Carolyn Franklin
Encyclopedia
Carolyn Ann Franklin was an American singer and songwriter and the baby sister of musician Aretha Franklin
and daughter of prominent preacher C. L. Franklin
.
and C. L. Franklin
. The youngest of six of C. L.'s children, she was moved to Buffalo
following her birth.
By two, her family had settled at Detroit where she would begin singing at her father's New Bethel Baptist Church
. Inspired by her sisters' successes in the secular music field in the early 1960s, Carolyn joined Erma and Aretha into a secular recording career, first recording in 1963.
Though, like Erma, her modest success in the industry wasn't matched by Aretha's later blockbuster breakthrough in the late 1960s.
While struggling to release a big hit, Franklin began to work behind the scenes as a songwriter, mainly for sister Aretha's work. Aretha and Carolyn's bond led to several collaborations between the two and in other occasions, Carolyn came up with songs for Aretha to sing. Among one of the first collaborations that became a hit success was "Ain't No Way
", recorded in 1968.
The ballad single was the b-side to Aretha's top ten triumph, "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
". The song was strong enough to have its own airplay and eventually peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100
.
Carolyn's next hit for her sister was the 1973 ballad, "Angel
", which also featured Carolyn (and sister Erma) in background voices advising Aretha. Aretha mentioned her sister's name in the beginning of the song in a monologue describing how Carolyn came up with the song. Another song Carolyn contributed was "Pullin'" with Jimmy Radcliffe
. Carolyn also wrote songs for Franklin's 1970 album, Spirit in the Dark and her 1975 album, You
.
In 1976, Carolyn retired from the music industry and occasionally continued to sing with Aretha.
Carolyn was living at her father's West Side home in Detroit, Michigan
when he was shot in 1979. She appeared as one of Aretha's background singers in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers
.
Having never married, Carolyn died in Aretha's Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
home from breast cancer on April 25, 1988, at age 43. Just ten days prior, she was awarded a B.A. in Music Education from Marygrove College
. Her oldest sister, Erma Franklin
, died of throat cancer in 2002.
Carolyn - like her other deceased family members - is interred at Detroit's historic Woodlawn Cemetery
on North Woodward Avenue.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and daughter of prominent preacher C. L. Franklin
C. L. Franklin
Clarence LaVaughn Franklin , was an American Baptist minister, a civil rights activist, and father of the legendary soul and gospel singer Aretha Franklin.-Background:...
.
Biography
Franklin was born in Memphis to Barbara (née Siggers)Barbara Siggers Franklin
Barbara Vernice Siggers Franklin was the mother of the legendary soul and gospel singer Aretha Franklin and wife of C. L. Franklin, the famous black Baptist preacher. She married C.L...
and C. L. Franklin
C. L. Franklin
Clarence LaVaughn Franklin , was an American Baptist minister, a civil rights activist, and father of the legendary soul and gospel singer Aretha Franklin.-Background:...
. The youngest of six of C. L.'s children, she was moved to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
following her birth.
By two, her family had settled at Detroit where she would begin singing at her father's New Bethel Baptist Church
New Bethel Baptist Church
New Bethel Baptist Church is a historic church on Bethel Valley Road in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.It was built in 1924 and added to the National Register in 1992....
. Inspired by her sisters' successes in the secular music field in the early 1960s, Carolyn joined Erma and Aretha into a secular recording career, first recording in 1963.
Though, like Erma, her modest success in the industry wasn't matched by Aretha's later blockbuster breakthrough in the late 1960s.
While struggling to release a big hit, Franklin began to work behind the scenes as a songwriter, mainly for sister Aretha's work. Aretha and Carolyn's bond led to several collaborations between the two and in other occasions, Carolyn came up with songs for Aretha to sing. Among one of the first collaborations that became a hit success was "Ain't No Way
Ain't No Way
"Ain't No Way" is a song written by singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin and sung by her elder sister Aretha Franklin as the b-side to her 1968 hit, " Since You've Been Gone."-History:...
", recorded in 1968.
The ballad single was the b-side to Aretha's top ten triumph, "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone
" Since You've Been Gone" is a classic song by R&B singer Aretha Franklin. Released from her Lady Soul album in 1968, the song was successful, debuting at #32 on the Hot 100, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and spent three weeks at #1 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart...
". The song was strong enough to have its own airplay and eventually peaked at number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Carolyn's next hit for her sister was the 1973 ballad, "Angel
Angel (Aretha Franklin song)
"Angel" is a soul ballad recorded by American singer Aretha Franklin. The song was co-written by Aretha's sister, Carolyn, and Sonny Saunders. Aretha co-produced the song with Quincy Jones and it originally appeared on Aretha's 1973 album "Hey Now Hey "...
", which also featured Carolyn (and sister Erma) in background voices advising Aretha. Aretha mentioned her sister's name in the beginning of the song in a monologue describing how Carolyn came up with the song. Another song Carolyn contributed was "Pullin'" with Jimmy Radcliffe
Jimmy Radcliffe
James "Jimmy" Radcliffe was an American soul singer, composer, arranger, conductor and record producer.-Biography:James Radcliffe was born in New York City...
. Carolyn also wrote songs for Franklin's 1970 album, Spirit in the Dark and her 1975 album, You
You (Aretha Franklin album)
You is an Aretha Franklin album, released in 1975. It was a commercial failure, stalling at #83 on Billboards main album chart. The album's only single to chart, "Mr. D.J.", stalled at #53 on Billboards Hot 100. This recording has been out of print since the early 1980s and has never been issued...
.
In 1976, Carolyn retired from the music industry and occasionally continued to sing with Aretha.
Carolyn was living at her father's West Side home in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
when he was shot in 1979. She appeared as one of Aretha's background singers in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers (film)
The Blues Brothers is a 1980 musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James...
.
Having never married, Carolyn died in Aretha's Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan, northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,869...
home from breast cancer on April 25, 1988, at age 43. Just ten days prior, she was awarded a B.A. in Music Education from Marygrove College
Marygrove College
Marygrove College is an independent, Catholic, liberal arts college located in Detroit, Michigan. The college is sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.-History:...
. Her oldest sister, Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin was an American gospel and R&B singer. She was the oldest daughter of Barbara and the Reverend C. L. Franklin and the elder sister of Aretha Franklin...
, died of throat cancer in 2002.
Carolyn - like her other deceased family members - is interred at Detroit's historic Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit, Michigan)
Woodlawn Cemetery is a cemetery located at 19975 Woodward Avenue, across from the Michigan State Fairgrounds, between 7 Mile Road and 8 Mile Road, in Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the area's most well-known cemeteries.-History:...
on North Woodward Avenue.
Discography
- Baby Dynamite – 1969
- Chain Reaction – 1970
- The First Time I Cried – 1972
- I'd Rather Be Lonely – 1973
- If You Want MeIf You Want MeIf You Want Me is the final solo studio album recorded by R&B and Gospel singer Carolyn Franklin for RCA Records, in 1976.-Side One:#"From The Bottom Of My Heart " - 2:28...
– 1976