Five Black celebrities we lost to cancer

Aretha Franklin

A strong voice in the civil rights movement, Aretha Franklin was one of the most recognised voices in the world. A singer, songwriter, and pianist, she began her career as a gospel musician until she made the switch to secular music where she recorded for Columbia Records.

Despite her deal with Columbia, her career did not get the expected takeoff until she pitched camp with Atlantic Records. She is known for her hit songs, “Respect”, “Chain of Fools”, “Think”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”, and “I Say a Little Prayer”. These songs earned her the “The Queen of Soul”.

Unfortunately, Franklin died in 2018 to pancreatic cancer in the company of family and friends.