Ms. Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul, do her thing live @ Nokia Theater in LA.
You better believe it when I tell you that Ms. Aretha Franklin, the quintessential, Queen of Soul,
stepped on stage on the arm of a gorgeous man, and looked wonderful in her beautiful orange off the shoulder dress last evening, opening with the song,
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| Ms. Franklin on the Jay Leno Show 7.23.12 |
Daydreaming and I'm thinking of you, Daydreaming and I'm thinking of you....
Look at my life floating away.
He's the kind of guy that will say
'Hey baby let's get away, let's go someplace, huh? Where, I don't care'...."
Ms. Aretha Franklin dropped 80 lbs like it's hot - GO Ms. Franklin!
Yes, Detroit, the Motor City, was in the HOUSE!
Who could actually stay seated, when the music was so delicious to the ears, and like comfort food to the soul - oh, and the aisle that I sat in was a singing! Yes, singing right along with each song, and it was so wonderful!
When Ms.Franklin said, "Ladies, if you know you've got it going on, wave your hands in the air, and say yeah!" Then she said, "Gentlemen, if you know you're making your Lady happy, say oh yeah!"
And the crowd responded right on time - we were rocking to the beat!
Ms. Franklin was so gracious and kind, and shared photos of her family, and friends, starting with her Father, the late, Baptist Preacher, Reverend C.L. Franklin, founder of New Bethel Baptist Church.
Reverend C.L. Franklin was a Civil Rights Activist, an executive board member of Southern Christian Leadership Conference-SCLC, an organization that fought against racism and bigotry in the United States.
Reverend C.L. Franklin, organized the Walk to Freedom Civil Rights March (June 1963) in Detroit, Michigan, with a good friend and fellow follower of Christ, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., where 500,000 people showed up and marched. He also supported Urban League as well as the N.A.A.C.P. - These are all organizations that fight for human rights, even today... Reverend C.L. Franklin was a Visionary and an accomplished Entrepreneur - one of the first Preachers to ever put his sermons on records - brilliant! Photos of her other siblings were shown as well. The lady sitting on the left side of me said, "Oh, and that's her sister Carolyn Franklin! I felt like I knew her too!" Carolyn Franklin , a brilliant woman, was established in the music industry as well; multi-talented and had earned a B.S Entertainment Law (1988), about 10 days before she succumbed to cancer. She's the sister that Ms. Franklin makes reference to in the introduction to the song written by Carolyn entitled, "Angel"!
I looked around at the crowd, and people from age 6-80+ were waving their hands in the air, some teary eyed, and soaking in the sincere tribute Ms.Whitney Houston. That was real...
Also in the audience, visiting from New York was the incomparable George Faison - yes!
There was also Louis Gossett Jr., Elgin Charles, Jackee Harry, Randy Crawford,
Leon Isaac Kennedy, Barb Russell, Glynn Turman and his wife, Jo-An, Steven Cojocaru and so many others - please forgive me if I've left you out - you were there, and it was lovely!
What do you think the most integral aspects of keeping our lives happy and love alive?
In my opinion, God and Family. Good friends are also a Godsend. There is nothing better than surrounding one with family that loves you and true friends. From what I've seen, Ms. Franklin truly loves her family and friends.
Ms. Franklin is truly blessed by God and Highly Favored! Three quarters through the show, we headed right to church with some classic Gospel songs; "Precious Lord", "Higher Ground" got everyone on their feet and shouting, Hallelujah! And Amen!
They've never lied when the Rolling Stone Magazine said that the 21 piece Aretha Franklin Orchestra was excellent! The conductor, and the back up singers and dancers were very entertaining and beautiful!
When Ms. Franklin sang some of her rare grooves, songs like, "This is The House That Jack Built",
"Bridge Over Troubled Water", "I Say A Little Prayer For You", "Bridge Over Trouble Water",
"You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman, " and "Ain't No Way" - there was no way that anyone was sitting in their seats!
Ms. Franklin sat down at the keyboard and played the piano eloquently, saying, "This is for a woman who was a beautiful person, and real " Then, the Queen of Soul gave a really heartfelt, tribute to Whitney Houston. There were quite a few photos that we were shown of the late beautiful Whitney Houston that some of us had never seen before.
Ms. Franklin told the truth and shamed the devil, humbly giving two American Icons from Detroit their props; Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. Both men were sitting in the audience -
Mr. Gordy (with his lovely Better-Half),- crediting him for revolutionizing the music industry (she even gave credit to Berry Gordy's sisters as well!) and the incomparable Smokey Robinson (let me tell you, his wife was so beautiful!)
The audience screamed when they heard Ms. Franklin announce that Bishop T.D. Jakes was sitting up front, as well as Natalie Cole, folks started standing up and snapping photos from near and far, just to get a glimpse of Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Natalie Cole!
The evening closed with R-E-S-P-E-C-T....Some people need to recognize a Queen when they meet her...Thank you, Ms. Franklin for allowing us to enjoy listening to your God Given ability to sing love into our hearts and minds....
Special thanks to the following people:
Ms.Beverly @ Ms. Beverly Concierge, where her slogan is, "I Make It Happen!"
Cara Vanderhook @ Staples Center & Nokia L.A. LIVE
Mr. & Mrs. S. Levine - It was my pleasure meeting you two! Stephen Cojocaru and friend - remember, P4!
Transportation for Ms. Franklin and the Aretha Franklin Orchestra provided by:
Kenneith - 818.262.4443 or email Kenneithbrown1@yahoo.com
Top photo of Ms. Franklin were taken from NBC @ Jay Leno Show. No copyright infringement intended.
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