Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, pianist, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Franklin found her love, passion, and future career as a child singing gospel music at church. By the end of the 1960s, Aretha Franklin had come to be known as "The Queen of Soul". In this musical biography, learn about the fabulous Aretha Franklin.