Music History

Who wrote and originally recorded "Respect" before Aretha Franklin?

Moviestillsdb.com

There are the most popular singers of all time, and then there's Aretha.

Across a career that successfully spanned multiple decades and eras, Aretha Franklin's global record sales have topped over 75 million. And among her many, many other accolades, she even received a Presidential Medal of Freedom — deservedly so.

But did you know that what many consider as her signature song had actually already been recorded and released by this musician? Let's see if you know who that artist was...

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