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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 17 august 2018

A look back at Aretha Franklin’s life, successes

Associated Press she “revolutionized Ameri-
DETROIT (AP) — Early in can music” and “has cap-
1967 when she was already tivated listeners ever since
a music industry veteran she toured with her father’s
but had only a few minor gospel revue in the 1950s.
hits to show for it, Aretha She is among our nation’s
Franklin recorded “Re- greatest musical artists and
spect” and sent herself into has captured the hearts of
superstardom. The song millions of Americans.”
was released as a single Franklin sang “My Coun-
and was the lead track on try, ‘Tis of Thee” at the first
her breakthrough album, inauguration of President
“I Never Loved a Man the Barack Obama. The cel-
Way I Love You,” her de- ebration of the election
but for Atlantic Records. of the nation’s first black
Producer Jerry Wexler en- president was perhaps
couraged her to embrace the pinnacle of Franklin’s
her soul-and-gospel roots long tradition of singing
and together they found at America’s big ceremo-
the sound that birthed “Re- nial moments. She sang at
spect.” The song had been the inauguration of Jimmy
a moderate hit for Otis Red- Carter, at the official festivi-
ding, who wrote and first ties surrounding the inaugu-
recorded it. Franklin flipped In this April 28, 1993 file photo, Aretha Franklin, foreground left, performs in the finale of “Aretha ration of Bill Clinton, and at
the gender, spelled out R- Franklin: Duets,” an AIDS benefit concert for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis in New York. memorials for the Rev. Mar-
E-S-P-E-C-T in the lyrics, and Associated Press tin Luther King Jr. and Rosa
added the repeated “sock lin plays a fed-up waitress into the Rock and Roll Hall George W. Bush gave Parks. At Obama’s inaugu-
it to me” line from the back- who sings the song as a of Fame in 1987, joining a Franklin the Presidential ration, Franklin appeared
up singers. The result was warning to her short-order boys’ club of two dozen Medal of Freedom in a on the cold January day
a career-defining hit that cook boyfriend, who wants men. Her class included White House ceremony in in a winter coat and a hat
won Franklin two Gram- to rejoin the Blues Brothers Marvin Gaye, Bo Diddley, 2005. The highest civilian with a huge gray bow on
mys, became an anthem band and go back on the B.B. King and Franklin’s es- honor bestowed by the top that brought a stream
for women and quickly road. Waitresses, custom- sential producer, Wexler. United States, the Medal of of jokes and comments on
entered the pantheon of ers and Belushi and Ayk- The ceremony was all-male Freedom honors those who the fledging Facebook and
American song. royd served as her backup anyway, with Franklin a no- have made especially mer- Twitter. She gave the usu-
Franklin’s flagging career singers and dancers. The show and Keith Richards itorious contribution to the ally stodgy
got an unlikely boost from scene introduced Franklin delivering her induction security or national interests “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”
John Belushi and Dan Ayk- to a new generation, and speech. Franklin’s brother of the United States, world a soul-and-pop feel in her
royd when she appeared signaled that she’d have a Cecil, a minister, accepted peace, cultural or other performance, endlessly
and sang her classic career revival in the ‘80s. on her behalf and did an significant public or private stretching out and vamp-
“Think” in the 1980 movie Aretha Franklin became impromptu victory dance endeavors.” Bush said in ing on the final line, “let
“The Blues Brothers.” Frank- the first woman inducted with Richards. his citation for Franklin that freedom ring.”q

Paul Walker’s brothers open to ‘Fast’ franchise return

By RYAN PEARSON cameo and bring Paul actor’s childhood, fam-
Associated Press back to save the day and ily and career directed by
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nearly I get to help create that Adrian Buitenhuis. It pre-
five years after Paul Walk- again,” Caleb Walker, 40, miered last weekend on
er’s death, his brothers say said in an interview last the Paramount Network.
they’re open to playing week. “That’s my dream “It’s kind of creepy some-
his character again in the and I hope we get to do times when you’re like, ‘Oh,
“Fast and Furious” fran- that in one of the future that’s me.’ It doesn’t feel
chise. movies.” right,” Caleb Walker said.
Producers asked Caleb “I think there could poten- “I think one day, when our
and Cody Walker to fill in tially be a way to do it. But it kids are little older and we
for their brother and help would take a lot of thought are able to share that ex-
complete “Furious 7” after and it’d have to be tasteful. perience with them and be
he died in a fiery off-set car It would have to be taste- like, ‘Hey look, this is your un-
crash in November 2013. ful,” Cody Walker, 30, said cle Paul. He was the great-
His face was digitally super- in the interview. “He was est guy in the world and
imposed onto his brothers’ the real deal, the real car here we are being able to
performances for scenes In this Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 photo, Cody Walker, Adrian guy. And in his absence, portray him and finish up
that Walker had not yet Buitenhuis and Caleb Walker, pose for a portrait in Los Angeles, I — you know — I think it’s this movie for him.’ That’s
shot and in a modified end- in promotion of the documentary film “I Am Paul Walker.” lost its way in a big way.” when I think it will really
ing in which his character Associated Press Caleb and Cody Walker hit that I think it was really
Brian O’Conner drives off alive in the fictional “Fast” the Furious.” were promoting “I Am Paul worth it and special and all
into the sunset. universe and is mentioned “I just hope we get to — I Walker,” a new one-hour that. But in the meantime,
The character remains twice in 2017’s “The Fate of don’t know — have a little documentary about the it’s still a little conflicted.” q