Aretha Arrives--Too Soon
In 1960, John Hammond, who had "discovered" Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday (and who would subsequently sign Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan), listened to a songwriter's...
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Aretha Franklin
This Bitter Earth
  A gospel prodigy steeped in the music of Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, Minister C.L. Franklin's beautiful daughter Aretha sang spirituals for Martin Luther King, Jr. and other African-American royalty as her powerful father looked on. But when Columbia Records brought this jewel to New York, the body of a young woman concealed a lost soul. Aretha struggled to find her voice amid plush strings and champagne-swirled show tunes and standards until she unmasked her pain on a striking tribute to Dinah. There, underneath the polish, was a gritty soul about to take flight-and a queen soon to find her crown.

(C. Otis); Produced, arranged and conducted by Robert Mersey; Aretha Franklin, lead vocal; Ernie Hayes, piano; George Duvivier, bass; Gary Chester, drums; A. Gorgoni, V. Bell, guitars; T. Cohen, vibes; Buddy Lucas, tenor sax; L. Kruczek, F. Giglio, L. Gabowitz, S. Kissell, P. Winter, G. Ockner, J. Zayde, J. Schacter, violins; T. Israel, R. Dickler, violas; A. Sophos, A. Shulman, cellos; Rec. New York, February 10, 1964. From Unforgettable-A Tribute To Dinah Washington, Columbia 8963; Originally Released 1964