Last December, Aretha Franklin made the normally composed President Barack Obama cry when she performed “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” at the Kennedy Center. So it makes sense she was invited to the White House for the 2016 All-Star Global Concert, held in honor of International Jazz Day (April 30).
Franklin was amongst the likes of Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, and Sting, but she easily stood out. The legend performed a truncated but transcendent rendition of “Purple Rain” in honor of Prince after some kind words from Hancock.
“The son of a jazz pianist, whose music inspired a new generation of artists to create without boundaries,” he said. “Courageous, playful, wise, brilliant and a feast for the eyes and ears, Prince epitomized the word ‘music.'”
Prince tributes have brought out the best in today’s most talented artists following the Purple One’s death (See: D’Angelo). See Franklin’s remembrance at the 74-minute mark below (h/t Idolator).
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GsmnWg0pneY
