Facts of Clarence Franklin

Clarence Franklin was the famous father of Aretha Franklin, an American singer and civil rights activist. Clarence was a Baptist clergyman and civil rights activist in the past. Regrettably, he is no longer with us.

Aretha Franklin was regarded as one of the finest singers of all time. Her music will always be with us, even though she is no longer with us. She had a slew of hits and was one of the all-time best-selling musicians. Throughout her career, she sold more than 75 million recordings.

She has received numerous awards, including the National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition, she is the first female inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition, she is a member of the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

What was the net worth of Clarence Franklin?

Clarence Franklin had a net worth of $11 million at the time of his death. Aretha Franklin had an estimated net worth of $80 million at the time of her death.

Marriage and Relationship Status

During his lifetime, Clarence married twice. He was married to Alene Gaines for the first time. Their wedding vows were exchanged on October 16, 1934, and they divorced in 1936.

Clarence married Barbara Siggers after that. On June 3, 1936, they exchanged wedding vows. Erma, Cecil, Aretha, and Carolyn were their four children together.

Barbara had a second child, Vaughn, from a prior relationship. Vaughn was adopted by Clarence following their marriage. Also Barbara moved to Buffalo, New York, with her son Vaughn after the marriage split but never divorced.

Barbara died in 1952 at the age of 34, and Clarence didn’t even attend her funeral. Barbara passed away from a heart attack.

Vaughn was unaware that he was not Clarence’s biological son because he was never told and was always treated as if he were. It wasn’t until 1951 that he learned about it.

Aretha Franklin’s marriage:

Aretha had been married twice and had been engaged once in her life. Her love life has taken her on quite a journey. Aretha gave birth to Clarence, her first child, who was named after her father. She was only 12 years old when she gave birth to him.

For a long time, the father remained unknown, but it was subsequently confirmed to be Edward Jordan, with whom she had another child, Edward Derone Franklin, on August 31, 1957. Both of her children were given her surname.

Aretha never liked to talk about her early pregnancies

Teddy Richards was Aretha Franklin’s first husband, a man named Theodore “Ted” White. Ted White Jr., their son, was born to them.

Ted used to play in his mother’s band as a guitarist. After being apart since 1968, they divorced in 1969. Domestic violence was the reason for the divorce.

She then gave birth to Kecalf Cunningham, her fourth child. Ken Cunningham, Aretha Franklin’s road manager, was Kecalf’s father. Aretha married again on April 11, 1978, to Glynn Turman, a well-known actor. In 1984, they divorced.

Aretha Franklin later became engaged to Willie Wilkerson, a Vietnam War veteran and Detroit fireman. They were supposed to marry soon, but the engagement was called off.

His impact on his daughter’s professional life

Aretha Franklin learned to sing gospel at his father’s church, New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where he served as pastor. She used to love observing and listening to her father when she was a little girl.

Aretha Franklin remarked in a 1999 radio interview that despite her gospel upbringing, her father allowed her to listen to and play pop music because he valued gifted people and never sought to limit his children in any way when it came to music or anything like that.

Great musicians of the time, like as Nat King Cole and Art Tatum, knew Clarence and would spend time with him at the piano in his living room.

Aretha Franklin kept herself grounded even when she became famous, and it was her father who reminded her of this when she thought she wasn’t allowed to do any housework.

Aretha Franklin recalled a conversation with her father in which he told her that her burgeoning popularity did not exempt her from doing the dishes, which was an eye-opener for her. She went on to say,

Since then, I haven’t been a celebrity. That was exactly what I needed. He anchored me and restored my equilibrium, and from then on, I was no longer a celebrity, but rather the lady next door.

Aretha Franklin revealed in an interview with CNN that her father taught her several things from the beginning, including timing, phrasing, and coaching her in various ways.

Her father had said that one day she will sing for Kings and Queens, and she did just that.