92 | MAY 18 • 2023
I
t’s been 25 years since photojournalist
Linda Solomon experienced concert
preparation with Aretha Franklin as
the noted singer rehearsed for a one-time
performance with the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra.
Now Solomon shares those experiences
by exhibiting some 50 images in the atrium
and display area of the concert hall as the
symphony dedicates a program — “Respect:
A Tribute to Aretha Franklin” — with
presentations by guest vocalists from New
York.
During four events over Memorial Day
weekend, May 26-28, Franklin’s songs
will be recalled by stellar vocalists Tamika
Lawrence, Shaleah Adkisson and Blaine
Alden Krauss as Na’Zir McFadden conducts
the orchestra with John Boswell at the
piano.
Solomon will be in the audience for one
of those concerts, seated with Franklin
family members she got to know well as
her friendship with Franklin grew over the
years.
“Seeing Aretha with our symphony and
hearing her with our symphony were both
absolutely outstanding,
” said Solomon,
talking about the Detroit-based entertainer
best known for the songs “Respect,
” “
A
Natural Woman” and “I Say a Little Prayer.
”
“In Orchestra Hall, it was so magnificent,
”
Solomon continued. “She let me stand next
to her on stage when she rehearsed. It was
her only rehearsal, and I asked her if I could
be close, and she said yes.
“I did a photo essay for CNN that aired
in 1998 on this performance, and she let me
stand next to her when she was at the piano.
Aretha accompanied herself, which was so
incredible to document.
”
The portraits from the DSO performance
will be featured with other Franklin
portraits that Solomon has taken, and the
CNN interview will be shown.
Solomon, 29 when she first met Franklin,
was a photographer and columnist for
the Detroit News. She learned Franklin was
about to appear on a local television show
and asked a TV production member if she
could take pictures.
On advice, Solomon waited outside for
Franklin to arrive, briefly stopped her,
requested photographic approval and
Franklin agreed.
“
Aretha liked the column, and I received
a phone message from her afterwards,
”
Solomon recalled. “When I was able to
[return the call], she invited me to Mayor
Coleman Young’s residence, where she
was announcing a concert and would like
to have me there. That started our whole
relationship.
“We became friends, and she would
continue to invite me to document her
birthday parties, Christmas parties and
concerts in Detroit.
“Her father tragically had been shot
and was in a coma, and she came home.
She didn’t leave Detroit at that point. In a
portrait I had taken, you can almost see a
sadness in her eyes.
”
Solomon explained how she got to know
Franklin’s family throughout the years by
being invited to personal events.
ARTS&LIFE
MUSIC
Linda Solomon will exhibit images of the Queen
of Soul during DSO musical program.
A
Tribute to
Aretha
continued on page XX
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Aretha Franklin
and Linda
Solomon