For Smokey Robinson, the late Aretha Franklin was more than just the Queen of Soul.
Robinson told a packed venue that Franklin was his longtime neighbour in Detroit, calling the acclaimed singer his BԪַlittle sisterBԪַ whom he still misses at the BԪַAretha! A Grammy Celebration for The Queen of Soul.BԪַ He along with some of musicBԪַs well-respected artists such as Alicia Keys, Celine Dion and Patti LaBelle took the stage to help bring FranklinBԪַs favourite songs back to life during the Jan. 13 taped tribute concert in Los Angeles.
The tribute will air March 10 on CBS.
BԪַShe was the girl next door. In fact, she was the girl right around the corner who became a lifelong friend, who became a musical icon,BԪַ said Robinson of Franklin, who last year died at age 76 from pancreatic cancer at her home in Detroit. When they were younger, he said they played hide-and-seek and kick-the-can games outside.
BԪַBefore Aretha passed away, she was my longest living neighbourhood friend,BԪַ he said.
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Robinson talked about meeting a 6-year-old Franklin for the first time after her family moved from Buffalo, New York, to Detroit. He said their first encounter came at FranklinBԪַs home, which he called a BԪַmansion.BԪַ
BԪַI went into this little room, peeked in and saw this little 6-year-old girl sitting there playing the piano and singing up a storm. BԪַ BԪַAmazing Grace,BԪַBԪַ he said. BԪַShe was amazing. I said to myself, BԪַIf she wants to, I know sheBԪַs going to be somebody really important in show business.BԪַBԪַ
Franklin certainly left her imprint on music and the world. She had dozens of hits over the span of half a century and took home 18 Grammy Awards. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The prolific singer and pianist sang at the dedication of her longtime friend the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.BԪַs memorial in 2011. She performed at the inaugurations of President Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and the funeral for civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nationBԪַs highest civilian honour, in 2005.
One of FranklinBԪַs best-known performances was when she sang BԪַMy Country BԪַtis of TheeBԪַ at President Barack ObamaBԪַs inauguration in 2009.
Music mogul Clive Davis told the crowd BԪַthere will never ever be another Aretha FranklinBԪַ at the tribute put on by the Recording Academy. Some of the singerBԪַs family members including her grandson who spoke at her funeral were in attendance at the tribute, hosted by filmmaker and actor Tyler Perry.
Robinson called Franklin a BԪַgame-changing sensationBԪַ who had one of the BԪַgreatest voicesBԪַ of all time.
BԪַShe was a gifted songwriter, a fantastic musician and a great political activist,BԪַ he said. BԪַBut for me, she was always my little sister who I loved so much. I still love her so much. But sheBԪַs gone home now to be with her father. I believe she has been reunited with her entire immediate family.BԪַ
Many others echoed RobinsonBԪַs sentiments.
A video montage of Franklin was shown at the showBԪַs start as quotes paying homage to her were displayed on the screen from Obama, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson. The video also showed the singer in a joyful moment laughing alongside with King.
BԪַAretha set the bar,BԪַ a quote from Quincy Jones read.
Throughout the night, renditions of FranklinBԪַs songs from BԪַRespectBԪַ to BԪַI Say a Little PrayerBԪַ brought people out of their seats.
Jennifer Hudson, who will star in FranklinBԪַs biopic, kicked off the tribute with an energetic performance of BԪַThinkBԪַ while wearing a stunning white dress. Keys sang while playing the piano, saying she was BԪַblessed to be here,BԪַ before she introduced SZA as the two performed a duet of BԪַDay Dreaming.BԪַ
Celine Dion received a standing ovation before she performed FranklinBԪַs version of BԪַA Change is Gonna Come,BԪַ which was originally made by Sam Cooke. Patti LaBelleBԪַs voice soared on BԪַCall MeBԪַ with a house band led by music director Rickey Minor, as many throughout the crowd yelled out BԪַencoreBԪַ after she finished.
Fantasia, Andra Day, Brandi Carlile and Alessia Cara sang BԪַNatural WomanBԪַ together. Common joined Yolanda Adams who sang BԪַ(To Be) Young, Gifted and BlackBԪַ as the rapper inserted his own politically charged rap lyrics into the 1972 song.
Other performers included Shirley Caesar, Kelly Clarkson, Chloe X Halle, H.E.R., John Legend and BeBe Winans.
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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press