Aretha Franklin makes a return appearance to Roy Thomson Hall, much to the delight of her fans; she last appeared at RTH in April of 2004. Aretha Franklin is one of the giants of soul music, and indeed of American pop as a whole. More than any other performer, she epitomized soul at its most gospel-charged. Her astonishing run of late-’60s hits with Atlantic Records—"Respect", "I Never Loved a Man", "Chain of Fools", "Baby I Love You", "I Say a Little Prayer", "Think", "The House That Jack Built", and several others—earned her the title "the Queen of Soul", which she has worn uncontested ever since.

Aretha Franklin’s artistry is solid, and if there is a secret to her enduring longevity, it can be found in any of her latest recordings, such as 2003’s "So Damn Happy" and her latest, "Women Falling Out of Love", due for release this month. It is being produced by the singer’s own Aretha Records. On this album, Franklin performs duets with country star Faith Hill, gospel icons Shirley Caesar & Karen Clark Sheard, and R&B star Fantasia. Franklin has stated that, despite its title, the album is not a commentary on her romantic status, but rather, "something that all women can relate to." As always, "Queen Aretha’s" appeal is her ability to bring a genuine quality to each and every song she sings, whether or not she has personally experienced the situations expressed in the material.

Aretha’s musical legacy is peerless. From her teen years as the daughter of the nationally revered Reverend C.L. Franklin, touring the highways and byways of the gospel circuit, thrilling audiences with her God-given gift, to her early days as a recording artist with Columbia Records – where she was a remarkable interpreter of a whole range of musical styles from jazz, pop, R&B, Broadway, and standards – the Memphis-born, Detroit-raised icon has always added her own unique stamp to an unparalleled diversity of music. Many of her songs helped shape the music of a generation along with repertoire highlights of her own: "You Send Me", "Bridge over Troubled Waters" and "I Say a Little Prayer".

In 1980, Aretha began her association with Arista and the hits continued: "Freeway of Love", "Who’s Zoomin’ Who", "Jump to It". She also collaborated with Luther Vandross, in the role of producer, and the duet "I Knew You Were Waiting for Me" with George Michael. Always attuned to current music, Aretha worked with 90s hitmaker Lauryn Hill on her best-selling "A Rose Is Still A Rose" set alongside hit producers P. Diddy, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Daryl Simmons and others; the result – which included her own "The Woman", hailed as "arguably her most soulful performance in years" by All Music Guide – was one of Aretha’s best-selling albums. She is frequently mentioned as a major musical influence by such artists as Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Ashanti, and Faith Evans.