Absolutely astonishing, truly staggering set of pipes. Incalculable loss. #RIP

There's nothing like a life well-lived, and that was Aretha Franklin. She rose above it all.

My favorite Aretha Franklin moment was probably twenty-five years ago. I found myself in the Baltic Room (or whatever it was called in those days) on a cold rainy Sunday for a meeting with the owner. I was mildly hungover, feeling generally angsty (yes I, Catalina, was young once), and it was just the bartender and I in the place. He put on Aretha's version of "I Say A Little Prayer", which for some reason I had never heard before, and it was like a nice warm hug, followed by a warm blanket. That, and "Untill You Come Back To Me" will always be my favorite songs of hers.

RIP Aretha.

beautiful picture, well chosen and well worded. good stuff