You", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools". "Respect" later won Franklin her first two Grammys. She eventually won eight consecutive Grammys under the Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance category.

By the end of the year, Franklin not only became a star but she stood as one of the symbols of the civil rights movement partially due to her rendition of "Respect", which had a feminist-powered theme after Franklin recorded it. Franklin's other hits during the late 1960s included "Think", her rendition of Dionne Warwick's "I Say a Little Prayer", "Ain't No Way" and "The House That Jack Built" among others. By the end of the 1960s, Franklin's title as "the queen of soul" became permanent in the eyes of the media. After a few struggles in 1969, she returned with the ballad, "Call Me" in January 1970. That same year she had another hit with her gospel version of Ben E. King's "Don't Play That Song", while in 1971, Franklin was one of the first black performers to headline Fillmore West where she later released a live album. That same year she released the acclaimed ''Young, Gifted & Black'' album, which featured two top ten hits, the ballad "Daydreamin'" and the funk-oriented "Rocksteady". In 1972, she released her first gospel album in nearly two decades with ''Amazing Grace''. The album eventually became her biggest-selling release ever, selling over two million copies and becoming the best-selling gospel album of all time.

Decline and fallout with Atlantic: 1973–1979

Aretha had another number-one R&B; hit in 1973 with the Carolyn Franklin and William "Sonny" Sanders-composed "Angel", however its parent album, ''Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)'', failed to repeat the success of Franklin's other albums. By 1974, after four years performing in Afrocentric-styled clothing, the singer glammed up her look and styled red hair releasing ''Let Me In Your Life''. The album yielded the smash single, "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". While several singles would later find success on the R&B; charts, Franklin was losing favor with pop audiences as soul music was starting to be overtaken by the emerging disco genre. Atlantic Records had also by this point given priority attention to Roberta Flack, leading to relations between Franklin and the company becoming estranged as a result. Franklin turned down a number of tracks giving to her by Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson (though eventually they would contribute to her failed 1975 album, ''You''). Several of the songs including "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" were later recorded by Natalie Cole. After the arrivals of Cole, Chaka Khan, and Donna Summer Franklin's star ebbed.

She briefly returned to the top 40 in 1976 with the Curtis Mayfield production, ''Sparkle'', which spawned the number-one R&B; hit, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". Despite this, Franklin struggled to find success with subsequent releases. After the release of 1979's ''La Diva'', an attempt for Franklin to find a disco audience that flopped, selling less than 50,000 copies, Franklin's contract with Atlantic expired. Neither Atlantic nor Aretha had any interest in renewing it. While she was performing in Las Vegas on June 10, 1979, Franklin's father, C.L., was shot during what was said to be an attempted robbery at his LaSalle Street home in Detroit. The incident left C.L. in a coma for the next five years. Aretha moved back to the Detroit area in late 1982 from Los Angeles (where she had lived since 1976) to help care for her father.

Comeback: 1980–1989

In 1980, Franklin, among other prominent rhythm and blues and soul artists including Ray Charles and James Brown, appeared in the film ''The Blues Brothers''. Franklin appeared as the wife of musician Matt "Guitar" Murphy, who engages in a brief war of words with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi before going into "Think". Following that performance, Clive Davis signed Franklin to his Arista Records imprint. The singles "United Together" and the George Benson-featured "Love All the Hurt Away" returned Franklin to the R&B; top ten while 1982's ''Jump to It'', featuring a contemporary R&B; production style by Luther Vandross, became a comeback of sorts for Franklin on the pop music chart. The album stayed at No. 1 on the R&B; Albums chart for seven weeks and crossed to No. 23 on the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart, eventually selling close to 600,000 units and becoming Aretha's first gold-certified album since the ''Sparkle'' soundtrack in 1976. The title track became Franklin's first number-one R&B; hit in five years while also hitting No. 24 on the Hot 100. After the relative failure of her 1983 follow-up, ''Get It Right'', also produced by Vandross, Franklin took some personal time off. Following the July 1984 death of her father, she entered the United Sound Studios in Detroit to record a new album for Arista in October of that year. Inspired by the recent success of fellow artist Tina Turner and Arista's emerging star Whitney Houston, Franklin's goddaughter, Arista paired Franklin with Narada Michael Walden.

The album released in July 1985, ''Who's Zoomin' Who?'', featured R&B;, pop, dance, synthpop and rock elements and became Franklin's first platinum-certified success. The album launched several major hits including the title track and the Motown-inspired "Freeway of Love". The rock-influenced Annie Lennox duet, "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" also became a hit for Franklin on the pop charts though it failed to climb higher than No.66 on the R&B; chart due to its more pop rock-leaning sound. Music videos for each of the singles became prominent fixtures on MTV, BET and VH-1 among other video channels. In 1986, Franklin released her follow-up album ''Aretha''. The album sold almost a million copies, and featured the number-one hit, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with George Michael. In April 1987, the song became Franklin's first single since "Respect" to hit No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Other hits from the album included a cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and another Motown-inspired hit, "Jimmy Lee". In 1987 she returned to her gospel roots with the album, ''One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism'', which failed to repeat the success of ''Amazing Grace'' despite a powerful rendition of "Oh Happy Day", featuring Mavis Staples, but did reach the Top 10 of Billboard's gospel chart. In 1986, she sang the theme song ("Together") for the ABC television network.

Later work: 1989–2003

In 1989, Franklin returned with her first pop album in three years with ''Through the Storm'' but despite scoring a Top 20 hit with the title track featuring Elton John and the presence of Whitney Houston in their duet single, "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Ever Gonna Be", the album tanked, as did a follow-up, 1991's new jack swing effort, ''What You See Is What You Sweat''. After singing Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free" on the ''Malcolm X soundtrack'' in 1992 and singing at US President Bill Clinton's inauguration ceremony in 1993, Franklin returned to favor with pop audiences later in 1993 with the release of the dance single "Deeper Love", which was featured on the soundtrack of ''Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit''. The following year, Franklin issued her Arista hits album and with Babyface released two singles, "Honey" and the top-40 pop ballad "Willing to Forgive". In 1995, her song "It Hurts Like Hell" appeared on the soundtrack for the movie ''Waiting to Exhale''. Four years passed until Franklin released another album. 1998's ''A Rose Is Still a Rose'' featured elements of neo soul and hip hop soul with production from Lauryn Hill, Jermaine Dupri and Sean "Puffy" Combs. The title track, written and produced by Hill, became Franklin's biggest hit in years, reaching number 26 on the Hot 100 and reaching the R&B; top five.

She later reprised her role as Matt "Guitar" Murphy's wife in the ''Blues Brothers'' sequel, ''Blues Brothers 2000'' singing "Respect". She struggled to record a successful follow-up, however, and it would be five more years before a new album emerged. Franklin issued her next album, ''So Damn Happy'', in 2003. The album was a critical and commercial failure, selling just over 100,000 copies.

2004–present

In 2003, after 23 years with Arista, Franklin parted with the company and decided to go on the independent route, forming Aretha's Records two years later. Franklin released a duets compilation album, ''Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen'', in 2007. The album featured the Fantasia duet, "Put You Up on Game", which despite becoming a modest hit on Urban AC radio, stalled at No. 41 on the R&B; charts. A year later, Franklin issued her first holiday album, ''This Christmas, Aretha''. After initially being released as a Borders exclusive, it was later released by the DMI label.

In 2008, Franklin was honored as MusiCares "Person of the Year", two days prior to the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, where she was awarded her 18th career Grammy. Franklin was personally asked by then newly-elected President Barack Obama to perform at his inauguration singing "My Country 'tis of Thee". In 2010, Franklin received an honorary music degree from Yale University.

In 2010 and through early 2011, Franklin had told the media she had selected actress Halle Berry to play her in the featured role of the legendary singer in a biopic loosely based on Franklin's memoirs, ''Aretha: From These Roots''. In January 2011, Berry turned down the role. Franklin said she's now setting her sights on singers Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson on getting the lucrative role.

Marking her 50th anniversary in show business, Franklin released her thirty-eighth studio album, ''A Woman Falling Out Of Love'', on May 3, 2011, through WalMart. It is the first release off Franklin's own record label, Aretha's Records, a label she formed back in the 1990s. However, Aretha's new disc peaked at No. 54 on ''Billboard'''s album chart, dropping off after only two weeks. She co-produced some of the new tracks. Ronald Isley was featured in the album doing the Barbra Streisand standard, "The Way We Were", as he and Franklin covered the Carole King classic, "You've Got a Friend", first issued on Isley's ''Mr. I'' album.

Following her exit from the stage in November 2010 and her surgery the following month, Franklin has recently returned to the stage, rescheduling dates she was forced to cancel due to recent health problems.

In September 2011, Tony Bennett released a duet with Aretha entitled "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" from his new album, Duets II (Tony Bennett album).

Personal life

In March 1956, three days after her 14th birthday, Franklin gave birth to her eldest child, a son she named Clarence (for her father). In January 1957 she gave birth to another son, Edward. She never identified by name the father of either child. Her grandmother, Rachel, raised the boys while Aretha pursued her singing career. Rachel lived in a guest house behind C.L. Franklin's LaSalle Street home. (The Franklin family moved from their home on Boston Street in Detroit's North End section to LaSalle Street during the late 1950s.)

Against her father's wishes Aretha began dating a family acquaintance named Ted White. In 1961 they were quickly married in Ohio by a judge. White became her personal manager as well as co-writer. Shortly afterward, she purchased a house on Sorrento Avenue in northwest Detroit, where she resided for the next decade. She and White divorced in 1969. Their son Teddy (Ted White Jr.), born in 1964, is the musical director and guitarist of her touring band.

From 1969 until 1976, she had a seven-year relationship with her road manager Ken Cunningham. (Although she and White did not divorce until late 1969, Aretha conceived her fourth child in June of that year.) In the early 1970s the couple moved from Detroit to New York City, at which time Aretha's grandmother moved into her Sorrento Avenue home. Their son Kecalf (from the initials of his parents' names: Kenneth E Cunningham Aretha Louise Franklin and pronounced "kelf") was born on March 28, 1970 at Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital.

On April 11, 1978, Aretha Franklin married actor Glynn Turman at her father's New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. Franklin's father performed the marriage ceremony. The couple returned to their home in Encino, California. In late 1982, Franklin moved back to Detroit, and in 1985 she purchased a home in Bloomfield Hills, where she still resides. Turman and Franklin divorced in early 1984. The couple did not have children. They remained friends, and she sang the theme song for his show, ''A Different World'', in the late 1980s. Franklin's sisters Erma and Carolyn are both deceased, as is her brother Cecil. As of January 2012, her half-brother Vaughn (born 1934) is alive, as is her half-sister, Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings; born 1940). Kelley is C.L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a then 13-year-old congregant of New Salem Baptist Church of Memphis, Tennessee, where C.L. was pastor in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Franklin's sons, Ted White Jr. ("Teddy") and Kecalf Cunningham, are active in the music business. White has been a guitarist in Aretha's backup band since the late 1980s, while Cunningham works as a Christian hip-hop rapper and producer.

Aretha Franklin is a registered Democrat.

In September 2010, her son Edward was attacked and severely beaten by three people while at a gas station on Plymouth Road, near Evergreen, in northwest Detroit.

Franklin's long friendship with Cissy Houston during Houston's time with The Sweet Inspirations led to Franklin becoming Whitney Houston's godmother. Cissy Houston sang the operatic soprano whoop in the background of Franklin's "Ain't No Way".

On January 1, 2012, Franklin announced that she and William Wilkerson were engaged. Franklin revealed that they were planning to exchange nuptials at a ceremony on a private yacht in Miami, Florida in June 2012.

On January 23, 2012, Franklin announced via Facebook that she and Wilkerson will not marry at the present time. Wilkerson has since moved out of Aretha's house in West Bloomfield and returned to his government-subsidised Detroit apartment.

On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston, Franklin's goddaughter, died in Beverly Hills from unknown causes. Aretha was devastated by her death and said it was "so stunning and unbelievable". She planned to perform at the memorial service on February 18, but her representative claimed that "Aretha is ill and will not perform at the memorial service". However, Aretha was well enough to perform at Radio City Music Hall mere hours after the funeral had taken place.

2010 surgery and rumors of cancer

In 2010, Franklin suffered a pain in her side which she said, "was so hard it almost brought me to my knees." After continuing a concert tour, the pain recurred, and she subsequently underwent surgery for an undisclosed ailment. At this time, rumors surfaced that she was suffering from pancreatic cancer. In discussing the events in 2011, she has said that this was not the case and that her doctor told her, "the surgery that you just had is going to add 15 to 20 more years to your life."

Connection to the Civil Rights Movement

Franklin’s music and civil rights involvement cannot be separated for it was through music, which Franklin was able to reach out to so many and empower those who had felt so long oppressed.

Aretha Franklin first became connected with the civil rights movement through her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin. Rev. Franklin was an influential preacher who traveled the country as well as recorded a weekly sermon for the radio station, WLAC, which reached 65 percent of the African-American population. It was these same tours that Aretha would begin her singing career. Rev. Franklin would also introduce Aretha to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. starting a life long friendship between the two.

It was Franklin's soulful sound, which would become the driving anthem of the civil rights movement or as poet Nikki Giovanni put it “the voice of the civil rights movement, the voice of the black America”.

Through Franklin’s album ‘I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You’, hit ‘Respect’ rose to the top. Her strong voice asking for something as simple as respect reflects the cries of the civil rights movement. Her lyrics mirror that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. Most notably the lines “Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children”. While the civil rights movement was already in motion before Franklin became a prominent figure she had now lent it a soundtrack.

Franklin did not have to do much to help propel the civil rights movement. “Her own sense of pride and her dignified stance, she represented the new black woman of the late 1960s”. Franklin’s own sound and present were enough to reflect the ideas of the movement and were what caused her to become a notable figure in the cause.

Franklin was not actively heading demonstrations or participating in sit-ins, but she was able to do her part and use her talent to help the movement. She would numerous times perform at rallies with the King, lending her voice and fame to pull in crowds.

Awards and achievements

On June 28, 1968 she became the second African-American woman to appear on the cover of ''TIME'' magazine.

On August 1, 1968, she sang the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL.

In 1985, then-Gov. James Blanchard of Michigan declared her voice “a natural resource” during a ceremony that marked her 25 years in show business.

Aretha Franklin is one of three musicians, along with Madonna & Marvin Gaye, to have singles peak at each of the top 10 positions on the US Billboard Hot 100.

On January 20, 1987, she became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On March 29, 1987, Franklin sang "America the Beautiful" at ''WrestleMania III''.

In September 1999, she was awarded The National Medal of Arts by President Clinton.

In 2004, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked her ninth on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

In 2005, she was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush.

In 2005, she became the second woman (Madonna being the first) to be inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Franklin was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.

On February 6, 2006, she performed, along with Aaron Neville, "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XL.

On May 13, 2006, she was presented with an honorary Doctor of Music degree by the Berklee College of Music.

On April 1, 2007 Aretha sang "America the Beautiful" at ''WrestleMania 23.''

On May 14, 2007, she was presented with an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2007, Aretha Franklin's recording of "Respect" was voted a Legendary Michigan Song.

Is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority

On February 8, 2008, Franklin was honored as MusiCares "Person of the Year".

On February 14, 2008, Franklin was given the Vanguard award at the NAACP Image awards.

On May 4, 2008, Franklin was given the Key to the City of Memphis at the 2008 "Memphis in May International Music Festival" by Mayor Dr. Willie Herenton during her performance onstage.

On September 13, 2008, Franklin was ranked No. 19 on the ''Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists'' list by ''Billboard''. November 2008, Franklin was named by ''Rolling Stone'' as the No. 1 all-time best singer of the rock era, according to the magazine's survey of 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors, and other music industry insiders.

On January 20, 2009, Franklin performed "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" during the inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama.

On May 23, 2010, Franklin received an Honorary Doctorate in Music from Yale University. On June 1, 2010, Aretha Franklin's recording of "Chain Of Fools" was voted a Legendary Michigan Song. On February 13, 2011, the Grammy Awards paid tribute to Franklin with a medley of her classics by fellow singers Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride and Yolanda Adams

On October 16, 2011, Franklin sang "Precious Lord (Take My Hand)" for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s memorial dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Grammy Awards

Franklin has won 18 performance Grammy Awards, and two honorary Grammys: the Grammy Legend Award (1991) and the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (1994).

She holds the record for most Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance awards, with eleven to her name (including eight consecutive awards from 1968 to 1975 – the first eight awarded in that category).

{|class="wikitable" |- !colspan="5"|Aretha Franklin's 18 Grammy Award Wins |- !# !Year !Category !Genre !Title |- | 1 || style="text-align:center;"| 1968 || Best Rhythm & Blues Recording || R&B; ||Respect |- | 2 || style="text-align:center;"| 1968 || |Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Respect |- | 3 || style="text-align:center;"| 1969 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Chain Of Fools |- | 4 || style="text-align:center;"| 1970 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Share Your Love With Me |- | 5 || style="text-align:center;"| 1971 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Don't Play That Song For Me |- | 6 || style="text-align:center;"| 1972 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Bridge Over Troubled Water |- | 7 || style="text-align:center;"| 1973 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Young, Gifted and Black (album) |- | 8 || style="text-align:center;"| 1973 || Best Soul Gospel Performance || Gospel || Amazing Grace (album) |- | 9 || style="text-align:center;"| 1974 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Master Of Eyes |- |10 || style="text-align:center;"| 1975 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing |- |11 || style="text-align:center;"| 1982 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Hold On...I'm Comin' (album track) |- |12 || style="text-align:center;"| 1986 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Freeway Of Love |- |13 || style="text-align:center;"| 1988 || Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Aretha (album) |- |14 || style="text-align:center;"| 1988 || Best R&B; Performance – Duo Or Group with Vocals || R&B; || I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) (with George Michael) |- |15 || style="text-align:center;"| 1989 || Best Soul Gospel Performance – Female || Gospel || One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (album) |- |*|| style="text-align:center;"| 1991 || Living Legend Award || Special | |- |*|| style="text-align:center;"| 1994 || Lifetime Achievement Award || Special | |- |16 || style="text-align:center;"| 2004 || Best Traditional R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || Wonderful |- |17|| style="text-align:center;"| 2006 || Best Traditional R&B; Vocal Performance || R&B; || A House Is Not A Home |- |18|| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || Best Gospel-Soul Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group || Gospel |Never Gonna Break My Faith (with Mary J. Blige) |}

Discography

Top 10 US Hot 100 singles

Year	Title	Peak
1967	"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
1967
1967
1967	"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"
1967
1968	"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"
1968
1968	"The House That Jack Built"
1968	"I Say a Little Prayer"
1971
1971
1971
1972
1973	"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"
1985	"Freeway of Love"
1985	"Who's Zoomin' Who"
1987	"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (with George Michael)

Source:

All no. 1 hits in US R&B; 100 singles

Year	Title
1967	"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
1967
1967
1967
1968	"(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone"
1968
1969	"Share Your Love with Me"
1970
1970	"Don't Play That Song (You Lied)"
1971
1971
1972
1973
1973	"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)"
1974
1976	"Something He Can Feel"
1977
1982
1983
1985	"Freeway of Love"

Source:

Filmography

Movies / Concerts / Documentaries

''The Blues Brothers'' (1980)

''Motown 40: The Music Is Forever'' (1998) (ABC-TV documentary)

''Blues Brothers 2000'' (1998)

''DIVAS LIVE'' (1998)

''Immaculate Funk'' (2000) (documentary)

''Rhythm, Love and Soul'' (2002)

''Tom Dowd & the Language of Music'' (2003) (documentary)

''Singing in the Shadow: The Children of Rock Royalty'' (2003) (documentary)

''From The Heart / The Four Tops 50th Anniversary and Celebration'' (2004)

''Atlantic Records: The House that Ahmet Built'' (2007) (documentary)

Television

''The Tonight Show / Johnny Carson''

''The Mike Douglas Show''

In 1972, she had a role in the TV show Room 222

''Solid Gold'' (numerous appearances with the last in 1982 performing "Jump To It")

''Kelly & Company'' (Marilyn Turner and John Kelly, Detroit)

''Dayna'' (Dayna Eubanks, fomer Detroit newscaster)

''Rolonda Show'' (Rolonda Watts)

''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' (numerous appearances including Oprah's 40th birthday, with Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight)

''Live with Regis and Kelly'' (numerous appearances)

''The View''

References

External links

Aretha Franklin at Legacy Recordings

Aretha Franklin at NPR Music

Category:1942 births Category:African American pianists Category:African American female singer-songwriters Category:American child singers Category:American gospel singers Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:American soul singers Category:Arista Records artists Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Baptists from the United States Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Feminist musicians Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Grammy Legend Award Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners Category:Kennedy Center honorees Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:Musicians from Detroit, Michigan Category:MusiCares Person of the Year Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Category:Rhythm and blues pianists Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Songwriters from Michigan Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients

ar:أريثا فرانكلين an:Aretha Franklin ast:Aretha Franklin be:Арэта Франклін bg:Арета Франклин ca:Aretha Franklin cs:Aretha Franklinová da:Aretha Franklin de:Aretha Franklin el:Αρίθα Φράνκλιν es:Aretha Franklin eo:Aretha Franklin eu:Aretha Franklin fa:آرتا فرانکلین fr:Aretha Franklin ga:Aretha Franklin ko:어리사 프랭클린 hr:Aretha Franklin io:Aretha Franklin id:Aretha Franklin is:Aretha Franklin it:Aretha Franklin he:אריתה פרנקלין ka:არეთა ფრანკლინი sw:Aretha Franklin la:Aretha Franklin lv:Areta Franklina lt:Aretha Franklin hu:Aretha Franklin ms:Aretha Franklin nl:Aretha Franklin new:आरेथा फ्र्यान्क्लिन ja:アレサ・フランクリン no:Aretha Franklin nn:Aretha Franklin pl:Aretha Franklin pt:Aretha Franklin ro:Aretha Franklin ru:Франклин, Арета se:Aretha Franklin sc:Aretha Franklin sq:Aretha Franklin simple:Aretha Franklin sk:Aretha Franklinová sr:Арета Френклин sh:Aretha Franklin fi:Aretha Franklin sv:Aretha Franklin th:อารีธา แฟรงคลิน tr:Aretha Franklin uk:Арета Франклін vi:Aretha Franklin war:Aretha Franklin yo:Aretha Franklin zh:艾瑞莎·弗蘭克林

name	Lyn Collins
background	solo_singer
alias	"Female Preacher"
born	June 12, 1948in Abilene, TX, U.S.
died	March 13, 2005in Pasadena, CA, U.S.
instrument	Vocals
genre	Funk, Soul, R&B;
occupation	Vocalist
label	Polydor
associated acts	James Brown
notable instruments	}}

Lyn Collins (12 June 1948 – 13 March 2005) (real name: Gloria Lavern Collins) was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins.

Early life and career

Born in Abilene, Texas, U.S.A., she began her recording career aged 14. Her biggest solo hit was the James Brown-produced gospel-style song "Think (About It)", from her 1972 album of the same name on People Records. The song contains 5 breaks which have been widely sampled in hip-hop and drum and bass, most famously, the "Woo! Yeah!" and "It takes two to make a thing go right" loops in Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's It Takes Two which is composed almost completely from samples of ''Think'' including a few lines of Collins' vocals. Furthermore, it was used in the early sociocritical eurodance classic ''I Can't Stand It'' by Twenty 4 Seven. Another album followed in 1975 ''Check Me Out If You Don't Know Me by Now''. After the release of this album, she returned to performing mainly as a back-up vocalist.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Collins attempted a comeback as a dance/club diva, recording the house single "Shout" for Belgium's ARS label. In 1993, Collins' profile was given a boost by female dancehall singer Patra, who invited Collins to perform on her hit remake of "Think (About It)"; partly due to the resulting interest, her two official albums were reissued in England and the Netherlands. Collins continued to tour and perform, most notably at the European Jazz/Funk Festival (in both 1998 and 1999) and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

In February 2005, Collins embarked on her first ever solo tour. For three weeks, she performed in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The tour was produced by the Soulpower organization. Shortly after returning from her European tour, Collins died aged 56 in Pasadena, California, of cardiac arrhythmia.

In 2006, Paris based Hi&Fly; Records released a live album titled "Mama Feelgood", which included recordings from her European tour and some interview clips. This release was produced by German-born DJ Pari, who has also produced for Marva Whitney and who has managed Collin's last tour. An official anthology CD, also called "Mama Feelgood", was released on Universal Music that same year.

Trivia

In October 2004, "Rock Me Again And Again" and "Think (About It)" featured on the ''Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' soundtrack, playing on fictional radio station Master Sounds 98.3.

"Rock Me Again And Again" was covered by synth band The Human League on their 1984 album ''Hysteria''.

External links

[ Lyn Collins biography] at Allmusic

Obituary

Discography

1972 - Think About It 1975 - Check Me Out If You Don't Know Me by Now

Category:1948 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:African American female singers Category:American soul singers Category:American funk singers Category:James Brown vocalists

de:Lyn Collins fr:Lyn Collins la:Lyn Collins pt:Lyn Collins sv:Lyn Collins

name	Melanie C
background	solo_singer
birth name	Melanie Jayne Chisholm
legal name	Melanie C
alias	Melanie C.Sporty Spice
born	January 12, 1974Whiston, Lancashire, England
origin	London, England, UK
genre	Pop, pop rock, britpop, dance
occupation	Singer-songwriter, businesswoman, actress
years active	1994–present
label	Virgin RecordsRed Girl Records
associated acts	Spice Girls, Bryan Adams, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
website	}}

Melanie Jayne Chisholm (born 12 January 1974, Whiston, Lancashire, now Merseyside) is an English singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman professionally known simply as Melanie C (or Mel C). She is best known as one of the five members of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed "Sporty Spice". She toured the world for years with the Spice Girls, gaining worldwide popularity and when the Spice Girls decided to pursue solo careers, Melanie decided to produce her own brand of music, in 1999 she released her first studio album ''Northern Star'' which sold 4 million copies worldwide. After the release of Northern Star Melanie battled depression and an eating disorder, and released her second studio album in 2003, ''Reason''. Melanie was victorious in her battle against depression and eating disorder, and released her third studio album two years later in 2005, ''Beautiful Intentions'' which became her second most successful album commercially. In 2007 she released her fouth studio album ''This Time'' sporting a new indie sound. Shortly after the release of This Time, Melanie along with the four other members of the Spice Girls, confirmed their return as a band for their The Return of the Spice Girls World Tour. After the tour ended, she announced that she was pregnant with her first child and gave birth in February 2009. Melanie then signed on for a six month deal to play Mrs Johnstone in the London West End play ''"Blood Brothers"''. In May 2011, Melanie announced that she was working on her fifth studio album ''The Sea,'' due for release in September 2011.

Melanie has earned nominations for BRIT- and ECHO awards, has sold more than 10 million records as a solo artist and holds the third position for most United Kingdom number-ones by a female artist and is the only female to reach UK Official Singles Chart at number one as a part of quartet, quintet, duo and as a solo artist.

Biography

Early life

Chisholm was born on 12 January 1974 at Whiston Hospital, Whiston on Merseyside. Raised originally in the Liverpool suburb of Rainhill, and then Widnes, Cheshire she attended Fairfield High School where she studied singing and dancing. After leaving school at age 15, Chisholm studied for a diploma course in dance, singing, drama and musical theatre at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in Sidcup, Kent. During college, she replied to an advert in ''The Stage'' by Chris and Bob Herbert, who were looking to form a new girl group, later to become the Spice Girls. She left college just short of completing her three-year course and gained teaching qualifications in Tap and Modern Theatre Dance with the ISTD.

Spice Girls

In 1994, she joined the Spice Girls (then still called Touch) after the original fifth Touch member, Lianne Morgan had to leave the group. In 1996, Chisholm, along with Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, and Victoria Beckham (at that time Victoria Adams), shot to fame with the release of "Wannabe". Because Mel C usually wore a tracksuit with her hair in a ponytail and sporting the attitude of a tomboy, she was called Sporty Spice. After a third album release, ''Forever'' (UK #2), the members went their separate ways, and Chisholm developed a successful solo career.

Virgin Records

Chisholm took her first steps in establishing a solo career in late 1998 by singing with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams on the song "When You're Gone". Her debut album ''Northern Star'' was released in 1999. A track from this album ("Ga Ga") was included on the ''Big Daddy'' soundtrack before her own album's release. Singles "Goin' Down" and "Northern Star" were met with promising success, but the third single "Never Be the Same Again", featuring TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, became her first UK number-one single as a solo artist, also a number-one single in the Netherlands, a Top Five hit in Germany and No.2 in Australia. Chisholm released a fourth single from ''Northern Star'', a dance remix of "I Turn to You", and earned herself a second number-one single in both the UK and the Netherlands. "I Turn to You" reached No.2 in Germany, No.11 in Australia and eventually climbed to the top of the ''Billboard'' dance chart in the United States. ''Northern Star'' was re-released with the single versions of "Never Be the Same Again" and "I Turn to You", and eventually peaked at number four on the United Kingdom album chart and number six in Germany.

"If That Were Me" was chosen as the fifth and final single from ''Northern Star'' and proceeds were donated to a charity for the homeless; it peaked at number eighteen in the UK. ''Northern Star'' is certified three times platinum in the United Kingdom for shipping 900,000 copies, platinum in Germany for selling over 500,000 copies, gold in Brazil for selling 100,000 copies, and gold in Australia for selling over 35,000 copies. Chisholm then went on her Northern Star World Tour, performing in countries such as Canada, Israel, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

From May 2001 – November 2002 Chisholm toured for her album.

After a break from medias and public life and problems in her personal life, Chisholm released her second studio album, ''Reason'', in March 2003. The album included production from a series of collaborators including Gregg Alexander (New Radicals, Ronan Keating), Marius De Vries (Madonna), Dr Robert of The Blow Monkeys, David Arnold (Björk) and Matt Rowe, co-writer of the Spice Girls' "Wannabe". The lead single from ''Reason'' was "Here It Comes Again", which peaked at number seven in the UK, with the album entering the UK album chart a week later at number five, but quickly fell off the chart. The album also entered at number 12 in Germany and No.21 in Switzerland.

Other singles from the album were "On the Horizon" (UK number fourteen, written with Gregg Alexander), "Let's Love" in Japan (where the song accompanied a Toyota commercial), "Yeh Yeh Yeh" in mainland Europe and, finally, a UK double A-side of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", which achieved a disappointing UK chart position of number twenty-seven. After a series of disappointments and the relative failure of "Melt"/"Yeh Yeh Yeh", Chisholm parted ways with her label, Virgin Records. ''Reason'' has been certified gold in the United Kingdom.

Red Girl Records

Chisholm spent much of 2004 working on new material and setting up her own record company, Red Girl Records. Without major label backing, her activities are decided on and funded by herself, alongside her business partner and manager, Nancy Phillips. In April 2005, Chisholm released her third album, ''Beautiful Intentions''. The Adam Argyle-penned "Next Best Superstar" was chosen as the lead single and was released simultaneously in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The single peaked at number ten in the UK and reached the top of the Germany radio airplay chart for several weeks. A second single, "Better Alone", was released but later restricted to purchase from the iTunes Store (for digital download) and from her official online shop. Chisholm released "Better Alone" in 2006 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and some other European countries. The third single from her third album was "First Day of My Life", a previously unheard Chisholm recording written by Guy Chambers and Enrique Iglesias. "First Day of My Life" topped the charts in several European countries. The single became one of the biggest hits of 2005 in parts of Europe, reaching number one position in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany for two weeks (Chisholms first No.1 single here), but it was never released in the UK. ''Beautiful Intentions'' has been certified gold in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and platinum in Portugal, where it spent nine weeks at number one.

In early 2007, Chisholm released her fourth album, ''This Time''. It features writing collaborations with Adam Argyle, who written six tracks for new album, Peter-John Vettese, Guy Chambers and Cathy Dennis (amongst others). The first single released from the project was the international hit "The Moment You Believe", primarily released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where it became a top twenty hit. The single also peaked at number 1 in Spain for two weeks and was a hit in several other European countries. In the UK, Chisholm released the track "I Want Candy", which peaked at number twenty-four and featured on the soundtrack to the film of the same name. The single peaked at number nine in Italy and Denmark. The second single from the album ''This Time'' was "Carolyna", released in June in the UK and across Europe. Although it underperformed in the UK, it became a top five radio hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a top twenty hit in Italy. In October 2007 in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and Austria Chisholm released the single "This Time". A new version of the song was recorded for the release. It featured a B-side track called "We Love To Entertain You", which was used for 2007's Pro7 Starforce campaign in Germany.

In November 2007, Chisholm reunited with the Spice Girls for a ''Greatest Hits'' album release and a three-months world tour. When the tour reached its first two-day break, Chisholm performed an acoustic solo set at The Mint in Los Angeles on 6 December, another one in The Grand Ballroom in New York City and a third solo performance in Toronto, Canada. In February 2008, Chisholm released her fourth album ''This Time'' in Canada on 8 April 2008, followed by a full Canadian tour in May 2008. The first single was "Carolyna". "Understand" was released as a second single in Canada on 25 July. The video was filmed largely in Toronto, but several live clips were included from her various Canadian performances as well.

In May 2009, Chisholm announces the release of a DVD with her concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Manchester (2008), in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation. The DVD also includes two new songs: "Blue Skies All the Way" and "Paris Burning". The Mirror reported in July 2009 that Melanie is to release a new album in 2010, however an album failed to materialise in 2010 and Chisholm has since confirmed via her Twitter feed that she is back in the recording studio and aiming for a release date in 2011. In December 2009, she joined BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball on a special New Year's Eve radio programme featuring the Great British Songbook of the 90s, make it the part of BBC Special Christmas Season 2009.

In early 2011, Digital Spy reported that Melanie is working with DJ and club scene producer Jodie Harsh. The report indicates that Chisholm's 5th album will move away from her previous rock led efforts going for a more commercial club oriented electronic approach, music in vein to her earlier smash hit "I Turn to You". In May 2011, Chisholm announced via her official website, that the first single of her new album entitled "Rock Me" would be released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria 24 June 2011. The single has been chosen as the 'official' song for German TV channel ZDF’s coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. According to information in singers official site, music video for the new single was filmed in Manchester on 12 May 2011. On 8 June 2011, it was announced that "Rock Me" will be available worldwide on iTunes. Upon release "Rock Me" went top 40 on the German singles chart. The second single "Think About It" was announced on the singers website. The video for "Think About It" premiered on MelanieC.net on 15 July 2011.

Acting career

In the early to mid 1990s Chisholm made several appearances in television commercials and music videos while trying to pursue her music career. It was not until The Spice Girls became popular that she made regular television appearances and played herself in many commercials. In 1997, Chisholm's feature film debut came in ''Spiceworld The Movie'' playing herself alongside her bandmates. In 2000, Chisholm played herself in an episode of ''The Norm Show'' while promoting her girl band's third studio album ''Forever''.

She revealed in an interview with Nylon Magazine in December 2009, that she is interested in pursuing a serious acting career in film. In 2009, after having her first child, Chisholm signed to perform the role of Mrs Johnstone in the musical ''Blood Brothers'' by Willy Russell in London's West End'. She performed role for 6 months, commencing November 2009. She was nominated for the Best Actress in a Musical category at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards. Melanie reprises the role for a limited 2 week engagement at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in November 2010.

Personal life

Her younger half-brother Paul O'Neill is a racing driver and drives for Techspeed in the British Touring Car Championship.

Chisholm is friends with ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, who also played guitar on her first solo album ''Northern Star''. Her favourite singers include Madonna and Stevie Wonder; her favourite film is ''Jurassic Park''. Chisholm is a passionate supporter of Liverpool F.C., she named her label Red Girl Records after LFC, and, her favourite players at the club ironically got christened Spice Boys as a result of links with her and Simon Fuller.

She has been in a relationship with property developer Thomas Starr since 2002, after meeting him during a holiday In Barbados that same year. They currently share a £1 million country home at Catbrook, outside Chepstow, Monmouthshire.

In August 2008, it was announced that Chisholm and Starr were expecting their first child together. On 22 February 2009, Chisholm gave birth to a baby girl at the Portland Hospital in London. The baby weighed 3.7 kg (8 lbs 3oz) and was named Scarlet Starr. Chisholm is the last of the Spice Girls to become a mother.

Chisholm has been open about her battles with clinical depression which she has experienced sporadically throughout her life.

The singer is noted for her tattoos. Most of them are along eastern lines – among them a lotus flower, a phoenix and a dragon, and Tibetan symbols for love and happiness. She has 11 tattoos on her body with the last done in 2007 at Hanky Panky's in Amsterdam.

Discography

1999: ''Northern Star''

2003: ''Reason''

2005: ''Beautiful Intentions''

2007: ''This Time''

2011: ''The Sea''

Filmography

Films

1997: ''Spiceworld The Movie'' ... Herself (Lead Role)

Television

2003: ''Bo Selecta'' ... Herself (Cameo)

2007: ''Keith Lemon's World Tour'' ... Herself (3 Episodes)

2011: ''Tonight's the Night ... Herself

Stage Work

2009–2010: ''Blood Brothers'' ... Mrs Johnstone (London West End and Liverpool)

Tours

1999 – From Liverpool to Leicester Square

2000 – Northern Star UK Tour

2001 – Northern Star World Tour

2003 – Reason UK & Ireland Tour

2004 – The Barfly Mini-Tour

2005 – Beautiful Intentions European Tour

2005 – Beautiful Intentions German Tour

2008 – This Time Canadian Tour

References

External links

Category:1974 births Category:Bonnier Amigo Music Group artists Category:English female singers Category:English pop singers Category:English rock singers Category:English singer-songwriters Category:English businesspeople Category:English vegetarians Category:Female rock singers Category:Living people Category:People from Whiston, Merseyside Category:Spice Girls members Category:Alumni of Bird College

ar:ميلاني سي bg:Мелани Чизхолм ca:Melanie Chisholm cs:Melanie Chisholm da:Melanie C de:Melanie Chisholm et:Melanie Chisholm es:Melanie Chisholm fa:ملانی چیسهولم fo:Melanie Chisholm fr:Melanie Chisholm ko:멜라니 치솜 id:Melanie Chisholm it:Melanie Chisholm lt:Melanie C hu:Melanie Chisholm nl:Melanie Chisholm ja:メラニー・チズム no:Melanie Chisholm pl:Melanie Chisholm pt:Melanie Chisholm ksh:Melanie C ro:Melanie Chisholm ru:Чисхолм, Мелани simple:Melanie Chisholm sr:Мелани Чизом fi:Melanie Chisholm sv:Melanie Chisholm tl:Melanie C tr:Melanie Chisholm

Name	Ida Corr
Birth date	March 14, 1977
Birth place	Århus, Denmark
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter
Nationality	Danish, Gambian }}

Ida Corr (born March 14, 1977 in Århus, Denmark) is a Danish singer, songwriter and music producer.

Career

At the age of 11 Corr won the first Danish Children Songcontest (Børne Melodi Grand Prix "MGP"). As a young adult she started singing background on tours and in the studio for Danish artists such as Gnags, Sanne Salomonsen, Thomas Helmig and Rasmus Nøhr.

In 2002 Ida became known to the Danish public as a member of the short-lived girlgroup ''Sha Li Mar'', consisting of Christina Undhjem, Engelina and Ida herself. The group regularly performed on the prime time television show ''Venner for livet'' (literally "Friends forever"). They released a self-titled album in the same year. In 2004 Corr collaborated with house producer Morten Trust on ''I Put My Faith in You'' a moderately popular dance hit.

Ida rose to fame in her native Denmark in 2005 with the release of her debut album ''Streetdiva'' and in 2006 with her follow-up album ''Robosoul''. After creating a special song with Dutch DJ Fedde le Grand as part of the Live Earth set of international music concerts, her popularity began to spread outside of her homeland. The song, entitled ''Mirror 07-07-07'', was played at exactly seven minutes past the seventh hour of the seventh day of the seventh month of 2007. In 2007 she received exposure in the Netherlands due to her second collaboration with Fedde le Grand, and her most recent self-written single, remixed by Fedde le Grand, ''Let Me Think About It'' spread to wider Europe quickly. It's the best-selling single outside Denmark from a Danish singer since the Danish bands Aqua and Infernal. In 2008 Ida released the compilation album ''One'' in Scandinavia. The single ''Let Me Think About It'' continued its success and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay. ''One'' was released in the United States on August 26, 2008 as the first release on the new founded label ''Ministry of Sound America''. A release in Russia and Germany followed quickly afterwards.

Ida Corr was also member of the band called ''SugaRush Beat Company'', that has performed on Later... with Jools Holland in 2008 with a debut album being released in September 2008. Other members of the London-based group were Australian-born producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Jarrad 'Jaz' Rogers and US soul singer/songwriter Rahsaan Patterson.

In January 2009 Ida received an award for Best-Selling-Artist from Denmark selling music in Europe at the European Border Breakers Awards in Groningen In April 2009 Corr released a musicvideo to ''Ride My Tempo'' simultaneously to a single release in Germany. A month later a new single for Scandinavia called ''Time'' premiered to Danish radios, taken from her fourth album, Under The Sun. The leading single from the album became ''I Want You''. A musicvideo however was only shot for the ''Jason Gault Mix''. In December the title song ''Under The Sun'', which features guest vocals by Jamaican singer Shaggy was released as a single. On December 16, 2009 Ida participated at one of the Climate change concerts in Copenhagen. Alongside Simon Mathew she performed their duet ''Illusion'', which was written for the World Wide Fund for Nature Climate campaign.

In January 2011 Ida collaborated with Kato, Camille Jones and Johnson on the Danish-language dance single ''Sjus''. The song debuted at number 1 on the Danish Single charts.

Discography

;Studio albums

''Streetdiva'' (2005)

''Robosoul'' (2006)

''Under the Sun'' (2009)

;Compilation albums

''One'' (2008)

Awards and nominations

!	! Award Show	! Award	! Title	! Result
2006	Danish Music Awards	Best Danish Urban Release	“Street Diva”
2008		Listener's Favourite Hit	“Let Me Think About It”
	Danish Deejay Awards	Danish Artist of the Year
		Danish Deejay-Favourite	“Let Me Think About It”
		Dancechart.dk Award (Danish Club Hit of the year)	“Let Me Think About It”
		Best Danish Hit	“Let Me Think About It”
		Best Danish Female singer
	International Dance Music Awards	Best Breaks/Electro Track	“Let Me Think About It”
	IMPALA Diamond Award
2009	European Border Breakers Awards	Best Selling Danish Artist in Europe
	African Achievement Awards	Best African Artist

References

External links

Official website

Official fansite

Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Danish female singers Category:Danish dance musicians Category:Danish pop singers Category:Danish singer-songwriters Category:Danish people of Gambian descent Category:Danish-language singers Category:English-language singers Category:People from Aarhus

da:Ida Corr de:Ida Corr et:Ida Corr es:Ida Corr fr:Ida Corr it:Ida Corr lb:Ida Corr nl:Ida Corr pl:Ida Corr pt:Ida Corr ro:Ida Corr ru:Ида Корр fi:Ida Corr sv:Ida Corr uk:Іда Корр

name	Fedde le Grand
landscape	yes
background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
birth name	Fedde le Grand
born	September 07, 1977Utrecht, Netherlands
genre	House, Electro house, Tech House, Techno
occupation	DJ, producer
years active	2003-present
label	Flamingo Recordings, Ministry of Sound Australia, Toolroom Records
website	Official Web Site }}

Fedde le Grand is a Dutch house DJ and producer whose single "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" (UK/USA) / "Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit" (Europe, excluding UK) reached number one on the UK's singles and the top 5 in the Dutch singles chart, and spent five weeks in the Spanish dance chart. On 28 October 2009, DJ Magazine announced the results of their annual Top 100 DJ Poll, with Ultra Records artist Fedde le Grand placed at #29., climbing to #21 in 2010

BIOGRAPHY

1998 - 2000

Inspired by Masters At Work and Mousse T, Fedde le Grand kicks off his DJ career in the Danssalon in Eindhoven. For two years he is the resident DJ on the Sunday night. He also plays Dutch clubs like Panama, the Escape and the Love Boat in Amsterdam, and Jackies, Thalia, Discotheque and Now & Wow in Rotterdam, De Rechter in Eindhoven and he can also be seen at Extrema. Fedde le Grand is also popular abroad and performs in Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Greece and Israel.

2001 - 2000

From 2001 Fedde le Grand works on his own productions. His first release, under the name F.L.G., is the Electronic EP on Flamingo Recordings, a co-production with Robin M and with contributions from Funkerman (Ardie van Beek). Le Grand's records are released on labels such as Little Mountain Recordings (Sander Kleinenberg's label), Influence, Work and the British labels CR2 Records and Toolroom. Le Grand makes remixes for artists like Anita Kelsey (Every Kiss, 2004), Erick E (Boogie Down, 2005 and The Beat Is Rockin', 2006), Funkerman (The One, 2005), Olav Basoski (Proper Tunes, 2006) and Camille Jones (The Creeps, 2006). The DJ is a regular guest in Dutch radio show Ministry Of Beats on 3FM radio. Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit (2006), an electro track with vocals by Mc Gee, is officially awarded 'the summer anthem of Ibiza 2006'. The single climbs to the top slot of the [[UK charts and is also a big dance hit in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Australia. Hiphop crew D12 from Detroit (known for their work with Eminem) puts out a vocal version of the hit record. Le Grand provides a remix for Robbie Williams' single Bongo Bong/Je Ne T'Aime Plus.

2007

In March the DJ commences an Australian tour and as of May he tours the US. Fedde le Grand wins three prizes at the International Dance Music Awards staged at the Winter Music Conference in Miami (March). Not only he is Best Breakthrough Solo Artist, but also his hit Put Your Hands Up For Detroit is awarded in the categories Best Breaks/Electro Track and Best Underground Dance Track. On March 31 he receives a Danish Dance Award. On July Fedde le Grand he appears at Amsterdam's Westerpark edition of the worldwide Live Earth festival, supervised by climate guru Al Gore, who raises awareness for the global warming problem. Especially for this event Fedde le Grand writes the Mirror070707 Anthem. The festival is broadcast live on public Nederland 3 (TV) en 3FM (radio). At the same day Le Grand is prominently on the bill of dance event Sensation White at the Amsterdam Arena. During the tenth edition of the DJ Awards on Ibiza, Fedde Le Grand wins in the category Breakthrough. Le Grand's remix of Let Me Think About It, sung by Danish singer Ida Corr, reaches the Top 3 of the British charts. This makes it the third British hit single for the producer within a year. In the annual Top 100 of the influencial British DJ Mag Le Grand the 22nd place which makes him the Highest New Entry. Under the name The Flamingo Project the single Take No Shhhhhhhh is released.

2008

Fedde le Grand's club hit Put Your Hands Up For Detroit is mixed with Madonna's Music during the opening of Madonna's live shows. The American singer asks Le Grand to do a remix of her single Give It 2 Me, which is to be releasaed in July. After Junkie XL Fedde Le Grand is now the second Dutchman to do a remix for Madonna.

2009

The title track of Le Grand's debut album Output (September) is used in the promo videos of the OUTPUT World Tour and the Flamingo Nights. It's also being played by the DJ during the Ultra Festival in March in Miami. The first sinle of the album is released in May: Scared Of Me, with vocals by Mitch Crown and a remix by Dutch producer Hardwell (Robbert van de Corput). Mitch Crown can also be heard on the Let Me Be Real (August). One of the remixes of the fusion between pop and dance is done by Kraak & Smaak.

2010

The single Back & Forth has vocals by MC Mr. V. from New York (real name: Victor Font), whom Fedde Le Grand has met at the Miami Winter Music Conference in 2008. Le Grand again travels around the world for performances. He plays in Las Vegas and Chicago (January), Lausanne, Lyon, Munich, Bangkok and Jakarta (February), São Paulo and Miami (March), Casablanca, Berlin, Budapest, Birmingham and Düsseldorf (April), Hong Kong, Singapore, Québec, Toronto, Seattle and San Francisco (May), Ibiza, London, Los Angeles and Broek op Langendijk (June). The DJ has just finished his set at the Love Parade in Duisburg, Germany, on 24 July, when 20 people are crushed to death at the entrance to the festival grounds. He offers his condolences to the victims on Twitter. The world tour continues in July and Augustus with performances in England, France, Turkey, Lebanon, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Macedonia and Romania.

DISCOGRAPHY

ALBUMS

2007: ''Sessions''

2009: ''Output''

2010: ''Output (Limited Edition)''

SINGLES

2000: ''I miss you'''

2000: ''Party Time'''

2004: ''Las Vegas''

2005: ''Get This Feeling''

2006: ''The Creeps'' (Camille Jones vs. Fedde le Grand)

2006: ''Just trippin''' (feat. MC Gee)

2006: ''Put Your Hands Up For Detroit''

2007: ''Take No Shhh...''

2007: ''Aah Yeah!''

2007: ''Wheels In Motion''

2007: ''Let me think about it (Ida Corr vs. Fedde le Grand)''

2007: ''Mirror 07-07-07'' (Ida Corr vs. Fedde Le Grand)

2007: ''F to the F (feat. Funkerman)''

2007: ''3 minutes to explain (feat. Funkerman)''

2008: ''Get This Feeling'' (Re-Issue)

2009: ''F1''

2009: ''Amplifier/Pinkbird''

2009: ''The Joker'' (feat. F-Man)

2009: ''Scared Of Me'' (feat. Mitch Crown) (DE: #80)

2009: ''Output''

2009: ''Let Me Be Real'' (feat. Mitch Crown)

2010: ''Back & Forth'' (feat. Mr.V)

2010: ''New Life'' (feat. Funkerman & Dany P-Jazz)

2010: ''Rockin' High''

2011: ''Autosave'' (feat. Patric La Funk)

2011: ''Running'' (Fedde Le Grand vs. Sultan & Ned Shepard feat. Mitch Crown)

2011: ''Metrum''

2011: ''So Much Love''

REMIXES

2004: ''Anita Kelsey - Every Kiss /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2005: ''Funkerman & RAF - Rule The Night /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2005: ''Erick E - Boogie Down /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2005: ''Funkerman - The One /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2006: ''Freeform Five - No More Conversations /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2006: ''Olav Basoski Feat. Mc Spyder - Like Dis /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2006: ''Erick E - The Beat Is Rockin /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2006: ''Erick E - Boogie Down /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2007: ''Samim-Heater /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2007: ''Freeform Five - No More Conversations/Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2007: ''Ida Corr - Let Me Think About It/Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2008: ''Martin Solveig - C'est la Vie (Fedde vs. Martin Club Mix)''

2008: ''Madonna - Give It 2 Me /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2008: ''Stereo MCs - Black Gold /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2009: ''Sono - Keep Control Plus /Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2009: ''Kraak & Smaak - Squeeze Me /Fedde Le Grand Remix''

2009: ''Fatboy Slim - Praise You / Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2010: ''Everything but the Girl - Missing / Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2011: ''Soundtracks&Comebacks; - Goldfish / Fedde Le Grand Remix ''

2011: ''Rye Rye ft. Robyn - Never will be mine / Fedde Le Grand Vocal Remix ''

EXTERNE LINKS

Artist Site at Ultra Records

References

Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Dutch DJs Category:Dutch house musicians Category:People from Utrecht (city) Category:Ultra Records artists

da:Fedde le Grand de:Fedde le Grand es:Fedde le Grand fr:Fedde le Grand hr:Fedde le Grand it:Fedde Le Grand nl:Fedde le Grand no:Fedde Le Grand pl:Fedde Le Grand pt:Fedde le Grand ro:Fedde le Grand ru:Федди Ле Гранд tr:Fedde le Grand