Q 01/05

By what title is Aretha Franklin universally known?

A) the Queen of Soul

B) the Empress of the Blues

C) the First Lady of Song

D) the High Priestess of Soul

Answer · why

A) the Queen of Soul

She was crowned the Queen of Soul in Chicago: after a 1960s show at the Regal Theater, a radio disc jockey walked on stage and placed a real crown on ...

Q 02/05

Aretha Franklin grew up in Detroit, but in which Southern city was she born?

A) Nashville

B) Memphis

C) Atlanta

D) New Orleans

Answer · why

B) Memphis

Memphis was only her first home: her father's preaching posts took the family to Buffalo and then to Detroit, where he led a famous church, while she ...

Q 03/05

C. L. Franklin was pastor of which Detroit congregation, where young Aretha first sang solos?

A) Greater Grace Temple

B) Second Baptist Church

C) New Bethel Baptist Church

D) Hartford Memorial Baptist

Answer · why

C) New Bethel Baptist Church

New Bethel Baptist Church kept him as pastor for 33 years, while records and radio broadcasts of his sermons made him famous far beyond Detroit.

Q 04/05

Which British singer duetted with Aretha on the 1985 anthem 'Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves'?

A) Annie Lennox

B) Kate Bush

C) Sade

D) Bonnie Tyler

Answer · why

A) Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox first had Tina Turner in mind for the song; when that fell through, she and Dave Stewart flew to Detroit and recorded it with Aretha inst...

Q 05/05

Which instrument did young Aretha learn to play by ear after refusing formal lessons?

A) Piano

B) Guitar

C) Trumpet

D) Drums

Answer · why

A) Piano

Piano stayed her tool as a star: at Atlantic she played it to set each song's groove for the session musicians, and her first single there topped the ...