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 91裸聊视频渓ittle sister91裸聊视频� whom he still misses at the 91裸聊视频淎retha! A Grammy Celebration for The Queen of Soul.91裸聊视频� He along with some of music91裸聊视频檚 well-respected artists such as Alicia Keys, Celine Dion and Patti LaBelle took the stage to help bring Franklin91裸聊视频檚 favourite songs back to life during the Jan. 13 taped tribute concert in Los Angeles.
The tribute will air March 10 on CBS.
91裸聊视频淪he 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,91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淏efore Aretha passed away, she was my longest living neighbourhood friend,91裸聊视频� he said.
READ MORE: 91裸聊视频楺ueen of Soul91裸聊视频� Aretha Franklin has died
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 Franklin91裸聊视频檚 home, which he called a 91裸聊视频渕ansion.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 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. 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频楢mazing Grace,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪he was amazing. I said to myself, 91裸聊视频業f she wants to, I know she91裸聊视频檚 going to be somebody really important in show business.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
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.91裸聊视频檚 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 nation91裸聊视频檚 highest civilian honour, in 2005.
One of Franklin91裸聊视频檚 best-known performances was when she sang 91裸聊视频淢y Country 91裸聊视频榯is of Thee91裸聊视频� at President Barack Obama91裸聊视频檚 inauguration in 2009.
Music mogul Clive Davis told the crowd 91裸聊视频渢here will never ever be another Aretha Franklin91裸聊视频� at the tribute put on by the Recording Academy. Some of the singer91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频済ame-changing sensation91裸聊视频� who had one of the 91裸聊视频済reatest voices91裸聊视频� of all time.
91裸聊视频淪he was a gifted songwriter, a fantastic musician and a great political activist,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut for me, she was always my little sister who I loved so much. I still love her so much. But she91裸聊视频檚 gone home now to be with her father. I believe she has been reunited with her entire immediate family.91裸聊视频�
Many others echoed Robinson91裸聊视频檚 sentiments.
A video montage of Franklin was shown at the show91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淎retha set the bar,91裸聊视频� a quote from Quincy Jones read.
Throughout the night, renditions of Franklin91裸聊视频檚 songs from 91裸聊视频淩espect91裸聊视频� to 91裸聊视频淚 Say a Little Prayer91裸聊视频� brought people out of their seats.
Jennifer Hudson, who will star in Franklin91裸聊视频檚 biopic, kicked off the tribute with an energetic performance of 91裸聊视频淭hink91裸聊视频� while wearing a stunning white dress. Keys sang while playing the piano, saying she was 91裸聊视频渂lessed to be here,91裸聊视频� before she introduced SZA as the two performed a duet of 91裸聊视频淒ay Dreaming.91裸聊视频�
Celine Dion received a standing ovation before she performed Franklin91裸聊视频檚 version of 91裸聊视频淎 Change is Gonna Come,91裸聊视频� which was originally made by Sam Cooke. Patti LaBelle91裸聊视频檚 voice soared on 91裸聊视频淐all Me91裸聊视频� with a house band led by music director Rickey Minor, as many throughout the crowd yelled out 91裸聊视频渆ncore91裸聊视频� after she finished.
Fantasia, Andra Day, Brandi Carlile and Alessia Cara sang 91裸聊视频淣atural Woman91裸聊视频� together. Common joined Yolanda Adams who sang 91裸聊视频�(To Be) Young, Gifted and Black91裸聊视频� 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
