Aretha Franklin Gearing Up For Next Week's 'Dream Concert' In New York City
Aretha Franklin is gearing up for next week's Dream Concert in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. The show, which is being organized by Quincy Jones, will be held at New York City's Radio City Music Hall and also includes performances by Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah and many more.
Franklin told The New York Daily News, "Dr. King absolutely deserves to be on the Mall. I am honored to perform for such a great man. He was a family friend and Dr. King believed in things that were right... justice and equality for all... I was very young when I joined the movement and I enjoyed what we were doing. I think Dr. King's dream is still alive and there has been a lot of progress because of him."
The show is hoping to raise funds to build and maintain the Dr. Martin Luther King monument to be built in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall, between the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials.
Over the years $87 million has been raised towards the $100 million needed for the construction and upkeep of the monument.
In other news:
Franklin has announced she will release a new album on November 13th, called Jewels In The Crown: All-Star Duets With The Queen. The set is a compilation of the singer's high-profile duets with such stars as Bonnie Raitt, George Michael, Mary J. Blige, Annie Lennox, Elton John, Keith Richards, George Benson, Michael McDonald, and others.
Franklin also shed some light on the casting for the upcoming miniseries based on her autobiography, called Aretha: From These Roots: "I have a verbal commitment from Terrence Howard to play Smokey Robinson. Then, I was looking at a picture of my dad in my living room this summer and thought Billy Dee Williams could play him... He has the same physical makeup and he's attractive, just like my dad. I talked to him and he said he'd like to do it."
Franklin said that she's already secured a deal with a network for the movie, and has an eye on the actress to portray herself, but isn't yet ready to announce anyone for the lead.
A start date on the project has yet to be announced.
Contrary to reports, Franklin didn't pass up an offer to record for Motown back in the early 1960s, although she says that Berry Gordy Jr. was interested in having her on the label and met with her father, Rev. C. L. Franklin: "No, my father just wanted to go and talk to him because Motown was just a few blocks from our home, and he did go over to talk to him before he came to New York and met with John Hammond with Columbia Records. Columbia was a good move."
Aretha Franklin is gearing up for next week's Dream Concert in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King. The show, which is being organized by Quincy Jones, will be held at New York City's Radio City Music Hall and also includes performances by Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah and many more.
