She had a voice that could stop you in your tracks, an incredible legacy of music – and also popped up in one of the most joyous, toe-tapping movie scenes ever filmed. At the age of 76 legendary singer Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has passed away in Detroit following reports earlier this week that she was seriously ill.
Among her illustrious career of soul, rock & roll and R&B hits, Franklin famously starred in John Landis’ 1980 musical comedy The Blues Brothers. In her key scene, Franklin (as Mrs. Murphy) sings iconic soul classic ‘Think’ to her husband Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy in the middle of their restaurant when Jake and Elwood try and recruit him to their band. It’s a thrillingly-performed scene, and one which saw Franklin re-record a longer version of her original song with new backing vocals and extra saxophone from musician Lou Marini.
Franklin also re-appeared in the film’s closing credits to sing a line during the band’s performance of Jailhouse Rock.
In 2000, Aretha Franklin returned for Blues Brothers 2000, reprising the role of Mrs. Murphy, this time performing ‘Respect’.
The two Blues Brothers films marked Franklin’s only big-screen performances – but that was more than enough to cement her cinematic legacy.
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