America and the world today lost one of its greatest human treasures with the death of singer and pianist Aretha Franklin. She was 76.
Although known as the Queen of Soul, her voice and talent was more than that. It placed her, while both when living and in death, among the greatest of American musical geniuses and talents. She is yet another reminder of the great, positive impact and talent that generational American blacks has given both to this country and the world.
So in picking the following video clip for this site, I wanted to do two things – one to show that besides being one of the most distinctive, and pitch and tone perfect singers that ever lived, she was also a really fun and distinctive piano player. Secondly, I wanted to pick a song she did live that was more obscure, and not one of her uptempo or hit songs.
Thus I chose Franklin’s version of the American standard, Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody.
Think now for a second about the title of this song and the history of it. It was first performed by Al Jolson, a Jewish singer, who was known to perform in blackface. It includes Dixie in its title, a word often linked with the southern Confederacy and slavery, and the performance of which, in today’s politically correct world, would be blasphemous. But then again the relationship of generational American blacks and the American south is more nuanced and complicated than it is often portrayed.
Yet, just like Franklin’s work transcends politics, so does this lullaby. Its lyrics and melody are simple, heartfelt and beautiful. That’s why it’s a standard from the great American songbook. And it should be noted that among the great American singers that covered the song were Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin.
So with no further adieu check out the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht7odW7VFU0
