To celebrate the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin, four dynamic local singers performed on Freeform. Toni Morgan, Tracey Whitney, Abby Maxwell and 15-year-old Chloe Nixon sang the songs of Aretha. Jim Ahrend was on keyboard, and Rick Dorin on guitar.
Toni Morgan sang two rousing gospel songs that Aretha performed: "Won't Be Long" and "How I Got Over." Like Aretha, Toni has gospel music roots in her father's church. She traveled and sang with him as a child. She was also a backup singer for Gladys Knight & the Pips. And for a short while, Tracey Whitney was one of the Raelettes, Ray Charles' backup singers.
The soul-filled powerful voices of all the singers filled the studio, whether singing solo or providing back up vocals for each other. Everyone reported having a blast!