Sophia High School is a private school in Bangalore, India. The middle and high schools are girls-only while the primary school is co-educational.

History[link]

Sophia High School is located on 10 acres (40,000 m²) in central Bangalore overlooking the Vidhan Soudha and the Bangalore golf course.

In August 1948 when the Internuncio and the Apostolic Delegation shifted to New Delhi, his residence and grounds was taken over by a group of Catholic nuns called the Sisters of Notre Dame. In January 1949, three pioneers of the order, Mother Catherine Andersson, Mother Ivy Bourke and Sister Dorothy Bullen decided to open a school at the only residential building on the grounds, the old "white bungalow". A small Montessori class with 17 students and one qualified teacher was established. About 40% of the students admitted were not Indian nationals.

Since 1949 Sophia's has grown significantly. The old "white bunglow" was remodelled in 1998. The school's current enrollment is over 2,000 students. The school is not a religious organization and its students, who are chosen through a competitive interview process, hail from many different ethnicities.

Academics[link]

Sophia's prepares students for the 10th grade national ICSE examinations. The school also prepares students for the 12th grade national ISC examination conducted by the Council for ISC Examination, New Delhi. The medium of instruction is English. It is also one of the hardest schools to gain admission to, with lines snaking outside the gates of the school during sales of admission forms.

As with any first-class high school, Sophia's has a superlative college placement record. The majority of graduates regularly attend some of the best colleges and universities in India and around the world, such as the IITs, NID, BITS Pilani, Delhi School of Economics, St. Stephen's College, the St Xavier's Colleges in Bombay and Calcutta, Lady Shri Ram College, the Ivy League universities in USA and many others.

Sophia has a history of excelling at cultural, literary and sports activities. Extracurricular activities and talents are encouraged enthusiastically as part of the regular school routine and Sophiaites are widely regarded as Bangalore's best in terms of theatre, music and dance. Sophia currently has Bangalore's best girls' basketball team. It also has what is widely considered to be the best Throwball team in Bangalore, and are the defending champions in five tournaments.

Sophia has held many concerts over the years, to raise funds for various causes. A production of The King And I was held in Chowdiah Memorial Hall in 2002. They did a rendition of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, in 2006, which was held to raise funds for the construction of the Auditorium block of the school. It was held at the Bishop Cottons Boys High School Auditorium. In 2010, the school did a musical version of the Disney movie, Mulan. It was the first concert to be held in the school's own auditorium and was held to raise money for the construction of a school in rural Karanataka.

The house system[link]

Apart from academics, students are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of co-curricular activities. Activities and competitions within the school are conducted in cohorts or "houses". These houses are named after the founder members of the school, with the Julie House being changed from the Duschene House after the Notre Dame Sisters took over from the Sacred Heart sisters.

• Andersson - golden house
• Barat - red house
• Bennett - lavender or purple house
• Julie - green house

School Motto and School Song[link]

The school follows the motto of 'Truth And Universal Love', which they expect all their students to strive to achieve. The School Song was written by one of the founder members of the school, Mother Anderson. It reflects the motto of the school.

Prominent Graduates[link]

National figures[link]

• Ravina Raj Kohli, CEO, Channel 9

Athletes[link]

• Nisha Millet, swimmer who was the “wonder girl in Indian swimming” at the age of 15
• Shikha Tandon, swimmer who has represented the country at several prestigious competitions all over the world
• Nisha Ann Reginald, National basketball player

Models and Actors[link]

Deepika Padukone, Bina Rajagopal (Chaithali - Kannada)

Dancers[link]

• Surupa Sen, Nrityagram

Activists[link]

• Vidya Pai, Animal Welfare, LGBT Rights
• Anjali Padmarajan, Lawyer (Min. Wage Earners)
• Dr. Shiela Rao, Founder, CUPA, Animal Welfare
• Sudha S Narayanan, CUPA, Animal Welfare
• Chitra Narayanan, CUPA, Animal Welfare
• Nandini Alva, Art
• Namita Kulkarni, Art

The Sophia Opportunity School[link]

Sophia's Opportunity School branch educates specially abled children. This branch also undertakes social action out reach programs, such as work with a street children’s home in Chamrajpet, interaction with the women inmates of Bangalore's Central Jail, a day in rural schools in the Bangalore metro and visits to aged and orphan homes in the area.

Buildings[link]

There are five main buildings; Cuvilly(middle school), Duschene(high school), Julie(pre-primary), Barat(primary) and the ISC block(+2). The Cuvilly building houses the enormous auditorium, a new venture which has proven to be hugely successful. It was formerly known as the Mater Building.

Principals[link]

(Current) Sister Mary Priscilla, Sister Mary Rosilin,(Primary) Sister Mary Prabha,(Opportunity)

(Recent Formers) Sister Mary Sandhya, Sister Mary Aneeta, (Primary)

Charity Work[link]

The school does a lot of charity work, in various ways. They help teach the residents of the Angel orphange, with students of the +2 section voluntaring to help teach them after the normal working school hours. The school also supports various organisations like HelpAge India, Global Cancer Concern India, the Smile foundation and many more. The school concert, a production of 'Mulan', was held to raise money to build a school in a rural area of Andhra Pradesh. The school does not take any donations in the respect of admissions, but take the voluntary donations of the parents of the students and utilize them to help various charity organisations.

See also[link]

• List of schools in Bangalore

References[link]

• School history

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High school is a term used in parts of the English-speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education, but not always the highest years of basic education, which can be called a "secondary school" or "secondary college" or other terms, depending on the nation or region (see below: Usage by country). The phrase "high school" is often incorporated into the name of the related institutions.

The term (as "high school") originated in Scotland, with the world's oldest being Edinburgh's Royal High School from 1505.^[1][2] The Royal High School was used as a model for the first public high school in the United States, the English High School founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 1821. The precise stage of schooling provided by a high school differs from country to country, and may vary within the same jurisdiction. In all of New Zealand and Malaysia along with parts of Australia, Bangladesh and Canada, high school is synonymous with secondary school, and encompasses the entire secondary stage of education.

Usage by country[link]

Australia[link]

In Australia, the term "high school" refers to secondary school, from Year 7 or Year 8 through to Year 12, varying from state to state. High school immediately follows primary (elementary) school; therefore, a Year 7 Australian high school student is sometimes as young as 11. In Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, the term "high school" generally refers to Years 7–10, whereas the term "College" is used for Years 11–12. In Victoria the term "secondary college" has largely replaced the term "high school" following the reforms of the Labor Government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some schools have retained the name "high school" (such as Melbourne High School) and many have now dropped the "secondary" and are simply known as "college".

The later years of high school are known as the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales for Year 12, Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) in Victoria for Years 11 and 12 and similar names in other states.

A student's first examination marks in New South Wales and a combination of examination marks and coursework in other states (except Queensland) are indexed into the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). This index is usually the sole factor considered when applying for university courses. The ATAR was only introduced in 2009 (in NSW), and previously each state calculated its own final high school rank, such as the Universities Admission Index (UAI) in NSW and Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER) in Victoria.

Victorian students also have an opportunity to complete a high school qualification under the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning which gives students practical experience in a trade or workplace. This qualification generally leads students into a trade or TAFE course.

Belgium and the Netherlands[link]

In Belgium and the Netherlands, the term "high school" is used for vocational university; instead the Dutch "Middelbaar" is used for secondary education schools, or "École secondaire" or "Humanités" in French, which translates to middle or secondary school. Students are required to attend from ages 13 to 18, scheduling between 32 and 36 hours of class a week. In Belgium there are 4 levels of "high school" : ASO, TSO, KSO and BSO.

• BSO (Beroepssecundair onderwijs) translated as 'profession high school', allows a student to pursue an occupation upon graduation.
• TSO (technisch secundair onderwijs) translated as 'technical high school' allows a student to pursue an occupation or additional education upon graduation.
• KSO (kunst secundair onderwijs) translated as 'art high school' leads to further arts education upon graduation.
• ASO (algemeen secondair onderwijs) translated as general 'high school' is designed specifically to prepare students for further education upon graduation.

This system only applies to Belgium.

In the Netherlands there are 4 levels of "high school": 'Praktijkonderwijs', VMBO, HAVO and VWO.

• 'Praktijonderwijs' roughly translates to 'practical education', and is generally only intended for students who are otherwise incapable of VMBO. Obligatory till the student reaches 18 years of age.
• VMBO (Voorbereidend Middelbaar BeroepsOnderwijs), roughly translates to 'preparatory profession high school", students age 12-16. It is obligatory for students who complete VMBO to continue in MBO.
• MBO (Middelbaar BeroepsOnderwijs), roughly translates to 'profession high school", students age 16-up. The first two years are still obligatory, and is therefore still considered secondary education by the Dutch government.
• HAVO (Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs), roughly translated as 'general secondary school', age 12-17. Prepares students for medium level tertiary education (HBO).
• VWO (Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs), meaning "pre- university" ("Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs" is the term used in the Netherlands for education at university level), is the secondary education form after which students go into the university. Ages 12-18.

Brazil[link]

In Brazil, the term for secondary school is Ensino Médio ("Medial education", Portuguese pronunciation: [ẽˈsĩnu] or [ĩˑˈsĩnu ˈmɛdʒ(j)u]), which comprises the last three years of school.

It is part of the Brazilian ensino básico ([ẽˈsĩnu ˈbaziku], "basic education"), which does include early childhood, elementary and secondary education (the latter 2 mandatory), all of those part of the Brazilian public education that should be provided free, as obligations of municipal (only for early childhood and elementary education) or state governments, to all its citizens (including adults) as defined in the rights of the Constitution of Brazil, and the duration is ideally 18 years if one enters the creche at its 0 year (pronounced [ˈkɾɛʃi], in Brazil this term is synonymous with nursery school or preschool).

Secondary school in Brazil is aimed to prepare students for the entrance exam to universities (private or public) called "Vestibular". Every year, students are evaluated by ENEM – Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (National High School Exam). The grade obtained in this exam is often used as a part of the Vestibular process. The Federal Government of Brazil offers full (100%) or partial (50%) scholarships at private Universities for students well graded in ENEM egressed from public high schools in the program called PROUNI – Programa Universidade para Todos (University for Everyone Program). The secondary school learning encompasses four fields of knowledge:

1. Humanities (History, Geography, Philosophy, Sociology and Arts);
2. Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology);
3. Mathematics;
4. Languages (Portuguese and Língua estrangeira — at least one foreign language, English and/or Spanish).

Recently Philosophy and Sociology, which were banned during the military dictatorship (1964–1985), became compulsory again.

Educação física ("physical education", or gymnastics) classes are generally disponible and may be part of the Vestibular (both write and in practice) if one is disputing certain university courses. Other foreign languages, such as French or Esperanto, can also be disponible depending on school. Informática (in this case referring to "computer science") and Música ("music education") are rather rarer.

Canada[link]

In Canada, "High School" (also known as "Secondary school" or "Collegiate Institute") generally refers to a school comprising grades nine through twelve, but this can vary between provinces and school districts. Each province and territory of Canada has its own education system, with some provinces having "Junior High", whilst others have post-grade ten secondary school, sometimes known as "Senior High". The majority of high schools in Canada schedule classes running from late August or early September to mid or late June with a summer break during July and August.

Canadian high schools offer many extracurricular activities, including athletics. The most popular sports in Canadian high schools are ice hockey, rugby, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, football, baseball, basketball, track and field athletics, and volleyball. Senior prom, also known as "grad" or "formal", is a very popular activity amongst graduating students. Many non-sporting extra-curricular activities are offered in Canadian high schools, including drama, yearbook club, and computer club.

An increasing number of international students are attending Canadian high schools. Among all boarding secondary schools in Canada, Columbia International College is the largest, with around 1,400 international students from 66 countries.

Czech Republic[link]

The Czech school system has three degrees matching common imagination of high school:

• Elemetary school (from 6 - 15 yo, mandatory)
• Gymnasium, sometimes translated as grammar school (generally from 11 - 19 yo)
• High school (generally from 16 - 19 yo) - high school in Czech (literally "vysoka skola") means university or college

The elementary school leaving qualification usually corresponds to the USA High school diploma.

Finland[link]

After completing nine-year comprehensive school at the age of 16, one has the chance to go to a vocational school (ammattikoulu/yrkesskola) or an upper secondary school (lukio/gymnasium), the latter sometimes translated as "high school" in English. In the vocational school one can study to be an electrician, hairdresser, plumber etc. In upper secondary school students take about 30 courses per year on a variety of different subjects (Maths, Biology, Chemistry, different languages, Psychology, Health Education etc.). Normally they graduate in three years, usually at the age of 19, after taking the national matriculation exam (ylioppilaskirjoitukset/studentskrivningar). Typically students continue to university (yliopisto/universitet) or ammattikorkeakoulu, but some decide not to go to any school after secondary school.

France[link]

See Secondary education in France#Lycée

Germany[link]

Germany has a tripartite school system consisting of Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium but with many variants. The most prominent of these is the Gesamtschule, which is a comprehensive school. Hauptschule, which ends at grade 9 (age 15/16 years), and Realschule, that ends at grade 10 (also age 16 years), are often followed by vocational education or the attendance of a technical college. Most primary schools already end with grade 4 (age 10 years) but some have grades 5 and 6 (age 11 and 12 years, respectively); the change between different school types, and thus tracks, remains possible throughout the school years. The German equivalent of the high school are the grades 10 to 12 (age 16 to 18 years) of Gymnasium, which are called "Oberstufe". To a lesser degree the vocational education in the dual education system could also be seen as an equivalent of high school. Traditionally, the high school grades were the grades 11 to 13 (age 17 to 19 years). But this has been shortened or is about to be shortened in all federal states to either 10 to 12 or 11 to 12.

India[link]

In India, high school is a grade of education which includes Standards (Grades) VII to X. Standards (Grades) XI to XII are called as Higher Secondary School or Senior Secondary School or Junior college. Some states refer to Standards(Grades) IX and X as High School, while XI and XII are termed as Intermediate. Other states refer to VI, VII, VIII, IX and X (grades 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) as Secondary school and XI and XII (grades 11 and 12) as Senior Secondary School or Higher Secondary School. Usually, students from ages 14 to 18 study in this section. These schools may be affiliated to national boards/ Councils like Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) or National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or various state boards.

Some states refer Primary School with grades 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Secondary School with grades 5 to 10. After senior secondary school, students go to university for higher studies.

Indonesia[link]

Sekolah Menengah Pertama or abbreviated as SMP, and the other part which is senior high school, known locally as Sekolah Menengah Atas and in other terms, Sekolah Menengah Umum which are abbreviated as SMA and SMU respectively. There is also one institution similar to SMA, but they focused on one specific career major which is known as Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan or SMK. Unfortunately, citizens of Indonesia are currently looking down on SMK graduates and are not preferable to be attended by students. Junior high school is a must for all citizens of Indonesia while Senior high school is not compulsory because Indonesia is currently applying nine years of study to all citizens. It is managed by the Department of Education in Indonesia and stated in the Indonesian constitution where every citizen has the right to study. Graduate students from SMP and SMA or SMU and SMK are achieving different educational certificates. All the students of Indonesian high schools must pass in the National Examination (or UN, Ujian Nasional) held by BSNP (Badan Standarisasi Nasional Pendidikan), an organization under the Department of Education of Indonesia.

Iran[link]

In Iran, "High school" is known in Persian as "Dabirestan". It takes 4 years, after the Middle school (Rahnamai). After the first year of high school, students choose their general branch (Mathematics and Physics, Experimental sciences, Social sciences, Arts, etc.).

There is also Technical high school (Fani va Herfehi) for boys and girls.

Ireland, Republic of[link]

In Ireland, "High School" is known as Secondary School. Students attend Secondary School after Primary School. There are two cycles, Junior and Senior as well as an optional (depending on the school) Transition Year.

Israel[link]

Bagrut certificate from an Israeli high school

Italy[link]

Education in Italy is compulsory from 6 to 18 years of age,[1] and is divided into five stages: kindergarten (scuola materna), elementary school (scuola elementare), middle school (scuola media), secondary school (scuola superiore) and university (università).[2] Italy has both public and private education systems. In Italy a state-run school system has existed since 1859, when the Legge Casati (Casati Act) mandated educational responsibilities for the forthcoming Italian state (Italian unification took place in 1861).

In 1999, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Bologna Process, the Italian university system switched from the old system (vecchio ordinamento, which led to the traditional 5-year Laurea degree), to the new system (nuovo ordinamento). The nuovo ordinamento split the former Laurea into two different tracks: the Laurea triennale (a three-year degree akin to the Bachelor's Degree), followed by the 2-year Laurea specialistica (Master's Degree), the latter renamed Laurea Magistrale in 2007. A credit system was established to quantify the amount of work needed by each course and exam (25 work hours = 1 credit), as well as enhance the possibility to change course of studies or to continue studies in a foreign country after the first 3 years. It is now established that there is just a five-year degree "Laurea Magistrale Ciclo Unico" for programmes such as Law.

Japan[link]

Japanese high school students wearing the seifuku

The Japanese word for a high school is kōtōgakkō (高等学校; literally high school), or kōkō (高校) in short. High school in Japan covers grades 10 through 12. Although it is not mandatory, some 99% of Japanese people attend high school. The third year of high school in Japan is allotted for students to prepare for college exams known as "juken" (受験). Others may wish to settle for a job instead. High schools in Japan are referred to by MEXT as "upper secondary schools." Most English-language newspapers and sources use the term "high school". Many school boards also use "high school"; for instance the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education uses "senior high school". Generally the high school students spent most of the time out of the home. Classes commonly end at 3 or 4. After that the students go for their club activities.

Lithuania[link]

In Lithuanian education system, aukštoji mokykla, which is a literal translation of "high school", actually refers to a college or a university, but not an institution that provides secondary education. Thus, universitetas (university) and kolegija (college) are both covered by the umbrella term aukštoji mokykla.

Secondary education is provided by institutions that are approved by the government for this type of education. There are three types of these institutions:

• pagrindinė mokykla (the general school) – covers ages 7 to 16 (grades 1 to 10)
• gimnazija, licėjus (gymnasium, lyceum) – covers ages 15 to 18 (grades 9 to 12)
• vidurinė mokykla (secondary school) – covers ages 7 to 18 (grades 1 to 12)

Pagrindinė mokykla provides only an incomplete secondary education as it is not sufficient if one wants to start studies at a university. People who want to continue their education to obtain the full secondary education diploma, which would allow them to join a university upon completing the pagrindinė mokykla, must either enter a gymnasium, lyceum, or a vidurinė mokykla.

A vidurinė mokykla is the most universal type of these institutions as it offers all levels of pre-college education, starting from elementary level up to the secondary level.

Malaysia[link]

One of the high schools in Malaysia, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Tembak

In Malaysia, the term "secondary school" is almost always used in the place of "high school". Secondary education is compulsory and it usually begins at the age of 13 in Form One (Tingkatan Satu) and goes on until Form Five (Tingkatan Lima). Students from forms 1 until 3 are referred as lower secondary students meanwhile students of forms 4 until 6 are called upper secondary students. After completing Form Five, the students have a choice of entering Form Six (Tingkatan Enam) before proceeding to further their studies elsewhere.

A number of standardised tests are taken by students throughout their schooling years. To continue onto secondary schools, primary school students must undergo the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (Primary School Evaluation Exam) in their sixth and final year of primary education. At the age of 15 in Form Three (Tingkatan Tiga), the pupils sit for the Penilaian Menengah Rendah exam (Lower Secondary Assessment). Depending on their results in that exam, students can choose to enroll in one of several specific streams available upon entering Form Four (Tingkatan Empat). At the end of secondary education, the pupils sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exam (Malaysian Certificate of Education). If they choose to continue to Form Six, they are required to sit for the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia examination (Malaysian Higher School Certificate). Once the pupils have completed Form Five (or Form Six for certain students), they have officially completed secondary school.

It is mandatory for students in secondary schools to wear the school uniforms as allotted by the government. Boys are required to wear white shirts and olive green short trousers; or olive green long trousers; or white trousers (generally for Form Six students alone). On the other hand, Girls are required to wear turquoise pinafores over white shirts (Form One to Form Five); or turquoise or cream-coloured skirts with white blouses (generally only for Form Six students); or white baju kurung (a long tunic that covers the arms) over long turquoise skirts (Form One to Form Six).

Mexico[link]

In Mexico, the term "high school" usually corresponds to preparatoria or bachillerato, comprising grades 10–12, when the student is 15 to 18 years old. It may prepare the student with basic training for a job, and is the required step before enrolment into a college or university.

Preparatoria traditionally consists of 3 years of education, divided into 6 semesters, with the first 4 semesters having a common curriculum, and the latter ones allowing some degree of specialization, either in physical sciences (electricity, chemistry, biology, etc.) or social sciences (commerce, philosophy, law, etc.).

The term preparatoria is most commonly used for institutions that offer a 3-year educational program that "prepares" the student with general knowledge to continue studying at a university. In contrast, the term bachillerato is most often used for institutions that provide vocational training, either in 2 or 3 years, so the graduate can get a job as a skilled worker, for example, an assistant accountant, a secretary or an electronics technician.

New Zealand[link]

The term "high school" is commonly used as a term for secondary school in New Zealand. Secondary education in New Zealand takes up to five years, covering the approximate ages 13 to 18, corresponding to the school years 9 to 13.

The current and most common qualification system implemented throughout New Zealand's secondary schools is the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). NCEA 'standards' or tests/assignments begin usually with NCEA Level 1 in Year 11 (previously 5th form)and continue through to NCEA Level 2 at Year 12 (previously 6th form) and NCEA Level 3 at Year 13 (previously 7th form). Some assignments/tests are completed as early as Year 9 or 10, depending on the school and individual students.

High school students in New Zealand are taught a range of subjects. In year 9, the compulsory subjects are Mathematics, English, Physical Education, Social Studies and Science, as well as optional classes, such as Woodworking, Dance, Drama, Art, Graphics, Music, and a choice of languages, being mostly Māori, Spanish, French, German or Japanese, depending on the geographic location of the school and availability of teachers able to teach the respective subjects.

It is common for students in New Zealand to wear uniforms. Uniform styles vary widely between schools and are generally more casual compared to the more 'formal' uniforms worn in Australia's equivalent schools.

Norway[link]

High school, (Norwegian: "Videregående Skole", English: "Continuational School"), in Norway is education and training that lead to general university admissions certification or vocational competence. Nearly all Norwegian students enter high school the year they become 16, and it is their 11th year of education. High school is normally provided with 3 years in school or with 2 years in school and 2 years in an enterprise. General studies primarily emphasize theoretical knowledge and lead to general university admissions certification. If you choose general studies courses, you can enter university after 3 years. Vocational education and training leads to an occupation and to vocational competence with or without a craft- or journeyman’s certificate. Choosing vocational education/training allows you to enter working life within 3–5 years. You also have an opportunity to take the supplementary programme for general university admissions certification.

High School in Norway is the most common education level as it provides the theoretical and practical education to work as a skilled worker e.g. a carpenter or chef. There are multiple basic programs to choose from and gives a complete understanding of the craft or profession obtained.

List of programs: 3 general studies

• Sports and physical education
• Music, dance and drama with programme areas
  • Music
  • Dance
  • Drama
• Specialization in general studies with programme areas
  • Arts, crafts and design studies
  • Natural science and mathematics studies
  • Languages, social science and economics studies

9 vocational

• Building and construction
• Design, arts and crafts
• Electricity and electronics
• Health and social care
• Media and communication (with the option of general studies Vg3)
• Agriculture, fishing and forestry (with the option of general studies Vg3)
• Restaurant and food processing
• Service and transport
• Technical and industrial production

A craftman or journeyman’s certificate is normally the only qualification needed to work in ones chosen profession. Further education is provided through technical school, which gives a more technical education at an advanced level, but is not college.

Pakistan[link]

In Pakistan, the term "high school" isn't often used to describe schools; nevertheless, the term encompasses grades 9 to 10. There are two high school systems prevalent there. First is the local matriculation system which is administered by both Federal^[3] and Provincial Boards of Education and includes grades 9 and 10 after which pupils may be admitted into college (Intermediate). The second major education board there is the Cambridge International Exams GCE Ordinary Level conducted by the British Council.

Palestine[link]

Education in the Palestine refers to the educational system in Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Enrollment rates amongst Palestinians are relatively high by regional and global standards. According to a youth survey in 2003, 60% between the ages 10–24 indicated that education was their first priority. Youth literacy rate (the ages 15–24) is 98.2%, while the national literacy rate is 91.2%^[4]

People's Republic of China[link]

Lists of newly admitted students – posted outside of Linxia High School

In China, the term 'high school', also 'senior middle school' (高中), often refers to the senior part of the Chinese secondary education, as opposed to the junior part, which is more commonly known as '(junior) middle school'. Normally, students who have finished six years of primary education will continue three more years of academic study in middle schools as regulated by the Compulsory education law at the age of twelve. This is not compulsory for senior secondary education, where junior graduates may choose to continue a three-year academic education in academic high schools, which will eventually lead to university, or to switch to a vocational course in vocational high schools.

Generally, high school years usually have two semesters, starting in September and February. In some rural areas, operation may subject to agricultural cycles. Number of lessons offered by school on a weekly basis is very subjective, largely depends on the school's resource. In addition to normal lessons, periods for private study and extracurricular activity are provided as well. The academic curriculum consists of Chinese, Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, History, Music, Fine Arts, PE, Technology, Computing etc. Some schools may also offer vocational subjects. Generally speaking, Chinese, Mathematics and English are considered to be the three main subjects as they will definitely be examined in Gaokao.

In China cities, the majority of high school graduates will go onto universities or vocational colleges. Given the fact that the intensity of the competition for limited university places is unimaginable, most high schools are evaluated by their academic performance in Gaokao by parents and students.

Rural secondary education has undergone several transformations since 1980, when county-level administrative units closed some schools and took over certain schools run by the people's communes. In 1982 the communes were eliminated. In 1985 educational reform legislation officially placed rural secondary schools under local administration. There was a high dropout rate among rural students in general and among secondary students in particular, largely because of parental attitudes. All students, especially males, were encouraged to attend secondary school if it would lead to entrance to a college or university (still regarded as prestigious) and escape from village life.

Philippines[link]

In the Philippines, high school is a part of a 10-year compulsory education which runs for 4 years after the 6 years education for grade school. The levels for high school are usually identified as:

• First Year
• Second Year
• Third Year
• Fourth Year

And informally identified by counterpart names in college:

• Freshman
• Sophomore
• Junior
• Senior

A notable exception is the University of the Philippines Integrated School (or UPIS) where high school is integrated with elementary school, hence the last 4 years are referred to as grades 6-10.

Children normally enter high school from age 12 or 13 and complete it when they reach age 15 or 16. Everyone who finishes high school normally receives a high school diploma by participating in a graduation ceremony and a transcript of records (DepEd Form 137-A). Aside from a few exceptions granted by law, a high school diploma is a requirement in entering college/university.

Classes in the Philippines start in June and end in March with a recognition ceremony (for First Year to Third Year), and a graduation ceremony (for graduating Fourth Year students).

By the year 2011, the government announced that the Philippines will soon be upgrading its education by adopting the K-12 system. The affected students are yet to be clarified.

Romania[link]

In Romania, high school is commonly referred to as liceu (lyceum in English). The students usually enter the lyceum at the age of 14 or 15, and graduate when they're 18 or 19. In order to graduate and get a baccalaureate diploma, they must pass the BAC exam, and they must have fulfilled the four years (9-12) of post-secondary education. The high school diploma is enough to get a job in various domains.

Singapore[link]

In Singapore, schooling for those in the age range of 13 to 16 takes place in a secondary school, in accordance with the British system in England and Wales. Certain schools are known as high schools such as the Dunman High School and Singapore American School. This suggests that the school follows a U.S. curriculum and syllabus in addition to British "O"-levels or incorporate core elements of U.S. education system, such as equal emphases in both the sciences and the arts, offering a variety of subject options.

Spain[link]

In Spain, after Elementary school, there is secondary school, which are grades 7 to 10. They are called 1º de la ESO, 2º de la ESO, 3º de la ESO and 4º de la ESO. ESO stands for Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, which would be translated as Obligatory Secondary Education. What they call High School in Spain would be the baccalaureate, which are grades 11 and 12. In these two grades there are common subjects to all the students, and the elective subjects which vary depending on the career you want to study in the university. The education is more specialized in different areas: there are the pure sciences, in which you take physics, chemistry and biology (for science careers). You can also choose mixed sciences, in which the elective subjects are physics, chemistry, and technical drawing (for engineering careers and architecture and design), there is also humanities, which involve subjects such as economics and history. The fourth modality is pure letters, specialized in languages (philology careers), and the elective subjects are Greek and Latin. Last, you can choose arts, which you have three different types, depending on the art: dancing, drawing, and drama.

South Africa[link]

In South Africa, high school begins at grade 8. Students study for five years, at the end of which they write what is known as "matric" (see Matriculation in South Africa).

As of 2008, students sit the National Senior Certificate examinations, which replaced the Senior Certificate and Further Education and Training Certificate. To progress on to university, students must attain a pass in their Home Language, an Additional Language, Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and Life Orientation, as well as at least three electives; see further under National Senior Certificate. (The system previously allowed for an examination at the Higher or Standard grade for each subject. Since 2008, this has been discontinued. Relatedly, some components of the previous mathematics syllabus are now examined as electives.)

An alternative Matric examination is offered by the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), a body representing various of the private schools in South Africa. The IEB exams are considered by many teachers, parents, students and universities, both within South Africa and abroad, as more challenging than the state equivalent.^{[citation needed]}

South Korea[link]

In South Korea, students from grades 10 through 12 attend high schools. Some subjects such as Korean, English, math, etc. are obligatory in high schools, while students may choose the class they wish to ake for some other subjects in liberal arts. High schools in South Korea may also have subject specialty tracks. For example, students who have a talent for science, foreign language, physical activity, art, etc. may choose to go to an academic science, foreign language, or other specialty high school (Hangul:특수목적고등학교, Revised:Teuksu-Mokjeok Godeung Hakgyo). These high schools are often hard to get into, especially science and foreign language, which creates competition to go to a good high school.

Academic high schools in South Korea are known to have demanding academic courses and strict discipline. It is usual in South Korea that academic high schools open before 8:00 am starting with one-hour self-study and end around 11:00 pm due to about 5 additional (mandatory) hours of self-study time (자습). While U.S. President Barack Obama stated that U.S. schools should follow the rigorous academic courses of South Korean high schools, some Korean people hold the high school education in Korea to be too competitive.

Most Korean students may choose to go to common high school (Hangul:인문계 고등학교; Revised:Inmungye godeung hakgyo) ; and other students may choose a vocational track high school which emphasizes agriculture, commerce, or technical trade curricula (hangul:전문계 고등학교; Revised:'Jeonmungye godeung hakgyo)

Unlike most developed countries, high schools in South Korea are neither free nor compulsory. However, 97 percent of Korean students do complete high school, according to a 2005 OECD study.^{[citation needed]}

High schools are called 고등학교 (Revised: Godeung Hakgyo, McCune–Reischauer: Kodŭng Hakkyo).

Taiwan[link]

The secondary education in Taiwan includes junior high school, senior high school, vocational high school, military school and complete high school. The traditional secondary education institutions were established during the Japanese colonial era (1895–1945). Today, they include many features from the United States.

After six years in elementary school, the rules typically state that children must enter junior high school, or their parents may be fined. There are three grades in junior high. Children who achieve the third grade can choose to enter senior high school, vocational high school or complete high school. If children want to continue their formal education, they must sit for an exam. Generally speaking, the grade to enter high school and complete high school is highest, while it is lower to go on to vocational high school and military school.

Senior high school has three grades. Graduates from senior high school often continue on to university. Vocational high school has three grades as well. Children who complete vocational high school can then enter a technological university. Complete high school is like that of American high schools, in that it has grades seven to grade twelve.

There are also international schools such as Taipei American School (TAS), Taipei Adventist Preparatory Academy (TAPA), Taipei Adventist American School (TAAS), National Experimental High School (NEHS), Taipei European School (TES), Hshinchu International School (HIS), and Morrison Academy (MCA). These schools offer grades from Kindergarten to grade 12. English is instructed for all courses. Since the curriculum concurs with the corresponding country's curriculum, graduates from these international schools generally do not stay in Taiwan for their undergraduate degree.

United Kingdom[link]

England & Wales[link]

Medina High School, one of the five state-maintained high schools on the Isle of Wight.

Despite the term "high school" being created in Scotland, the education system of the United Kingdom varies by constituent country, so in neighbouring England and Wales the term's usage varies. In some cases, the phrase is used specifically for girls' schools (e.g. Bedford High School). In certain areas, such as Liverpool (e.g. Alsop High School), Manchester (see list of secondary schools in Manchester), Lancashire, Cardiff, and Herefordshire, secondary schools are generally called high schools.

Most of the country adopts a two-tier schooling system, consisting of a "Primary" (Reception & Years 1 – 6 – or ages 4 – 11) and a "Secondary" (Years 7 – 11, often also including a "Sixth Form", aka Years 12 & 13, or lower/upper sixth. Ages 11 – 16 and ages 16 – 18 in the Sixth Form College) school. An 11-year-old is in Year 7, but then turns 12 during the school terms or holidays. Same for the other years. 15-to-16-year-olds take their GCSEs, in which they receive levels (or grades) that they take with them to a Sixth Form. These have limited spaces and most Sixth Forms only take the best students.

Some of the country chooses a three-tier system, with the addition of a "middle" or "junior" (Years 5 – 8) school, while the primary and secondary schools still exist in the areas and just change their age span to Reception – Year 4 and Year 9 – 11 (Plus Sixth Form, usually) respectively. In these areas, secondary schools are often unofficially referred to as "high schools" to avoid confusion, after all, it is not the 'second' school. The term "tertiary" is never used to describe secondary or high schools in such areas.

• The Isle of Wight retains a three-tier schooling system. Its five state-run 'high schools' are so named to differentiate them from secondary schools, which have a different age range.
• In Northumberland and some areas in Suffolk, Somerset, Staffordshire and Worcestershire there also exists a three-tier education system comprising First, Middle, and High school. High schools within Northumberland and Suffolk cater for pupils from Year Nine to Sixth Form (ages 13 to 18). There is currently a fairly high-profile campaign within Northumberland to save the three-tier system as it has been proposed to abolish it and adopt the standard primary and secondary school system as in the rest of England.

Scotland[link]

Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy – an example of a High School in Scotland

There are a variety of names used for secondary schools in Scotland, of which High School remains the most popular. Secondary schools in Scotland typically have 6 years, 1st to 6th, with pupils able to leave school from 4th year if they are 16 before a set date. Pupils generally go into 1st year aged 11 or 12, and leave after 6th year aged 17 or 18. In certain independent schools, there is a transitus year for pupils around 10 or 11 between primary and secondary education.

The term is used in both the state and independent school sectors - such as Stirling High School in the former and the High School of Glasgow in the latter. The oldest of such institutions is the Royal High School of Edinburgh. Among state schools, other popular titles for secondary institutions include Academy, Grammar School, College or simply School. Some schools have changed their designations over time - for example, Prestwick Academy in Ayrshire was formerly called "Prestwick High School", and the John Neilson Institution in Paisley, Renfrewshire became the John Neilson High School.

Northern Ireland[link]

In Northern Ireland a child serves seven years in Primary School labelled as P1-P7. Secondary school or high school is compulsory for a further 5 years. This is called First Form to Fifth form or Year 8 to Year 12. GCSEs are taken in Fifth Form (Year 12). Lower and Upper Sixth (Year 13 and Year 14) are then years that A Levels are taken in but they are optional. In lower sixth you can also change schools and attend a Technical College with vocational subjects on offer.

The school term runs from 1 July to 30 June (the same as Scotland) This is different with English and Welsh schools which run from 1 September to 31 August meaning that a child born in the summer months would be the oldest in the year group if born in Northern Ireland or Scotland but would be put into the older class and become the youngest in the year group if born in England or Wales. This means that if a child wanted to go to university after their final year they must be 18 years old before 30 June of that year. In England and Wales the child must be 18 before 31 August.

United States[link]

Individual states, counties, and school districts have considerable leeway in how they choose to divide their school levels. Students will generally graduate from high school in the year of their 18th birthday if they were born between January 1 and August 31, but this varies by state depending on the kindergarten cut-off date, which ranges from August 1 in Missouri to January 1 in Connecticut.^[5] A few American schools still incorporate grades 7 through 12, but it is usually either grades 9–12 or grades 10–12. Some states split grades 9–10 and 11–12 into a junior high school and senior high school. For purposes of the Grade Point Average (GPA) and subject requirements used for college admission, grade 9 is usually considered the first year of high school regardless of whether the student is in the last year of a 7–9 junior high program, or the first year of a 9–12 high school program.

As a practical matter, while laws in most states mandate school attendance at least until graduation or age 16, many require attendance until age 17 or 18 (unless the student earns a diploma earlier, usually around age 16). Conversely, students who have failed a grade may remain in high school past the age of 18. In general, students over 19 attend remedial classes to receive a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certificate. State laws vary on the cut-off age for students to receive free public education services. Many states have adult high schools for people generally 18 and over. Students can stay in high school past the age of 18 if it is deemed appropriate. They cannot stay past a certain age depending on the state. On average, 71% of American students graduate from high school.^[6][7][8][9] A high school diploma or GED certificate is usually required for entrance into a two or four-year college or university and to other post-secondary education programs.

High schools can usually be sub-classed as general high schools, vocational schools (VoTech schools), magnet schools, and college preparatory high schools (prep schools) and special high schools or alternative high schools. Most high schools are general high schools. These general population schools offer college preparatory classes for advanced students, general education classes for average students, and remedial courses for those who are struggling.

In some school districts exceptionally high-performing students are offered enrollment at a district college preparatory high school. Traditionally "prep schools" in North America were usually private institutions, though most medium or large public (state) school districts now offer university-preparatory schools for advanced students. Public prep schools draw the top students from their district and have strict entrance requirements. All academic classes offered in these schools are classified as honors, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced Placement.

In larger school districts, magnet schools are established to provide enhanced curriculum for one or more areas of study. Magnet schools may be created for a variety of topics such as mathematics, science, fine arts, and music. Admission (usually controlled) to magnet schools varies by school district in order to manage demand and resources. The school admission process may range from competitive admission standards to a lottery system.

Vocational high schools offer hands-on training to students that prepares them for careers in fields such as information technology, marketing, business, engineering and the medical professions. While some graduates of vocational or career and technical education high schools will go directly into a trade, others will pursue post-secondary education. The Association for Career and Technical Education is the largest national education association dedicated to career and technical education.

Special high schools cater for students who have special educational needs, e.g. because of learning difficulties or physical disabilities. Some special high schools are offered for students who have major disciplinary or mental health difficulties that make it problematic to educate them in traditional high school settings. Some special high schools are assigned as security risks, where the school houses students who are not yet old enough to legally leave school and are considered a danger to other students or teachers, but have not been convicted of a crime. Some special high schools are dedicated to students with drug or mental health difficulties and have medical and psychological staff on site. A few of these schools include a nursery and a child care staff so that teen parents can finish their education without having to find child care during the school day. Special high schools have their own campus, but sometimes are located in a section or wing of a general high school.

Another recent form of high school that has emerged is the online high school. Stanford University's own Education Program for Gifted Youth received a generous donation in 2006 and used it to create the first truly complete online high school, with an interactive and advanced program for advanced learners.

High school in the United States usually begins in late August or early September of each year and ends in late May or early June. During the excess two and a half months, the students are given summer vacation to rest from the school year. In some cases schools use a year round schedule.

• 9th Grade – Freshman Year Starting at 13 to 15 years of age
• 10th Grade – Sophomore Year Starting at 14 to 16 years of age
• 11th Grade – Junior Year Starting at 15 to 17 years of age
• 12th Grade – Senior Year Starting at 16 to 18 years of age (This would make a student graduate 16, 17, 18, 19, or, in some cases, 20 years of age.)

The first public high school in America was established by the City of Boston in 1821 as The English High School.

See also[link]

Schools portal

• High school bullying

References[link]

External links[link]

• Australian CensusAtSchool (Australia)
• Canadian Education Statistics Council (CESC) (United States)
• Office of National Statistics (ONS) (United Kingdom)
• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) (United States)
• High School Sports

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2012)

Aretha Franklin
Franklin performing at President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Aretha Louise Franklin
Born	(1942-03-25) March 25, 1942 (age 70) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Soul, jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, funk, rock
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, pianist
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	1956–present
Labels	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, Luther Vandross

Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and pianist. In a recording career that has spanned over half a century, Franklin's repertoire has included gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, pop, rock and funk. Franklin is known as one of the most important popularizers of the soul music genre and is referred to as the Queen of Soul, a title she was given early in her career. Franklin, the daughter of prominent Baptist minister and activist C. L. Franklin, began her singing career singing in her father's church at the age of ten and started recording four years later. After several years in the gospel circuit and with her father's blessing, she formed a secular pop music career at the age of eighteen, signing with Columbia Records, where she was branded by its CEO John Hammond as his most important act since Billie Holiday. Franklin's Columbia period wasn't as successful as hoped and in late 1966, Franklin switched over to Atlantic Records, where she began recording a string of popular hits including "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "Think", "Chain of Fools" and what later became her signature song, "Respect".

After a brief lull in 1969, Franklin continued to record a string of popular singles throughout the early 1970s, reaching her peak as an albums artist with 1970's Spirit in the Dark, 1971's Young, Gifted & Black and the 1972 gospel record, Amazing Grace, which later became one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time and was the biggest-selling album in gospel music for over 25 years. Franklin's success in Atlantic peaked after the release of the singles, "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", "I'm in Love" and "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and the 1976 soundtrack to the movie, Sparkle and Franklin left the label in 1980 to sign with Clive Davis' Arista Records label where she switched over from soul and funk music to a more conservative urban adult contemporary sound in the albums, Aretha and Love All the Hurt Away, before regaining commercial success with the 1982 album, Jump to It, produced by R&B hitmaker Luther Vandross. In 1984, Franklin added modern day pop rock and dance elements to her sound, which was integral to the success of her 1985 album, Who's Zoomin' Who?, which spawned the hits "Freeway of Love", "Who's Zoomin' Who" and the Eurythmics featured "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves". The 1986 release of Aretha featured her last number-one hit single with the George Michael duet "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me". Afterwards Franklin returned to a lull in her career until the release of 1998's A Rose Is Still a Rose, which incorporated modern day contemporary R&B and which the title track returned Franklin to the top 40 of the pop charts.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" list,^[1] as well as the ninth greatest artist of all time.^[2] She has won 18 Grammys and received two honorary Grammys. In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Franklin is planned to be inducted to the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame in August 2012.

Early life (1942-1960)[link]

Aretha Franklin's birthplace at 406 Lucy Ave. in Memphis, Tennessee.^[3]

Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Barbara (née Siggers) and Clarence LaVaughn Franklin. Franklin's father, Clarence, otherwise known as "C. L." Franklin, was a rising itinerant preacher, who moved to Memphis from Shelby, Mississippi. Within two years after Aretha's birth, however, Franklin's father again moved, this time up north to Buffalo, New York. The initial reasoning behind Franklin's move to Buffalo was because Franklin sought to find better opportunities and reach a bigger church audience as compared to the South. However, it was debated Franklin moved after word reached about him impregnating a teenage member of his Memphis church and he moved north to avoid the scandal and a possible court case.

Franklin wasn't six yet when her father moved to and eventually settled in Detroit where he built his own church, the New Bethel Baptist Church. Following the move, Franklin's parents separated after a contentious marriage, with Barbara Franklin settling in Buffalo, New York where she became a nurse. Aretha would later recall spending time with her mother at her house in Buffalo during summertime visits though it had been debated Franklin's mother had abandoned her, a charge Franklin has constantly denied. Franklin wasn't yet ten when her mother died suddenly in Buffalo. While she and her siblings attended her funeral, it was said their father either couldn't or refuse to attend. Shortly after her mother was buried, Aretha started singing solos at her father's church.^[4] Her father's local celebrity in Detroit helped to attract attention to Franklin's home. Franklin remembered seeing several celebrities and prominent public figures at her house. Among those that would later influenced her music and vocal style included gospel musicians Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward and The Caravans founder Albertina Walker, while other musicians such as Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson and fellow preacher Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. also became prominent visitors. Franklin began playing the piano at a young age and knew much of how to play by ear. Franklin recalled that when it came to musical taste, her father wasn't strict, allowing Franklin to listen to a variety of genres including blues, jazz and R&B.

By the mid-fifties, Franklin's father was recording for JVB Records, becoming one of the few preachers to record an album full of sermons, which also included musical performances by the minister along with his choir. In 1956, Franklin started bringing his daughter with him to perform on the gospel circuit. That year, Franklin's father recorded his 14-year-old daughter's gospel performances at a local church and helped Franklin reach a deal with JVB Records where she recorded the album, Songs of Faith, and also released her first single, "Never Grow Old", which would later be reissued by Checker Records numerous times. Franklin's performances on the gospel circuit continued until she reached 17, by then Franklin had a desire to record pop music, something always frowned upon in the ministry. However, her father C. L. approved of her decision, and did the same with his eldest daughter Erma, and helped both daughters reach deals with several record labels outside of Detroit. Prior to signing her first deal, Motown CEO Berry Gordy pursued both Erma and Aretha to sign with Motown. C. L. Franklin, however, passed on the offer thinking the label was too local to promote their talents. Eventually, Aretha settled for Columbia Records.

Music career[link]

Early recordings (1960-1966)[link]

Franklin's first Columbia single, "Today I Sung the Blues", was released in September 1960, becoming her first charted success, it eventually reached #10 on Billboard's R&B chart. Her debut album Aretha followed in January of the following year, recorded with the Ray Bryant Combo. Franklin's second single, "Operation Heartbreak", repeated the R&B chart success of Franklin's debut single, reaching #7, followed by another R&B top ten single, "Won't Be Long". Franklin's recordings were often compared to that of Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday, singers Franklin admired. Columbia CEO and founder John Hammond, upon hearing Franklin, felt she had what it took to be the next Billie Holiday and recorded Franklin strictly in jazz-influenced pop.

Later Hammond acknowledged that he felt the label didn't understand Franklin's background in gospel music and failed to bring that aspect out in her first secular recordings.^[5] Later in 1961, Franklin had her first top 40 single on the pop chart with a ballad rendition of "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody". While Franklin would later say she enjoyed her tenure on Columbia Records, most of the records were considered to be not artistically satisfying to Aretha's style and would later be forgotten about following Franklin's rise to stardom with her earthier R&B recordings with Atlantic. Franklin was placed on the list of jazz magazine Downbeat's top ten best jazz vocalists in 1961, 1962 and 1963. One of her most significant recordings during her early Columbia period was the ballad, "Skylark", recorded in 1962. The song previewed what was to come of Franklin as parts of her gospel singing was showcased in the song.

After a well received tribute album to Dinah Washington, Columbia Records switched paths from their early hopes of jazz stardom to more commercial pop music for Franklin as well as some blues music. The latter music showed up in Franklin's 1964 hit, "Runnin' Out of Fools". Afterwards, Franklin was given covers of Motown hits and other girl group sounding hit singles to record as well as original songs such as "One Step Ahead" and "Cry Like a Baby", which was a top 30 R&B recording and was one of the first hits written by the team of Ashford & Simpson. Following this, Franklin and Columbia opted not to renew their contract. Under the advice of her then-husband and manager, Ted White, Franklin decided to sign with top R&B label, Atlantic Records, signing with them in December 1966. Following her success with Atlantic, Columbia began reissuing Franklin's Columbia material and releasing Columbia recordings that Franklin hadn't released before she left the label in an attempt to capitalize on her success.

Success with Atlantic (1967-1976)[link]

After signing with Atlantic, Franklin was sent to the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record her first songs with the label alongside the respected Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. It was in Muscle Shoals that Franklin cut her first Atlantic recording, the blues ballad "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)".^[5] While busy recording another song at the studio, Franklin's husband and one of the musicians got into a drunken argument over Franklin, leading to the couple returning to their house in New York, where they hid for several weeks. Eventually, Franklin returned to record at New York's Atlantic Studios to finish her vocals on the song, "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". "I Never Loved a Man" would be released in February 1967 and become Franklin's first significant hit single, reaching #9 on the pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart. The b-side, "Do Right Woman", helped Aretha's first Atlantic single to become a double-sided hit on the R&B chart, where it peaked at #37.

In April, Atlantic issued her second single, the Otis Redding song, "Respect"^[5], which was re-arranged by the song's producers Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin and Aretha into a gospel-sounding shouter with Franklin later incorporating call and response vocals with her two sisters, Erma and Carolyn present. With Wexler's allowance, Franklin added in the ad-lib, "r-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me, r-e-s-p-e-c-t, take care, TCB", which led to her sisters afterwards shouting out, "sock it to me" repeatedly. Franklin would later insist the song's alleged sexual overtones were not what people insisted saying it was simply a female's response to her lover to show her respect. The song became a simultaneous #1 hit on the pop and R&B charts. Both songs helped its parent album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, to reach the top ten of the pop albums chart. Franklin's version of "Respect" later was hailed as a 1960s anthem. Franklin's hit streak continued throughout 1967 and 1968 with songs such as "Baby I Love You", "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" and "Chain of Fools".^[5] "Respect" later won Franklin her first two Grammys. She eventually won eight consecutive Grammys under the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category.^[6]

During a 1967 performance in a Chicago dance, deejay Pervis Spann crowned Franklin a tiara and announced her as "Lady Soul". Franklin's hit streak continued with songs such as "Think" (also referred sometimes as "Freedom" due to Franklin's repeats of the word), "Ain't No Way", "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone", "The House That Jack Built" and "I Say a Little Prayer". Due to Franklin's earthier hits, her rendition of the latter song generated mild controversy due to her recording what had been strictly a sweet pop song recorded by Franklin's friend Dionne Warwick, however, the song turned out to be a huge success, eventually becoming a bigger hit in the UK where it reached #4. Franklin's albums such as Lady Soul (taken from the title she was given to in 1967) and Aretha Now became successful albums with Lady Soul boasting three top ten singles. Though she wouldn't take part in the civil rights movement of that time period, Franklin's songs, including "Respect" and "Think", were often used as a means of protest. Franklin insists however that she recorded the songs for fun as she was allowed to freely experiment with vocal styles in the studio. Around this time, Franklin used other background singers, including New Jersey backing group The Sweet Inspirations, to help her on recordings.

Franklin's hit streak was more modest throughout 1969 while Aretha battled personal problems including her filing for divorce from Ted White after eight years of an acrimonious marriage. After a break from the studio, she returned in mid-1969 and recorded "Share Your Love with Me" and the self-penned composition "Call Me", which was released in late 1969 and early 1970 respectively and returned Franklin to #1 on the R&B chart. Franklin also reinvented her style of dress and, as was the trend at the time, she wore an Afro hairstyle and adapted traditional African garb, influenced by the black nationalist movement that had started in the late 1960s. Franklin's success continued with her hit renditions of rock songs such as "The Weight", "Let It Be" and "Eleanor Rigby". Franklin's next album, Spirit in the Dark, included the hits "Spirit in the Dark" and "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", which became a hit in the UK where Franklin promoted the single. The following year, Franklin became the first black artist to perform at Bill Graham's Fillmore West^[7] where she later released a live album from the performance. Following these triumphs, Franklin was beginning to be referred to as "The Queen of Soul", a title which she's kept since.

Following the release of the 1971 hits, "Spanish Harlem" and the self-penned number "Rock Steady", Franklin issued the acclaimed Young, Gifted and Black album in early 1972 and had a follow-up hit with the ballad, "Day Dreaming". The album was also noted for Franklin recording the first cover of an Elton John song with Elton's song, "Border Song". Later in 1972, Franklin released her first gospel album in sixteen years with the Amazing Grace album, which became her most successful album in Atlantic Records, later reportedly selling over two million copies making it at that time the best-selling gospel album of all time. That record has since passed but Franklin's album still remains a huge seller. Franklin's success continued the following year with the release of the ballad, "Angel", which was co-penned by her sister Carolyn. The song was co-produced by Franklin and Quincy Jones, who together produced the concept album, Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky), which had initially started off as a jazz album. Though some noted the album for its risky experimentation of different styles, it wasn't totally received well by the Atlantic staff and some fans didn't know what to make of its direction. Following its release, Franklin began producing her own Atlantic albums after a renegotiation of her contract with the label. One of the first albums she released following her new deal was Let Me In Your Life, in 1974. The album returned Franklin, who was now adapting a more glamorous figure, to the top 40 thanks to the hits, "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" and "I'm in Love" and a sensual cover of the Marvin Gaye single, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing".

By the release of 1974's With Everything I Feel in Me and 1975's You, however, Franklin's success had started to peak. Having relocated to Los Angeles, Franklin's recordings suffered from dismal promotion and changing musical tastes as soul music started to lose its popularity with pop fans in the emergence of different genres such as hard rock, heavy metal, funk and disco. The albums weren't hits and no song from any of those albums were huge hits, leading to a fallout between Franklin and Atlantic Records, which had started with the label's embrace of British hard rock group Led Zeppelin and softer R&B vocalist Roberta Flack, no longer making Franklin the top priority artist she had been since signing with the label. To make matters worse, in 1976, her eight-year streak of winning a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, was broken by Natalie Cole. However, that year, Franklin found renewed success with the Curtis Mayfield production, Sparkle, which spawned the #1 R&B hit, "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and going gold.

Fallout with Atlantic and first Arista recordings (1977-1984)[link]

However, the success wouldn't last long. Franklin's next three albums, the Lamont Dozier and Carole Bayer Sager-produced Sweet Passion, the Mayfield produced Almighty Fire and the Van McCoy-produced La Diva tanked on the charts and no single released from those albums charted on the Hot 100 during this tumultuous period. Franklin continued performing in the US and worldwide but was now building a reputation on living comfortably off royalties so that she only performed on occasion rather than as normal procedure. Aretha would later win the masters off her post-1974 Atlantic recordings. Following the release of La Diva in 1979, Atlantic decided not to renew her contract.

In 1980, Franklin gained something of a new audience after a cameo appearance in The Blues Brothers film where she appeared as the wife of Matt "Guitar" Murphy and engages in a brief war of words with Dan Aykroyd's and John Belushi's characters Elwood and Jake Blues, over Murphy leaving his restaurant to perform with them again in which Franklin afterwards performed "Think". Afterwards, Franklin signed a contract with Clive Davis' Arista Records label. Later in 1980, she issued the Aretha album, which featured a minor hit, "United Together", which became a #3 R&B hit. The music on Aretha and its 1981 follow-up, Love All the Hurt Away, furthered Franklin away from earthy soul and into a more glossier and conservative form of R&B music labeled as urban contemporary. The title track off her 1981 album produced another R&B hit with duet vocals provided by George Benson.

In 1982, Franklin returned to the top of the R&B charts with the Jump to It album boasted by the success of the title track, which became her first number-one R&B single in five years. The album also became her first to go gold after her first two Arista albums had failed to reach that position. The album was produced by then R&B hitmaker Luther Vandross, who was then called in to produce Franklin's follow-up, 1983's Get It Right. However, that record failed, selling less than 200,000 copies, despite the title track becoming another number-one R&B hit for Franklin.

Success with Arista (1985-1998)[link]

Following its release and the subsequent death of her minister father, C. L., in 1984, Franklin laid low for a few months before returning to the studio in her native Detroit to record her next Arista album which was later titled, Who's Zoomin' Who? The inspiration behind the making of the album was due to Aretha listening to the radio and liking what she heard and opted for "a younger sound".^[8] This album was produced by rising producer Narada Michael Walden. The album included dance, pop and modern rock elements and would return Franklin to the top ten of the pop charts. "Freeway of Love" became her biggest hit in years reaching #3 on the pop chart and #1 R&B while the follow-up, "Who's Zoomin' Who" reached #7 pop and #2 R&B and was co-penned by Franklin, partly because she inspired the song title. A third single, "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves", featuring the Eurythmics, peaked at #18 on the pop charts. The videos for "Freeway of Love" and "Sisters" made Franklin popular with music video audiences and her success was compared to another sixties R&B contemporary, Tina Turner's own groundbreaking success years after leaving Ike Turner.

Franklin followed up this success with the Aretha album in 1986. The album spawned another series of hits including "Jimmy Lee", a cover of the Rolling Stones hit "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and the #1 George Michael duet, "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me" later going gold. To help promote the album, Franklin filmed a Showtime concert TV special. Around this time, Franklin also contributed her voice to several TV networks including a theme song for ABC TV titled "Together" in 1986^[9] and the hit series, "A Different World", where her rendition of the theme song remained part of the show from its second season in 1988 through its fifth season in 1992. However, Franklin's success was not as long lasting. Due to an accident in a plane she suffered in 1983, Franklin missed schedule for performances overseas which caused a pain for Arista promoters overseas. Also a problem was Franklin's vocals, which was starting to hamper after years of cigarette smoking. Franklin started adapting to a raspier, low tone starting with performances in 1982 and 1983. In spite of this, she remained a popular concert draw. In 1987, Franklin recorded her first gospel album in fifteen years, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, in hopes of having similar success with that record as she had had with Amazing Grace. However, the album failed to find an audience. Franklin returned to the pop charts in 1989 with the release of the Elton John duet, "Through the Storm" and the subsequent release of the album of the same name. However, the album failed to become a success and a much publicized duet with fellow label mate and chart-topping singer Whitney Houston titled "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" failed to bring much notice peaking below the top 40.

Franklin's attempt at revamping her sound with new jack swing productions in the 1991 album, What You See Is What You Sweat was badly received and was another commercial failure. Following this, Franklin quit chain smoking and spent the next several years reviving parts of her vocal style. In 1994, she contributed to the Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit soundtrack recording the dance song, "A Deeper Love", which became Franklin's biggest single in years reaching #5 in the UK. Later that year, following the release of an Arista best-of, Franklin recorded the Babyface compositions, "Honey" and "Willing to Forgive", with the latter single becoming her first top 40 single in five years. Franklin later contributed vocals to the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack recording the song "It Hurts Like Hell" and following a couple years on the road, recorded the hit album, A Rose Is Still a Rose, which success was mainly due to the success of its title track, which became her last top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 nearly 40 years after recording her first one. Throughout 1998, Franklin had success with TV performances including the 1998 Grammys when she performed Luciano Pavarotti's rendition of the opera ballad, "Nessun Dorma", generating a standing ovation at the end of her performance, and a show-stopping performance at VH-1's Divas Live.

Later work (1999-present)[link]

Franklin performing on April 21, 2007 at the Nokia Theater in Dallas, Texas.

In 1999, Franklin issued her autobiography, Aretha: From These Roots. Franklin would not release her next album until 2003 when she issued the album, So Damn Happy. In between then, she contributed to albums and songs by several artists including K-Ci and JoJo on a song titled "Angel", and Mary J. Blige on the song, "Don't Waste Your Time", featured on Blige's 1999 album, Mary. The So Damn Happy album featured a minor R&B hit with "Wonderful", which later nabbed Franklin another Grammy. After the release of So Damn Happy, Franklin decided to not renew her contract with Arista after 23 years with the label. In 2004, she began work on her album, A Woman Falling Out of Love, due to be the first release off her dormant Aretha's Records, in 2005. In the meantime, Arista released a duets compilation, 2007's Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen, which featured another minor R&B hit with the Fantasia duet, "Put You Up on Game". That same year, Franklin issued her first Christmas album, This Christmas, Aretha, which was initially released as a Borders Group exclusive and was later issued on the DMI label.

In 2008, she won her 18th career Grammy in the gospel category on the song "Never Break My Faith" with Mary J. Blige. A year after, she received news for performing at the inauguration for then newly elected President Barack Obama performing the song "My Country 'Tis of Thee", with her attire, including her church hat, becoming a popular item online and the subject of several internet memes. The following year, Franklin received an honorary music degree from Yale.^[10] By 2010, Franklin announced that she had sold her rights to movie producers to produce a biopic on her in which would be loosely based off Franklin's 1999 memoirs, Aretha: From These Roots. Franklin had initially planned for Halle Berry to play her in the featured role but Berry turned down her offer in January 2011. Franklin has since picked singer Audra McDonald to play her.

In May 2011, commemorating on her 50th anniversary since the release of her first non-gospel recording, Franklin issued her 38th studio release, A Woman Falling Out of Love through WalMart. Franklin recorded two duets with longtime friend, Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers, recording "The Way We Were" on Aretha's album, while recording "You've Got a Friend" on Isley's record, Mr. I. Later in September, Franklin contributed duet vocals to the Tony Bennett rendition of "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" off his Duets II album.

Personal life[link]

Children[link]

Aretha, by her own admission grew up fast as a child and discovered boys at the age of thirteen, getting pregnant just three months after becoming a teenager. A relationship with one boy led to the birth of her first son, Clarence, named after her father, on March 28, 1956, just three days after she turned 14. In January 1957, before reaching 15, Franklin had another son, Edward, with another boy.^[11] 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.)

Franklin had a third son, Ted White, Jr. (sometimes referred to as Teddy Richards), with her manager and former family friend Ted White, Sr., born in 1964. Teddy is the musical director and guitarist of his mother's touring band.^[12] A relationship with road manager Ken Cunningham produced a fourth son, Kecalf, who was named after the first initials of their parents' names.^[13] Kecalf, her youngest-born child, was born three days after his mother's 28th birthday. In 2010, Aretha's son Edward was attacked by three people at a Detroit gas station near Plymouth Road and Evergreen.^[14][15] Kecalf Franklin, Aretha's youngest son, is currently a rapper and produces gospel recordings.^[16]

Marriages[link]

Aretha Franklin and William Wilkerson watching Roger Federer at the 2011 US Open.

Against her father's wishes, Aretha married her first husband, Ted White, in front of a justice of the peace in Ohio in 1961 when she was nineteen. White later replaced Aretha's father as her manager in 1967. According to close friends, White was physically abusive and it's suggested White's physical abuse and philandering were the cause of Franklin's heart-wrenching vocals on her best-known recordings during the Atlantic years. Her producer, Jerry Wexler once called Franklin "the lady of mysterious sorrows" since Aretha didn't tell anyone her personal story. Following a 1968 cover article in Time magazine in which her abusive marriage and a claim that her mother abandoned her at a young age led Franklin to not give any interviews to media groups and increasing her privacy.

After ending her affair with Ken Cunningham after a seven-year on-again, off-again relationship, Franklin married actor Glynn Turman on April 11, 1978 at her father's New Bethel Baptist Church with her father presiding over the ceremony. Aretha became a surrogate stepmother to Turman's three children from a previous marriage. Due to their schedules, however, it wasn't long before their marriage fell apart despite living together in Franklin's mansion in Encino. In late 1982, Franklin and Turman separated after only four years, eventually divorcing in early 1984. In early 2012, it was reported that Franklin was set to walk down the aisle a third time with her longtime companion Willie Wilkerson.^[17][18] Franklin and Wilkerson had plans to marry in 1987 but later nixed those plans. Within a month after Aretha had announced the wedding this year, she nixed the plans again.

Relatives, other romances and friends[link]

Franklin's sisters Erma Franklin and Carolyn Franklin were professional singers and sang as backup for Aretha during her initial success at Atlantic. Her brother, the Reverend Cecil Franklin, took over as her manager after her divorce from Ted White was finalized. Cecil remained her manager until his death from cancer on December 26, 1989. Younger sister Carolyn preceded Cecil in death in early 1988 from breast cancer while Erma Franklin later died from throat cancer in 2002. Franklin's eldest half-brother, Vaughn (born December 24, 1934) and elder half-sister Carl Kelley (née Jennings; born 1940) are still alive. Kelley is C.L. Franklin's daughter by Mildred Jennings, a then 12-year-old congregant of New Salem Baptist Church of Memphis, Tennessee, where C.L. was pastor in the late 1930s and early 1940s.^[19] Franklin was close to her minister father, C. L. Franklin. C. L. served as Franklin's first manager, a position he gave up to Ted White around 1967. Aretha was performing in Las Vegas on June 10, 1979 when her father was shot by attempted robbers at his LaSalle Street home in Detroit. Aretha and her family returned their father back to his home six months after the shooting left him in a coma. Aretha moved back to Detroit at the end of 1982 to assist with the care of her father, who died in a nursing home on July 27, 1984.

Aretha's relationship with road manager Ken Cunningham was on and off from 1969 until a final breakup in 1976. During one breakup in 1971, Franklin, living back in northwest Detroit, had a brief liaison with Temptations star Dennis Edwards. The relationship inspired Franklin's hit, "Day Dreaming". Franklin and Edwards' romance cooled quickly but they've remained friends. Aretha is also friendly with many of her Detroit peers that went on to be music superstars including Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. She was friendly with members of the Four Tops as well, later singing with them on several records in the 1980s. Franklin also had a close friendship with Sam Cooke after meeting as gospel performers. Following Cooke's death, Franklin recorded his songs "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "You Send Me".

Franklin grew close with Sweet Inspirations founder Cissy Houston, who sang background on Franklin's "Ain't No Way".^[20] Due to this friendship, she was later made honorary aunt of Cissy's daughter, Whitney Houston, who often referred to Franklin as "Auntie Ree".^[21] Franklin recalled meeting Whitney at either 8 or 9 years old when Whitney's mother brought her to a recording studio.^[22] Sometime in the 1980s, a PR mistake listed Franklin as Houston's godmother. On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston died in Beverly Hills from unknown causes.^[23] Aretha was devastated by her death and said it was "so stunning and unbelievable".^[23] She planned to perform at the memorial service on February 18, but her representative claimed that Aretha was "ill" and was "not performing at the memorial service", though she later performed at New York's Radio City Music Hall on the same night.^[24][25]

Weight issues, health problems, surgery and rumors of cancer[link]

Franklin acknowledged her issues with her weight in the past even telling an interviewer from Jet magazine that she was always trying to lose weight. Before undergoing surgery for an undisclosed ailment that halted her schedule in 2010, Franklin had begun losing weight. According to the singer in 2011, she said she had lost up to 85 lbs in weight following her surgery. In the past, Franklin had went through periods of yo-yo dieting, at one time, losing over 100 pounds showing off her weight loss on the cover of Ebony magazine in 1974. Franklin managed to keep the weight off until after 1982. After another slim period in the early '90s, and after quitting cigarettes cold turkey in 1991, Franklin's weight started to balloon up. 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 in October 2010, ending several engagements with Condoleeza Rice. 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."^[26]

Connection to the Civil Rights Movement[link]

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.^[27] 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”.^[28]

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”.^[29] 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”.^[13] Franklin’s own sound and presence 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 King, lending her voice and fame to pull in crowds. Franklin is a registered Democrat.^[30]

Awards and achievements[link]

Aretha Franklin wipes a tear after being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005, at the White House. Seated with her are fellow recipients Robert Conquest, left, and Alan Greenspan

• On June 28, 1968 she became the second African-American woman to appear on the cover of TIME magazine.^[31]
• 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.^[32]
• 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.^[33]
• 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.^[34]
• 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.^[35]
• 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.^[36]
• 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.^[37]
• 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.^[38]
• On June 1, 2010, Aretha Franklin's recording of "Chain Of Fools" was voted a Legendary Michigan Song.^[35]
• 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^[39]
• 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.
• On August 14, 2012, Franklin will be inducted to the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Grammy Awards[link]

Franklin has won 18^[40] performance Grammy Awards,^[41] and two honorary Grammys: the Grammy Legend Award (1991) and the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award (1994).^[42]

She holds the record^{[citation needed]} 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).

Discography[link]

LPs[link]

Top 10 US Hot 100 singles[link]

Source:^[43]

All no. 1 hits in US R&B 100 singles[link]

Source:^[43]

Filmography[link]

Movies / Concerts / Documentaries[link]

• 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[link]

• 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[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Aretha Franklin

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	Book: Aretha Franklin
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	Biography portal
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• Aretha Franklin at Legacy Recordings
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Aretha Franklin at the Internet Movie Database
• Aretha Franklin at NPR Music
• Aretha Franklin collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Works by or about Aretha Franklin in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Aretha Franklin at Answers.com
• Aretha Franklin discography at Discogs

v t e Aretha Franklin Studio albums Columbia Songs of Faith (1956) Aretha (1961) The Electrifying Aretha Franklin (1962) The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin (1962) Laughing on the Outside (1963) Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (1964) Runnin' Out of Fools (1964) Yeah!!! (1965) Soul Sister (1966) Atlantic I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967) Aretha Arrives (1967) Lady Soul (1968) Aretha Now (1968) Soul '69 (1969) Soft and Beautiful (1969) This Girl's in Love with You (1970) Spirit in the Dark (1970) Young, Gifted and Black (1972) Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky) (1973) Let Me in Your Life (1974) With Everything I Feel in Me (1974) You (1975) Sparkle (1976) Sweet Passion (1977) Almighty Fire (1978) La Diva (1979) Arista Aretha (1980) Love All the Hurt Away (1981) Jump to It (1982) Get It Right (1983) Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) Aretha (1986) Through the Storm (1989) What You See Is What You Sweat (1991) A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998) So Damn Happy (2003) Other This Christmas, Aretha (2008) A Woman Falling Out of Love (2011) Live albums Aretha in Paris (1968) Aretha Live at Fillmore West (1971) Amazing Grace (1972) One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism (1987) Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972 (2007) Compilation albums Take It Like You Give It (1967) Take a Look (1967) Aretha's Gold (1969) Aretha's Greatest Hits (1971) The Best of Aretha Franklin (1973) Aretha Sings the Blues (1980) Greatest Hits: 1980–1994 (1994) Greatest Hits (1998) Aretha's Best (2001) Rare & Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul (2007) Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets with the Queen (2007) A Deeper Love: The Best of Aretha Franklin (2009) The Great American Songbook (2011) Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin (1980-1998) (2012) Box sets Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings (1992) Take A Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia (2011) Singles "Precious Lord (Part 1)" (1959) "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" (1961) "I Surrender, Dear" (1962) "Try a Little Tenderness" (1962) "Say It Isn't So" (1963) "Skylark" (1963) "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" (1964) "One Step Ahead" (1965) "You Made Me Love You" (1965) "Mockingbird" (1967) "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" (1967) "Respect" (1967) "Baby I Love You" (1967) "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (1967) "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" "Chain of Fools" (1967) "Satisfaction" (1968) "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone" (1968) "Think" (1968) "You Send Me" (1968) "I Say a Little Prayer" (1968) "The Weight" (1969) "Tracks of My Tears" (1969) "Gentle on My Mind" (1969) "Share Your Love with Me" (1969) "Eleanor Rigby" (1969) "Call Me" (1970) "Son of a Preacher Man" (1970) "The Thrill Is Gone" (1970) "Don't Play That Song" (1970) "You're All I Need to Get By" (1971) "Bridge over Troubled Water" (1971) "Spanish Harlem" (1971) "Rock Steady" (1971) "Day Dreaming" (1972) "Wholy Holy" (1972) "Angel" (1973) "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (1973) "I'm in Love" (1974) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1974) "Something He Can Feel" (1976) "Break It to Me Gently" (1977) "What a Fool Believes" (1981) "It's My Turn" (1981) "Jump to It" (1982) "Get It Right" (1983) Freeway of Love" (1985) "Who's Zoomin' Who" (1985) "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (1985) "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986) "Jimmy Lee" (1986) "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987) "Oh Happy Day" (1988) "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be" (1989) "Everyday People" (1991) "Someday We'll All Be Free" (1992) "A Deeper Love" (1993) "Willing to Forgive" (1994) "A Rose Is Still a Rose" (1998) "Wonderful" (2003) "Put You Up on Game" (2007) Record labels Columbia Atlantic Arista Related topics Discography Book:Aretha Franklin