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Celebrating Aretha

Allison Davis
Musicians Toni Morgan, left, and Tracey Whitney

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!