Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin’s father, Rev. Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, was a traveling minister, who after preaching throughout the South and in Buffalo, N.Y., started the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. He was actually the first one in the family to get a recording contract. Rev. Franklin recorded 76 albums of sermons and gospel songs. Aretha sang solos during church services and recorded a gospel album before venturing into R&B.
