Black History Month

Sing with Your Soul

Significance

Pride Empowerment Celebration Education Recognition

Aretha Franklin- Natural Woman

The Queen of Soul

Biography

Born March 25, 1942. Memphis, TN Father was a Reverend, Mother a

gospel singer Self-taught piano Sang for Father’s congregation Had first baby at 15, second at 17 Took home eight consecutive Grammy

awards for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance, earned the title "The Queen of Soul." 

Contribution First woman in the and Roll Hall of Fame

(1987) Major influence in Gospel, Jazz, R&B, and Pop Involved in awareness for Gay Men’s Health

Crisis: The Fight Against AIDS Served as a symbol for the "women's rights"

movement Interpreted and wrote songs from a purely

female perspective An important cultural figurehead in the civil

rights movement

QuoteMeaning

“ If a song's about something I've experienced or that could've happened to me it's good. But if it's alien to me, I couldn't lend anything to it. Because that's what soul is all about.”

“I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is.”

Soul comes from inner passion. It is the shared experience of an event that is meaningful and can relate to us all universally. Soul is felt, expressed, and natural. It cannot be forced or described, it has to come from within.

To feel her music, you have to be true to the life around you.

Impact on SocietyOther Female Singers Natalie Cole Chaka Khan,  Patti LaBelle Whitney Houston Anita Baker Mariah Carey Luther Vandross Jennifer Hudson Fantasia Brandy Beyonce

Aretha inspires not only other Divas to sing their heart out, but women all over the world to have their voice heard. Even though she was faced with adversity of raising two children before she was 18, she was able to rise above her difficult situation and have a successful career. She is a role model to society in that she contributes to many important issues and even though is near her 70s, still performs and makes appearance for causes important to society as a whole.

Brandy

Have you ever?

Brandy’s Biography Born Brandy Rayana Norwood, Born in McComb, Mississippi (Feb. 11, 1979.) At age 4, her family relocated to Carson,

California, a suburb of Los Angeles.  Daughter of a church pastor named Willie

Ray Norwood and his wife, Sonja Norwood.  Back up singer at 11 Starred in “Moesha” at 15 Focused on acting and modeling in the

1990s and 2000s Judged “America’s Got Talent” in 2007

Contributions 1994: First album “Brandy” sold more than 4

million copies. Grammy Award; American Music Award,

favorite new artist, 1996. 1996-2001: Moesha 1998: Never Say Never 1999: Divas Live ’99 Considered an African-American Teen Idol as

a successful actress, singer, and model who enforced morals that were not depicted in many role models in the 90s.

Brandy’s Words of Wisdom

“Your children can be around you all day, but if you don't spend quality time with them and you don't pay attention to them and talk to them and listen to them, it doesn't matter that they're just around you.”

Family values are important to Brandy. She is very involved with her brother’s life and is proud to be a role model for other youth. It is obvious that it is important to her to communicate to those important in one’s life.

Impact on Society

Adversity: Fatal Car Accident

Accepted responsibility

Opened up her story on “Dancing with the Stars” to teach others about the tragedy and prevention

Role M0del:

Withheld religious beliefs within her characters portrayed on TV

1999 - Won the Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in Moesha1999 - Made Television Movie with Diana Ross called Double Platinum

Aretha and Brandy

African-American women who used their voices to portray strength, respect, and honor.

Faced adversity but overcame difficult times

Role Models for future generations to believe in themselves and sing from the soul.

Work Cited

List all the websites you used with Easybib.com

"Aretha Franklin Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.biography.com/people/aretha-franklin-9301157>.

"Aretha Franklin." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291349/>.

"Brandy Norwood." Answers.com. Answers. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://www.answers.com/topic/brandy-entertainer>.

"Brandy Norwood." , Mississippi-born Musician Who Sings, Acts, and Has Her Own Show. Web. 22 Feb. 2012. <http://mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/brandy-norwood.html>.