On a night filled with “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” Aretha Franklin, 74, took the stage on June 16, 2016, at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ for a wonderful cause: working toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. Not only was “Respect” evident for Ms. Franklin, who came to Newark to help support this worthy endeavor, but also for the caring physicians who treat and research therapies for this disease, the NJ business leaders who raise awareness and funds to help cure this affliction, the workers and volunteers associated with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society who go above and beyond to support those with multiple sclerosis, and for the individuals and their family members whose lives have been affected by it.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. No two people have exactly the same symptoms, and each person’s symptoms can change or fluctuate over time. One person might experience only one or two symptoms — fatigue, numbness or tingling, weakness, etc. — whereas another person can experience many more. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an estimated 2.3 million people worldwide live with MS.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a US-based non-profit organization which — through its nationwide network of chapters — helps people affected by MS by funding research for a cure and providing programs and services for people with multiple sclerosis and their families. Their vision is clear: “A World Free of MS.” Fundraising to accomplish this vision is accomplished via a variety of creative endeavors.
Walk MS, for instance, is an event which takes place in over 550 locations each year with more than 330,000 people participating; since 1988, this event has raised more than $920 million. Bike MS raises more money than any other cycling event for any other cause; to date, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers, and donors have raised over $1 billion. MuckFest MS is a 5K run which features a unique course packed with 20+ outrageous obstacles surrounded by mud-filled pits, trenches, and craters; each year, this event attracts thousands of people who band together on teams to raise money for MS research.
Other creative fundraising endeavors include live concert experiences. Since 1998, for example, The New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has presented their signature gala event — The Musical Moments for MS concert series — with live performances by such artists as Linda Ronstadt, Gladys Knight, Smokey Robinson, Frankie Valli, Olivia Newton John (with a surprise guest appearance by John Travolta), and Patti LuPone, raising nearly 16 million dollars in the process.
And not to be outdone, the 2016 edition of the Musical Moments for MS concert featured the undisputed “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin. Held at Newark, NJ’s impressive Prudential Hall located at NJPAC, the evening started with a pre-concert reception at 6pm and an awards ceremony at 7:30 followed by an incredible live concert starring Ms. Franklin.
As a performer, Aretha Franklin has created an amazing musical legacy that spans six decades. She is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time, having sold over 75 million records worldwide. Her distinctive vocal style has influenced countless singers, earning her the rank of #1 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The Greatest Singers Of All Time.” A recipient of the USA’s highest civilian honor, The Presidential Medal Of Freedom, Franklin has also been recognized with 18 Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Grammy Living Legend Award. She was further honored as the first female musician inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Franklin was born in 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee to Barbara and Clarence LaVaughn Franklin. Her mother was an accomplished pianist and her father, who went by the nickname “C. L.,” an itinerant preacher. Before her fifth birthday, C. L. permanently relocated the family to Detroit, Michigan, where he took over the pastorship of a Baptist church.
At the age of 10, Franklin began singing solos at the church, and by the time she was 14, her father began taking her on the road with him on “gospel caravan” tours for her to perform in houses of worship across the land. Sometimes traveling with The Soul Stirrers, a group of gospel singers, Franklin developed a crush on one of the members, Sam Cooke. Upon turning 18, Franklin confided to her father that she wanted to follow in Cooke’s footsteps and record pop music. Serving as her manager, C. L. agreed to the idea and brought her to the attention of Columbia Records.
After several years with the company, Franklin signed to Atlantic Records and traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where she recorded “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).” In 1967, the song went to #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart and also gave Franklin her first Top Ten pop single. Soon after, Atlantic issued her version of Otis Redding’s “Respect” which shot to #1 on both the R&B and pop charts and later became her signature song which was hailed both as a civil rights and feminist anthem.
With a record-breaking career which made her the first woman to have over 100 songs appear on the Billboard charts, Franklin’s latest recording is Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics, an album featuring her take on songs made famous by such other great female singers as Etta James, Gladys Knight, Barbra Streisand, Chaka Kahn, and Alicia Keys.
At the Musical Moments for MS gala at NJPAC, the evening’s festivities began with a warm welcome by event chairpersons, Lee and Murray Kushner. Although Murray Kushner told the crowd that his wife, Lee, “was afraid we wouldn’t sell out,” once the couple looked out over the packed house at NJPAC, he cheerfully noted, “it looks like we did.”
Lee Kushner, an MS patient herself, said that one of her early ideas to raise money to fight MS was to host a concert featuring Aretha Franklin because when Lee was diagnosed with the disease 20 years ago, all she wanted was a little “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” Although it took her years to accomplish her dream, upon finally having Franklin in the house at NJPAC, an exhuberant Lee proudly exclaimed, “We really, really got her! She’s really, really here! Do you believe it? Oh, yeah!”’
On behalf of the The New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Kushners presented awards to three deserving honorees for 2016: The Medical Excellence Award went to Dr. Peter Dowling of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School for his research on new therapies for MS; the Corporate Excellence Award was given to Kevin Cummings of Investors Bank for his fundraising efforts; and The Humanitarian Award was bestowed upon Steve Kalafer of Flemington Car and Truck Country and the Somerset Patriots for his philanthopic and civic accomplishments.
The guest speaker for the evening, Amanda Gruber, a former school counselor and professional cellist who has MS, stole everyone’s hearts with her personal story in which she publicly revealed that although MS managed to turn her life “upside down,” it is her “wild girl spirit” that helps to keep her moving forward, along with a sense of humor and incredible optimism. By the time she finished her speech, Mrs. Gruber had the entire audience at NJPAC on its feet, cheering her on as a symbol of the power of the human spirit.
And keeping the audience on its feet was the introduction of “Lady Soul” herself, Aretha Franklin, who hit the stage running with a live version of her 1987 Grammy-award-winning #1 duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).” Franklin’s unmistakable vocal style never sounded better and she left no doubt with the members of the thrilled audience as to why she’s considered the world’s premiere female vocalist.
Additional highlights of Franklin’s performance at NJPAC included her Stevie Wonder-penned 1973 million-seller, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do),” where Franklin’s unique vocal phrasing, one-of-a-kind improvising on the melody, and scat vocalizations dazzled the crowd.
Explaining to the audience that she recorded her next song with Luther Vandross in “an old renovated church,” Franklin showed off her vocal range on 1987’s dynamic R&B dance hit, “Jump To It.” When the instrumental intro for her next tune began, Franklin asked the audience, “You know that, right? What is it?,” and then added, “Give that man 100 dollars!,” when an audience member correctly identified her 1967 classic, “Chain of Fools.” Franklin’s talented 24-piece big band made the song sound incredibly full and her live vocal sounded just as fresh as the day she originally recorded it.
Another standout performance was Franklin’s unique take on the Adele chart-topper, “Rolling in the Deep,” undertaken with the unmistakable gospel-fired approach to singing associated with “The Queen.” The song, transformed into a medley with the ubiquitous chorus from Ashford and Simpson’s, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” is one of the highlights on Franklin’s latest recording, Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics.
Taking a seat at the grand piano center stage, Franklin played with authority as she reminisced and paid tribute to two personal heroes, Natalie Cole, whom she called a “sophisticated lady,” and Muhammad Ali, whom Franklin met when she was only 18 years old. She told a story of a time when Ali was on a plane and refused to wear a seatbelt, telling his flight attendant, “Superman don’t need a seatbelt,” to which the flight attendant retorted, “Superman don’t need no plane either, so fasten that seatbelt.” In honor of both Cole and Ali, Franklin performed a touching tribute performance of “Inseparable.”
Nearing the end of a magical night, after introducing the crowd to her musician son, Eddie, in addition to several personal friends in the audience, Franklin burst into a soulful and rockin’ version of one of 1985’s biggest hits — her Top Ten smash, “Freeway of Love,” accompanied by the writer and producer of the original recording, Narada Michael Walden, on drums — leaving the audience on the their feet clamoring for more.
And did they get it?
Y-E-S, as Franklin took the stage one last time and belted out a for-the-ages rendition of her signature 1967 chart-topper, “Respect.” Explaining to the audience that for the past two weeks she had been fighting a “very bad cold,” Franklin told the appreciative crowd that she was thrilled to be able to make it to Newark to perform for them this evening declaring, “I was not going to let you down.”
And she did not let anyone down as the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the MS Society’s 2016 Musical Moments event starring Ms. Franklin raised approximately 1.5 million dollars to aid in multiple sclerosis research and care.
For more on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — including news and information on MS research — please go to nationalmssociety.org. For more on the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society — notably info on upcoming NJ Walk MS, Bike MS, and MuckFest events — please see the New Jersey Metro Chapter link. For more on Ms. Aretha Franklin — including information regarding tickets for her upcoming September 23, 2016, performance at NYC’s Radio City Music Hall — please go to arethafranklin.net.
Spotlight Central. Your source for Jersey entertainment news and reviews
Love Imagery Fine Art Photography. all you need. peace/love/flower/power
