Although it gets lots of bad reviews on Amazon Im currently reading,and enjoying Aretha's autobiography - "From These Roots" [[with David Ritz) chock-full of refrences to Diana -
Aretha tells of knowing who Diana was as a teenager in Detoit,thou they didnt speak Aretha says she admired her work ethic,even back then.. she makes the statement several times how hard Diana works for what she has.
The Diva claims The Supremes ripped off one of her looks on a tv special - a broad hat and bejeweled gowns..Im thinking she must mean the look the ladies wore on Tennessee Ernie Ford
Edwards and Rodgers played her the demos of "Upside Down " & "Im Comming Out" she turned down working with them because of questionable behaviour from them..she dosent go into detail what that was..Diana has said that "Upside Down" came from her telling the producers how she felt at the time..maybe Chic played Aretha an instrumental of the track with no lyrics ?
Gordy intvites Aretha to his mansion there she is stunned to discover Berry has two big portraits displayed on velvet -one of Diana and one of Aretha !
Aretha was keen to see How Diana did in "Lady Sings The Blues" and compliments her for nailing the role also mentioning her children loved "The Wiz"
One of Franklins sons was a huge Diana fan who as a teenager had pictures of her all over his bedroom walls..Aretha had to say something when he started to put pictures on his ceiling as well...
havent finished the book but thought I would share.
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