Biography of Aretha Franklin

Born in Memphis, TN, Franklin sang in her father's Baptist church in Detroit and with her father and sisters as The Franklin Singers before her jazz career at Columbia Records. At Atlantic Records she was known as The Queen of Soul for her earthy contralto and ability to breath emotion into lyrics (between 1967-1978). Since then she has been associated with Arista Records and more sophisticated R&B, Top-Forty-style music. Aretha Franklin received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) in 1994. She also issued another greatest hits recording, this one covering her Arista period, and Rhino released a two-disc set covering her greatest Atlantic hits. It was a condensed version of 1992's four-disc Queen of Soul set. Her last current release was What You See Is What You Sweat in 1991. ~ Bil Carpenter and Ron Wynn

Biography of Keith Richards

One of the few White guitarists with strong blues roots who has been able to take the form to new places, Richards' contribution to the vocabulary of rock guitar cannot be overestimated. His heavy reliance on Delta blues open tunings (mostly played on guitars with only five strings) has provided licks that are part and parcel for any player who wants to get the joint rocking and the dance floor packed. Though much has been made of his lifestyle, and time has reduced his voice to a sore-throated husk, it is as a guitarist and songwriter that Richards has ultimately established his reputation. ~ Cub Koda