Aretha Franklin, Named 'Greatest Singer of All Time' in Rolling Stone Poll, Has First-Ever Christmas CD Exclusively at Borders
Borders Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Borders Group Inc.)
ANN ARBOR, MI UNITED STATES
Aretha Franklin, Named 'Greatest Singer of All Time' in Rolling Stone Poll, Has First-Ever Christmas CD Exclusively at Borders. (PRNewsFoto/Borders)
ANN ARBOR, MI UNITED STATES
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Christmas has come early to the
Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin graces the cover of the Nov. 27 issue of
Rolling Stone magazine, having topped its list of "100 Greatest Singers of All
Time." This extraordinary distinction comes as Ms. Franklin has also recently
released her first-ever Christmas album, "This Christmas Aretha," which is
sold exclusively at Borders, Waldenbooks and on Borders.com. The recording,
produced by Tena Clark and Aretha Franklin for DMI Records, features classic
and contemporary songs infused with Aretha Franklin's trademark gospel, soul,
R&B and classical styles. It is destined to become a holiday classic that
fans will enjoy each year for many decades to come.
"Borders is truly honored to be working with Ms. Franklin and thrilled
that she has earned the top spot on the Rolling Stone list," said Borders
Group Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing Rob Gruen.
"This distinction is richly deserved as she has maintained incredible vocal
proficiency and her inimitable style throughout a career that has spanned more
than 40 years. In all that time, she has never -- until now -- recorded a
full Christmas album. Borders is ecstatic to be the only place where fans will
find this new CD and we thank Ms. Franklin for giving us this very special
opportunity."
"This Christmas Aretha" has 11 tracks that include: "Angels We Have Heard
on High," "This Christmas," "My Grown-Up Christmas List," "The Lord Will Make
A Way," "Silent Night," "Ave Maria," "Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without The
One You Love)," "14 Angels," "One Night With The King," "Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
The CD is available at all Borders and Waldenbooks stores nationwide and
on Borders.com. It can also be purchased as a download at
http://musicdownloads.borders.com/ where single songs or the entire album can
be downloaded.
About Aretha Franklin
Known around the world by her first name, Aretha Franklin has achieved
global recognition on an unprecedented scale. She is one of the most
influential and important voices in the history of pop music. Her
ever-distinctive, soulful, to-the-bone vocal style has graced music charts for
over four decades and her live performances have touched the hearts of tens of
millions since she began her musical journey in Detroit as a singing child
prodigy. Aretha Franklin has earned countless international and national
awards as well as accolades and global recognition on an unprecedented scale
including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Kennedy Center Honor, the
American National Medal of the Arts Award, 18 GRAMMY(R) Awards including Best
Female R&B Vocal Performance for eight consecutive years, a GRAMMY Legend
Award, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, and five American Music Awards.
In 1987, she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,
and in 1979, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Earlier this
year, she was named 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year by the Recording Academy
and she was presented with the prestigious NAACP Vanguard Award.
About DMI Records
Aretha Franklin joins a growing list of major artists who are
collaborating with DMI for upcoming projects. Founded by Tena Clark, one of
the first female record producers in the music industry, DMI is home to a
talented roster of music and marketing executives. Clark and Franklin are
producing "This Christmas Aretha" together. DMI Records is a division of the
leading music and branding agency DMI Music & Media Solutions.
About Borders Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP), is a
leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000 employees.
Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100 stores
worldwide primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names and
recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. For more information, visit
www.borders.com/aboutus .
