Carolyn Franklin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolyn Franklin
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Franklin in photograph for Atlantic Records, December 1967.
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Carolyn Ann Franklin
May 13, 1944 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | April 25, 1988 (aged 43) Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S.
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| Occupation | Singer–songwriter |
| Years active | 1961–1987 |
| Relatives | Aretha Franklin (sister) Erma Franklin (sister) |
Carolyn Ann Franklin (born May 13, 1944 – died April 25, 1988) was an American singer and songwriter. She was known for her own music. Carolyn was also the daughter of C. L. Franklin, a famous preacher and civil rights activist from Detroit. She was the younger sister of the well-known singer Aretha Franklin.
Contents
Carolyn Franklin's Life and Music
Early Life and Family
Carolyn Franklin was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her parents were Barbara Franklin and Reverend C. L. Franklin. She was the youngest of their six children. Soon after she was born, her family moved to Buffalo, New York. Around 1946, the Franklin family settled in Detroit. There, Carolyn started singing at her father's church, New Bethel Baptist Church.
Starting Her Music Career
In the early 1960s, Carolyn's sisters, Erma and Aretha, became successful in popular music. Carolyn decided to follow them into a music career. She made her first recordings in 1963. In 1969, Carolyn began recording for RCA Records. She stayed with this record label until 1976, when she stopped working in the music industry.
Carolyn had some success in music, but it was not as big as her sister Aretha's huge breakthrough in the late 1960s. While she worked to get a hit song of her own, Carolyn also started writing songs for other artists. She mainly wrote songs for her sister Aretha.
Songwriting for Aretha Franklin
Carolyn and Aretha had a strong bond. This led to them working together on many songs. Carolyn wrote several songs that became classic hits. One famous song she wrote was "Ain't No Way", recorded in 1968. This song was the B-side (the second song) to Aretha's hit song, "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone". "Ain't No Way" was so popular that it reached the Top 10 on the R&B charts. It also made it into the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Another hit song Carolyn wrote for her sister was the 1973 ballad "Angel". Carolyn and her oldest sister, Erma Franklin, also sang background vocals on this song. At the beginning of "Angel", Aretha even mentioned Carolyn's name. She explained how Carolyn came up with the idea for the song. Carolyn also helped write "Pullin'" in 1970 with Jimmy Radcliffe. She also wrote songs for Aretha's 1970 album Spirit in the Dark.
Later Years and Legacy
Carolyn Franklin stopped working in the music industry in 1976. However, she still sang with Aretha sometimes. For example, Carolyn was one of Aretha's background singers in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers. She also sang backing vocals on Paul King's 1987 album Joy.
Carolyn Franklin passed away on April 25, 1988. She died from breast cancer at Aretha's home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Like other members of her family, she is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
Discography
- Baby Dynamite – 1969
- Chain Reaction – 1970
- The First Time I Cried – 1970
- I'd Rather Be Lonely – 1973
- If You Want Me – 1976
- Sister Soul: The Best Of The RCA Years 1969–1976 – 2006
See also
In Spanish: Carolyn Franklin para niños
