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