The largest event in the country that celebrates African-American culture and music is happening once again in New Orleans beginning July 5th. What makes this year’s Essence Music Festival even more special will be the appearance the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin. The four-day festival will be held at two of the biggest venues in the Crescent City – the Louisiana Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. For ground transportation to the any of the scheduled events, the best limousine service in New Orleans is Limo Livery.
Aretha Franklin has been one of the music industry’s most respected and loved singers of all time. The soul, gospel and R&B singer has been in the business for over 50 years and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, making her the first female artist ever to earn that distinction. Ms. Franklin has won 18 Grammy Awards, including the Living Legend Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Although she recorded her first record in 1956, it took over 10 years before she hit the big time after signing a deal with Atlantic Records. Her first album with the record label in 1967, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You earned her two of her biggest hits and was the #1 album in America R&B Billboard charts for 19 weeks. Those two hits were the title track and her most famous single of all – Respect –her first #1 hit and at the top of the charts for both the US and the US R&B charts in 1967. The song has world-wide acclaim and is ranked #5 on the Rolling Stone magazine list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and #4 by the Recording Industry of the Songs of the Century.
Ms. Franklin followed her 1967 Grammy Award winning song with a string of more huge hits, including “Baby I Love You,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” “I Say a Little Prayer” and “Freeway of Love.” In all, she has recorded more than 40 record albums and is ranked first among female vocalists with the most Billboard Hot 100 hits with 73 between 1955-1999.
The Queen of Soul will take the main stage at the Louisiana Superdome Sunday on July 8th and has reportedly said that she hopes to perform much of her best songs.. Among the remaining top artists scheduled to appear at this year’s Essence Music Festival are Mary J Blige, The Stylistics, Keyshia Cole, The Pointer Sisters, and Fantasia. Other events include the Essence Empowerment Experience at the Convention Center and among the guest speakers are comedian Steve Harvey, BRAVO television host Cynthia Bailey, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien.
Attendance for the Essence Musical is expected to far exceed 400,000. To go to any of this year’s events, your best limousine service in New Orleans is Limo Livery. With over 25 years of service in the Crescent City, it’s always a wise decision to go with the best.