Respect

The Life of Aretha Franklin

By: David Ritz

Narrated by: Brad Raymond

This "comprehensive and illuminating" biography of the Queen of Soul (USA Today) was hailed by Rolling Stone as "a remarkably complex portrait of Aretha Franklin's music and her tumultuous life."

Aretha Franklin began life as the golden daughter of a progressive and promiscuous Baptist preacher. Raised without her mother, she was a gospel prodigy who gave birth to two sons in her teens and left them and her native Detroit for New York, where she struggled to find her true voice. It was not until 1967, when a white Jewish producer insisted she return to her gospel-soul roots, that fame and fortune finally came via "Respect" and a rapidfire string of hits. She continued to evolve for decades, amidst personal tragedy, surprise Grammy performances, and career reinventions.

Again and again, Aretha stubbornly found a way to triumph over troubles, even as they continued to build. Her hold on the crown was tenacious, and in Respect, David Ritz gives us the definitive life of one of the greatest talents in all American culture.

Critic reviews

"An honest and genuinely respectful portrait of a true diva by a writer who feels the power of her art."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Ritz's intimate and elegant voice steps from behind the veil of the ghostwriter to tell a tale of genius, dysfunction and blind ambition, describing a world of triumph and tragedy of near mythic proportions. A great read and a really heroic work of biography -- honest, loving, no holds barred."—Ben Sidran, author of There Was a Fire

"The monumental biography we've been waiting for of Lady Soul, our greatest soul singer, from the also very great David Ritz, confidante to an entire generation of soul stars -- Ray, Smokey, B.B., Etta, Marvin, etcetera. He is The Man. This is The Book."—Joel Selvin, author of Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues

"This far surpasses David Ritz's landmark study of Marvin Gaye. People will be reading Respect generations from now to understand our musical culture. Ritz deserves a lifetime achievement award for "Most Soul Full Account of America's Music."—Charles Keil, ethnomusicologist, author of Urban Blues

"Only someone who had the complete confidence and trust of Aretha's family and the elite of the Gospel and Rhythm and Blues communities could have gotten this story. An intimate and thorough account of this phenomenal woman's talent and life as only David Ritz could capture."—Tommy LiPuma, Grammy-winning producer

"A bumpy and delicious ride.... Read Respect with a YouTube-playing device near at hand to experience Aretha in a hundred shades of glorious."—Claude Peck, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Thrilling!

This story is intriguing from beginning to end. The writer did an excellent job of research and interviews. We got to hear from immediate family members, close friends, ex-lovers, as well as other geniuses who had a working relationship with this awesome diva. David Ritz didn't hold back: you got Ms. Frankin's bad side as well as her warm and generous side. The diva came off as a well-rounded complex human being. Brad Raymond did a masterful job of relaying this story and keeping the reader engaged. I highly recommend this book.

Respect The Life of Aretha Franklin

Loved the book. Recommended to others really enjoyed the story about her life good and bad how she over came struggles and not others. Helps one to reflect on self.

New To Audio Books

Loved It.
I especially liked the recap at the end.
I have only listened to 5 books so far and this is definitely one of the best.

An American Diva in Denial

This story is an interesting look inside the life of an American musical prodigy and icon who came to realize legendary status despite a shaky beginning and major personality flaws that could have tanked her career. Despite her refusal to reveal her true self and portray a made up facade to the world, her stubborn and sometimes abrasive and volatile personality and her relentless pursuit to stay relevant and current, she become music royalty and the definition of the American soul diva. An unfiltered take on her life and must read for true fans of Ms. Franklin.

I Leared a LOT

I LOVE Aretha and now I understand her more. I appreciate how the author provides the good, bad and ugly and isn't one sided like so many are. I highly recommend this book!

raw honesty

hreat read to peer into the true Areth
a. she was definitely a true Diva

Aretha in Wonderland

Constantly paraded out to perform from a young age by her father, she was never really a child, but an old soul. Her tantrums, her refusal to allow others to have any musical success (including her own sisters), and never listening to the advice of others appears to be the child coming out. This biography doesn't sugar coat anything. Like all great talents, Aretha was self- destructive.

A little Respect

As a "SuperFan" I'm not at this moment sure how I feel about this book, while I did enjoy reading it, i'm conflicted on if I wanted to know all I now know about Aretha. This is chock full of information I wasn't aware of and I will never listen to her songs again without hearing them with a different ear after reading this. While reading this I found myself constantly going to listen to a record that was mentioned in the chapter I was reading ( that was fun). I was turned on to a few tracks I wasn't aware with was Awesome, but My image of her is now a bit Tarnished. I still and will always be a fan but now know too much to keep on rose colored glasses. This is well told and if all true is amazing and worth the read. She was an amazing artist with flaws like the rest of us and she had a very long lasting career while working with the Giants of music. I do wonder the reasoning behind her family & close working folks contributing the harsh way some of them did. A must read for any Aretha Franklin fan so you can come to your own conclusions.

Great Read!!

loved the story but was so ANNOYED by Aretha's antics. We are human, despite our gifts and TRUST she was gifted. Ms. Franklin viewed life through a skewed lens. Life is what it is and we roll with punches but I didn't get how such a faithful person can't accept life on life terms. What's for YOU is yours, No one can take it away from you.

Hit it's mark

This book was well researched and seemingly balanced. It showed the complex person that Franklin is. I have read that Franklin has or is planning to bring suite against the author but I do not feel this book takes anything away from Franklin. Public figures are just like the rest of us - multi-faceted and flawed with details of our life we are proud of and things we are not. The discography was very tedious to me - too many details. Overall though, it is s great book and I will probably listen to it again.