Editing Aretha Franklin (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Aretha Franklin birthplace 406 Lucy Ave Memphis TN 06.jpg|thumb|left|Franklin's birthplace, 406 Lucy Avenue, [[Memphis, Tennessee]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.morethings.com/music/aretha_franklin/photo_gallery13.htm |title = Sister Ree's Scrapbook, An Aretha Franklin Photo Gallery 13 |access-date = November 6, 2010 }}</ref>]]
Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, to [[Barbara Siggers Franklin|Barbara (née Siggers)]] and [[C. L. Franklin|Clarence LaVaughn "C. L." Franklin]]. She was delivered at her family's home located at 406 Lucy Avenue, [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. Her father was a [[Baptist]] minister and [[circuit preacher]] originally from [[Shelby, Mississippi]], while her mother was an accomplished piano player and vocalist.{{sfn|Bego|2010|p=11}} C. L and Barbara Franklin both had children from prior relationships in addition to the four children they had together. When Aretha was two, the family relocated to [[Buffalo, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Aretha Franklin Biography and Interview |website=achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://www.achievement.org/achiever/aretha-franklin/#interview|date=October 27, 2012}}</ref> By the time Aretha turned five, C. L. Franklin had permanently relocated the family to [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]] where he took over the pastorship of the [[New Bethel Baptist Church (Detroit, Michigan)|New Bethel Baptist Church]].{{Sfn|Ritz|2014|p=23}}

The Franklins had a troubled marriage due to C. L Franklin's infidelities, and they separated in 1948.{{Sfn|Ritz|2014|pp=23–24}} At that time, Barbara Franklin returned to Buffalo with Aretha's half-brother, Vaughn.{{sfn|Ritz|2014|p=24}} After the separation, Aretha recalled seeing her mother in Buffalo during the summer, and Barbara Franklin frequently visited her children in Detroit.{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|pp=19–20}}{{Sfn|Ritz|2014|p=24}} Aretha's mother died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952, before Aretha's 10th birthday.{{Sfn|Warner|2014|p=7}} Several women, including Aretha's grandmother, Rachel, and [[Mahalia Jackson]], took turns helping with the children at the Franklin home.{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|p=22}} During this time, Aretha learned how to play piano by ear.{{sfn|McAvoy|2002|pp=20–21}} She also attended public school in Detroit, going through her first year at [[Northern High School (Detroit, Michigan)|Northern High School]], but dropping out during her second year.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://historicdetroit.org/building/northern-high-school/ |title = Northern High School |publisher = historicdetroit.org }}</ref>

Aretha's father's emotionally driven sermons resulted in his being known as the man with the "million-dollar voice". He earned thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country.{{sfn|Dobkin|2006|p=48}}{{sfn|Feiler|2009|p=248}} His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Among the visitors were gospel musicians [[Clara Ward]], [[James Cleveland]], and early [[The Caravans|Caravans]] members [[Albertina Walker]] and [[Inez Andrews]]. [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], [[Jackie Wilson]] and [[Sam Cooke]] all became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/12/19/inez-andrews-towering-gospel-artist-dead-at-83/ |title = Inez Andrews: A towering gospel artist |newspaper = Chicago Tribune |first = Howard |last = Reich |date = December 19, 2012 |access-date = March 20, 2014 }}; {{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/22/arts/music/inez-andrews-gospel-singer-dies-at-83.html |title = Inez Andrews, Gospel Singer, Dies at 83 |newspaper = The New York Times |access-date = March 20, 2014 |first = Dennis |last = Hevesi |date = December 21, 2012 }}</ref>{{Sfn|Bracks|2012|p=365}} Ward was romantically involved with Aretha's father from around 1949 until Ward's death in 1973, though Aretha "preferred to view them strictly as friends".{{Sfn|Ritz|2014|pp=35–36}} Ward also served as a [[role model]] to the young Aretha.{{Sfn|Ritz|2014|p=40}}<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/michiganians-of-year/2018/06/21/aretha-franklin-lifelong-commitment-detroit-michiganian-year-detroit-news-lifetime-achievement-award/720527002 |title = Aretha Franklin: Lifelong commitment to Detroit |first = Adam |last = Graham |website = [[The Detroit News]] |date = June 22, 2018 }}</ref>