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Aretha Franklin dies at 76: Dance music world reacts

The Queen of Soul was hugely influential to the dance music community…

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, passed away this morning (16th August) at home in Detroit. She was 76.

In a statement released today on behalf of her family it was announced that the legendary singer had passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

A true legend – and the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Franklin is globally celebrated for her many hits including ‘Respect’, ‘(You Make Me Feel) Like a Natural Woman’, ‘Chain of Fools’ and ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ to name but a few.

Not only that, but the singer’s influence has always been palpably felt and highlighted in the dance music community, particularly in Detroit. To give just one example, techno legend Robert Hood famously sampled Franklin’s ‘Never Grow Old’ in a track of the same name under his Floorplan moniker.

Since news broke earlier this week that Aretha Franklin was "gravely ill" at her home in Detroit, the dance music world has been sharing its love and respect for the singer online. As the world mourns the loss of one of its most treasured artists, tributes continued to be paid for a true icon from the likes of The Black Madonna, Honey Dijon, K-Hand, Mike Servito and more. One particularly valuable point has come from Chicago legend Derrick Carter, who has tweeted against the distasteful opportunism that at times comes following the passing away of an artist where producers share shoddy "remixes" of tracks as a way of getting quick publicity. 

RIP Aretha Franklin.