A Toast…To The Legend Known As Aretha Franklin

August 16, 2018• byMichael Strangeways

Aretha Franklin by Richard Bernstein for Interview Magazine

We lost a legend today, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul passed away aged 76.

She was never really a major musical Gay Icon like Judy Garland or Donna Summer or Cher… Aretha was rooted in gospel music which doesn’t really head the list for “Beloved Gay Genres of Music” but her 55+ year long career as the Queen Diva of Soul Music earned her millions of passionate fans, gay and straight.

She was EVERYBODY’s Queen.

You can bet that last dollar tucked away in your shoe, that Miss Aretha was on the jukebox at the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969. The backroom jukebox at the Stonewall was heavily stocked with classic Motown singles including Aretha’s latest single, “I Can’t See Myself Leaving You”.

And, frankly, we’re pretty damned bummed she has left us…but, also pretty thankful she left us hundreds of her songs to cherish.

RESPECT, Miss Franklin.

DJ Riz has been playing Aretha’s greatest songs over at KEXP….check it out.

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About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.