Join WPKN for a special fundraising event Celebrating Aretha from 7 am to 10 pm on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018), was an American singer, songwriter, actress, pianist, and civil rights activist. Franklin recorded 112 charted singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top-ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries, and 20 number-one R&B singles. She won 18 Grammy Awards, including the first eight awards given for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Franklin is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. She was awarded the ...