You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. While they were able to make ends meet financially, they were by no means wealthy. However, Franklins lawyer at the time, William Mitchel III, did say that Edward was the type of person who needs support care people to get him around from this place to that place, according toThe Telegraph,and also added thatMrs. He found out about it only later, in 1951. He was married to Arethas mother, Barbara Siggers Franklin, from 1952 until their divorce in 1964. Now that Meredith is gone, it is business as usual at Grey Sloan Memorial. Do Lutherans believe in free will or predestination? Back After Life-Threatening Coma, Exploring Andie McPhees Journey Through Dawsons Creek, How Andra Days Scar Shaped Her Singing Career, Andell Wilkerson: Yvette Wilsons Iconic Role on The Parkers, Annie LeBlancs Real Name Uncovered Julianna. Aretha first gave birth to her son named, Clarence, who was named after her father. She gave birth to him when she was just 12 years old. The net worth of Clarence at the time of his death was $11 million. ! the New York Daily News said he wrote on Facebook. Franklin, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. She dearly loves her childrenbut we were part of that generation of young female singers who definitely sacrificed time with our kids to attend to our careers. Looks Good & Really Scary! He sings, too, and hes looking for his own record deal., Franklin said that while Edward and Clarence werent as interested in music as Kecalf and Ted, she would want them all to appear on a family album if they were open to it. His father's name is Edward Jordan, but much like the father of Aretha's first born, not many details have been discovered about Jordan as well. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. Aretha Franklin - Wikipedia. Jordan was described as a "player" who Franklin once knew in David Ritz's 2014 biography, 'Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin'. The record doesn't identify the man beyond noting he's the father of one of her four sons, but it appears to be her first husband, Ted White, who served for a time. was her childs father, but the boys real father was a man named Donald Burk, who Franklin met while they were attending school. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', SUBSCRIBE: po.st/TMZSubscribe About TMZ: TMZ has consistently been credited for breaking the biggest stories dominating the entertainment news landscape and. In a 1995 interview with Katz Tapes, Franklin spoke about her sons and their love of music. Edward Jordan is the father of two of Franklin's sons. She didnt have any daughters, all of her children are boys. For other inquiries, Contact Us. In unreleased footage from Sydney Pollacks documentary shoot, C.L. A lot of times as an African American woman, I feel in my struggles that Im alone, she said. According to Billboard, traces of accelerants were found in some of the remains of Aretha Franklins home, and were also found on Edward Franklins clothing. The documents also revealed that the father of Arethas first child was Edward Jordan. Police were told he walked out on his own.. He also has a musical career of his own, having released three full albums thus far under the stage name Teddy Richards., Richards has said of his love for music, via MusicPage, Ive evolved from a self-taught guitarist into a producer, engineer, and accomplished tunesmith; I truly love music and enjoy the journey that its taken me on.. A fourth potential will has also recently been discovered, which again was supposedly written by Franklin. Barbara died in 1952 when she was just 34 years old, but Clarence didn't even go to her funeral. His name is Mel Sumouski and he is voiced by John DiMaggio. She welcomed her second child, Edward Derone Franklin on August 31, 1957. According to the Daily News, Cunningham also took exception to The Queen Next Door: Aretha Franklin, An Intimate Portrait, a 2019 biography from her photographer Linda Solomon. Neither Franklin nor his mother made any public comment about the incident, however, Edwards lawyer, William Mitchell III, said that Eddie was the type of person who needs a lot of support carepeople to get him around from this place to that place, but didnt explain exactly what he meant by that. While not depicted in the film, the title was bestowed on Franklin in early 1967 by Chicago disc jockeys Pervis Spann and E. Rodney Jones. David J. Bennett, the lawyer for Franklins estate, has come out against Kecalfs petition for executor, saying he lacks the capability to be a personal representative. The judge in the case is asking that the family find a mediator to settle their differences out of court. Jordan, Victorie, and Grace Franklin are all Aretha Franklin's grandchildren. Edward Jordan is the father of Aretha Franklin's first two sons; Clarence Franklin and Edward Franklin. She was 76 years old. Hasan Minhaj Brings His Powerpoints and Power Suits to Independent Spirit Awards, Travis Barkers Finger Is Now the Enema of Blink-182 Fans. 2023 www.freep.com. What was written suggested that he was completely absent from Clarences life. At one point, her father said that one day she would sing for Kings and Queens, and like he said, she did sing for them. We did so knowingly.. Franklin herself never revealed the identity of the father of either of the boys, but a 2014 biography by David Ritz called " Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin " claimed that the. Weve got romance, breakups, emotionally loaded dumplings this episode has a little bit of everything! Clarence then got married to Barbara Siggers. Aretha Franklin was one of the most successful American singers of all time and the first ever woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is unclear exactly what these provisions are, but it is likely that they involve some form of financial support or assistance to help him manage his day-to-day life. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Per the Free Press, series writer Parks responded to Cunninghams comments. She was 12 when she gave birth to Clarence, and some accounts through the years contended the father was a schoolmate named Donald Burke. He performed with his mother publicly on several occasions, singing a Christmas duet at one point. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. Aretha was one of the greatest singers of all time. Though she is no longer with us, her music forever lives with us. Aretha Franklin's son lashes out at upcoming biopic and urges fans to boycott it; Aretha Franklin's 10 greatest songs ever, ranked Tommy and her team say they sought to present a Franklin story that felt authentic, and they took pains to nail certain detailsdissecting her recordings to accurately recreate the music, for instance, or using original blueprints to replicate the Franklin family home. NEITHER ENTITY FELT THE NEED TO CONTACT THE (CORE) FAMILY ABOUT ANYTHING!!!!. [There was] an interlude featuring her son Kecalf Cunningham, a Christian rapper, who came with a backpack, a hoodie and some cheap-sounding recorded tracks, NYTs Nate Chinen wrote. The couple neer married, but Franklin reportedly referred to Jordan as the father of her two sons in her handwritten wills. Aretha made special provisions for Clarence in her handwritten wills, revealing her commitment to her sons well-being even after her death in 2018. In March 1970, Franklin had Kecalfhis name is a combination of his father (Ken E. Cunningham) and mothers initials (Aretha L. Franklin). Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). I have not been a star since. All three documents viewable here, here, and here via the Detroit Free Press as well as a petition for the courts to validate the 2014 will brought by Franklins youngest son, Kecalf include a lot of underlining and strike-throughs, additions above and below the lines of text, and notes in the margins. Franklin was twice divorced. The cause of the accident is murky. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time., Franklin became pregnant shortly after her first child, Clarence was born, after being involved with a man named Edward Jordan, whom she would later describe as a player.. When Aretha passed, Edward sang Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" as a musical tribute to her. But her agent Ruth Bowen, talking years later with biographer Ritz and relaying what she had been told by one of Franklins assistants, claimed the singer may have been tipsy.. Franklin was also reportedly her sons business manager when he started his music career. She named her second son Edward, after his father Edward Jordan, and he was born on January 22, 1957which, ironically, was his grandfather C.L. Two years after Clarence's arrival, Aretha had another son at age 14. All Rights Reserved. By the time Aretha married for the first time at 19, she was already a mother-of-two and would go onto have her third child with first husband Ted White. "We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. Hudson reveals what Aretha Franklin said about 'Respect' movie in private talks, Years in the making: The story behind Aretha Franklins long quest for a biopic, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The court-appointed guardian for her eldest son, Clarence, has argued in court that the wills cannot be authenticated. Aretha was just 14 years old when she gave birth to Edward, whose nickname is Eddie.. Can Anyone Predict Whos Going to Win Best Supporting Actress? Clarence Franklin was the celebrity father of an American singer and civil rights activist named Aretha Franklin. Theres not much record of his music, but a 2008 New York Times review indicates that he once performed with Aretha at Radio City Music Hall. Just as we did with the Purple Ones complex legacy, Vulture is attempting to break down what Franklins wills mean for her estate, how any of this might get settled in or out of court, and what the last testaments reveal about her life such as the paternity of one of her children and which employees she felt the need to take a few digs at. She has also been included in the National Women's Hall of Fame. Growing up with a gospel background, her father did allow her to listen or to perform pop music because he appreciated gifted artists and never tried to limit his children in any way concerning music or anything like that, Aretha said during a 1999 radio interview. Franklin's oldest son, Clarence was born when she was 12 years old in 1955. . Powered by. Aretha went right back to school after having Clarence, said her older sister, Erma a Grammy nominated singer who passed away in 2002according Ritz's book. Reviewing the performance, The New York Times suggested that Kecalf, who raps under his birth name and stage name KPoint, may still have some growing to do as an artist. She performed a tribute to her grandmother at the BET Honors ceremony in 2004, singing Tamela Manns Take Me to the King. Victorie, a rising Howard University rising sophomore, has also performed at family functions, including her grandmothers Christmas party in 2016. After what felt like ages, it was a relief to have Ms. Franklin return, energies renewed, to belt out Chain of Fools., #QueenOfSoul great photo of #ArethaFranklin and her son Kecalf Cunningham stand under a newly unveiled street sign named in her honor outside Detroit's Music Hall in 2017. source Guralnick/Detroit News via AP pic.twitter.com/9VHiXK5JfQ, NAME DEPOT (@thenamedepot) August 16, 2018. . Aretha Franklins son Clarence is the son of the late Reverend C. L. Franklin, a minister at New Bethel Baptist Church and father to Aretha and five other children. He is an old-fashioned hillbilly and can be quite rough around the edges. By this point, Franklin was only 14 years old and already had two children, Clarence and Edward. See footage of that in the above below: In 2015, Edward sang a tribute song in honor of his grandfather,Rev. Kecalf is a Christian rapper who, like his older brothers, has also performed with his superstar mother several times on stage, most notably during her 2008 concert at Radio City Music Hall. Barbara died because of a heart attack. Vulture described him as the Shaquille ONeal of Christian rap, saying that he has been allotted rap resources for reasons other than rap aptitude.. Aretha had married twice throughout her lifetime and got engaged once. Teddy Richards live in Germany (solo-acoustic) In Your Garden. The financials are a bit murky, as at times they are said to be distributed equally but it is also specified that Clarences situation be handled separately. Along with Reverend Franklin, Aretha is also buried alongide two of her sisters, Erma and Carolyn. Franklin, had a successful career as a pastor and civil rights leader, but he did not have much money or material wealth. After Franklins death, the four brothers unanimously approved of her becoming executor, while the 2014 will says Kecalf should fill that role; instead, Owens would receive $200,000, with $50,000 going to Franklins now-deceased half-sister, Carl Ellan Kelley. With Aretha buzz in the air, here's what you should know about the lives of her children. He was born in 1931, making him 24 years old when Franklin gave birth to their son Clarence in 1955. Franklins kin say the movie whiffed on another intimate family detail. As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Cunningham also voiced his displeasure with the NatGeo show. When soul icon .css-9cezh6{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#E61957;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-9cezh6:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Aretha Franklin died in 2018, she left behind not only a mammoth catalog of hits, but four children. Eight years later, in 2010, Edward was badly injured in an attack by two men and a woman outside a gas station in Detroit. Per Ritzs book, Franklin gave birth to her second child, Eddie, at age 14, and never spoke much about the childs namesake. There were rumors that Franklin had an affair with legendary singer Sam Cooke around the time of Edwards birth, and that he was the childs actual father, however, there has never been any evidence to support that theory. Debut director Liesl Tommy's vision and Tracey Scott . Another document included with that will states that a different handwritten will from 1972-1973ish was either stolen or went missing and is no good today.. Unbeknownst to many, the Queen of Soul has four sons and as the world mourns the loss of a music icon, Ted, Kecalf, Clarence, and Edward are mourning their beloved mother. We may earn commission from the links on this page. Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com. Franklin specifically willed her gold records and CDs, awards, cars, and piano to her children as well as her papers, which she wanted to see donated to a college music department. Edward Jordan Sr and Aretha Franklin are also blessed with two sons. In honor of her legacy and memory, many people have come forward to express ther wishes to help him live a comfortable life and be taken care of properly all thanks to his famous mother! She was introduced to Theodore "Ted" White by fellow singer Della Reese. Ke Huy Quan Continues His Winning Streak at the Independent Spirit Awards. . As the showrunner of Genius: Aretha, I can tell you that every single day (and twice on Sunday! Home Lifestyle Celebrities The Life Story of Aretha Franklins Son Clarence Franklin. Regardless of the details, it is clear that Aretha wanted her son to be taken care of and she wanted him to have access to whatever resources and support he may need. Grant Rindner is a culture and music journalist in New York. However, Franklins lawyer, Mitchell, said that the chemicals on his clothing were simply the result of his contact with materials used for storage. _taboola.push({ But in a will purportedly handwritten by Franklin and discovered after her 2018 death, she identifies a man named Edward Jordan Sr. as the father of Clarence. In the notes, Franklin outlined her post humous wishes and how she wanted her sons to be looked after. Given her father's reputation for preying on pre-teen girls, it was rumored that he might be the father . They were said to get wed soon but called off the engagement. Per the Times, under Michigan law, the family could bypass questions of the validity of the wills if all heirs can come to an agreement. In the interim, a lack of control over the estate has put its business interests on hold: The Times reports that an MGM Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson will move forward without the estates permission, claiming to have secured the necessary rights and Franklins blessing while she was alive, as will a NatGeo season of Genius dedicated to the singer. Crash, Regina Kings Son Ian Alexander Jr. Dead at 26 From Apparent Suicide Days After Birthday, Will Smith, Deon Taylor, Jason Lee, Draymond Green, Joseph Sikora, DaBaby & More on the Red Carpet of Emancipation Premiere in Los Angeles. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Arethas mother left the home when she was just six years old, leaving her father to raise her and her siblings alone. Terms of Service apply. But behind the Queen of Soul's public faade lies an . His fathers name is Edward Jordan, but much like the father of Arethas first born, not many details have been discovered about Jordan as well. Aretha married first husband Ted White in 1961 when she was 19 and . Clarences dad is 45 years old. The estate is currently represented by David J. Bennett, the same lawyer Franklin called grossly inefficient in 2010, and he hopes the four brothers and their attorneys will, with the help of a mediator, come to an agreement on all matters before ending up in court like Princes family. The father of Kecalf was Aretha's road manager named, Ken Cunningham. How Tyrel Jackson Williams Brought TikTok Cringe to, Its sort of a newer version of the L.A. actor ride that Kyle is on the first two seasons, but its worse.. Between 1955 and 1970, Franklin had sons Clarence, Edward, Teddy, and Kecalf, all of whom ultimately followed their mother into the music world in various forms. I got a kick outta seeing how Gods people were going for it hard and heavy every which way. Edward's name was hidden until Aretha's will was discovered in 2019 that mentioned him as Clarence's father. Her four children were Clarence Franklin (born 1955), Edward Franklin (born 1957), Ted White Jr. (born 1964) and Kecalf Cunningham (born 1970). The father was not revealed for a long time and later was revealed to be Edward Jordan, with whom she had another child named Edward Derone Franklin later on August 31, 1957 . He has written for Billboard, Complex, and i-D, among other outlets. "Respect" follows the story of Aretha Franklin's rise in the music industry, detailing childhood sexual assault that birthed two pregnancies by the age of 14, and domestic violence by the man she loved, with the discretion and subtlety of its heroine. His name is an acronym of both Aretha and Kens full namesKen E. Cunningham and Aretha Louise Franklin (K-E-C-A-L-F). Our editors handpick the products that we feature. His father was Ken Cunningham (aka Ken E. Cunningham ), the one-time Kecalf's road manager. Zodiac Sign: Capricorn. After just a few weeks of dating, the pair got hitched in 1961 when Franklin was 19. According David Ritz's 2015 book Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, she gave birth to her first child in 1955, just prior to turning 13. But according to The Washington Post, after just a few years in Detroit, Siggers ended her relationship with Franklin's father and moved back to Buffalo.Despite the breakup of her parents' marriage, Smooth Radio writes that Franklin continued to see her mother . Kecalf has also worked to highlight his mother's history of activism. But the real-life incident happened much earlier, whenFranklin was tasting her first success with Atlantic. Sadly, Aretha passed away in 2018 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 76. In 2018, he appeared in a YouTube video from the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards with his children Victorie and Jordan Franklin and spoke about her efforts. Though she initiallyhesitated to releasethe track, it soonappeared on her seventh Atlantic Recordsalbum, alongside another Beatles cover, Eleanor Rigby.. According to the Daily Mail, at one point, rumors began to spread that Franklins father C.L. Her son Clarence was named after Franklins father, a successful minister who usually went by C.L. Afrikaans; Alemannisch; ; Aragons; ; Arpetan; Asturianu; Azrbaycanca; ; Bn-lm-g; Aretha never liked to talk about her early pregnancies. Why she never had her will professionally done remains a mystery, though her mentions of inept employees her primary but grossly inefficient attorney and an accountant who forgot to remind her about a tax payment that ended up costing her $90,000 suggest she was wary of letting anyone else handle the task. C.L. Franklin was the mother of four sons. Edward Jr. became interested in music at a young age. According to the New York Times, two of them, Kecalf and Edward, favor abiding by the 2014 will, while Teddy and Clarence dont. 1968 - Best R&B Recording & Performance - Respect 1969 - Best R&B Performance - Chain of Fools 1970 - Best R&B Performance - Share Your Love With Me 1971 - Best R&B Performance - Don't Play That Song 1972 - Best R&B Performance - Bridge Over Troubles Water 1973 - Best R&B Performance - Young, Gifted & Black - Amazing Grace. While Princes estate was set to be divided among his sister Tyka and his five half-siblings with nothing slated for his deceased brothers children, Franklins will accounts for her sons. My sons grew up pretty much the same way I did, she said. Ray Charles, who encountered C.L. Aretha Franklin died on August 16th at the age of 76 at her Detroit home after several days in hospice care following a long battle with pancreatic cancer. When Aretha passed away from pancreatic cancer, her family believed she had never filed a will. Franklin, is the movie directorial debut of Broadway veteran Liesl Tommy. Aretha described Eddies father, Edward Jordan, as just some player. Eddie and Clarence were often looked after by Arethas grandmother Rachel and her sister Emma as her recording career took off in the coming years. The division of Franklin's estate, which has an estimated value of up to $80m, will now be debated in court as moderators try and authenticate the document. She first became pregnant at the age of 12 and gave birth to her first child, named Clarence after her father, [74] on January 28, 1955. She named her second son Edward, after his father Edward Jordan, and he was born on January 22, 1957which, ironically, was his grandfather C.L. And my other son, Teddy, plays guitar. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Meanwhile, Teddy has asked that all three wills be recognized as a summation of Franklins wishes, and that he be added as executor alongside Owens. Neither Franklin nor his mother made any public comment about the incident. As the world continues to deal with the shock of Aretha Franklins passing from cancer at age 76, were taking a minute to focus on her children, whom she loved dearly. Edward also sang at a memorial service in June 2015 for his grandfather, Rev. Clarence was mentioned in one of Arethas handwritten wills which was discovered in 2019. No, Aretha Franklin did not have a baby by her father. Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, passed away in her home on Aug. 16, 2018 after a quiet battle with pancreatic cancer, her publicist confirmed (via NPR). Both newly discovered wills have a few things in common. Her second child, Edward, was born in 1957 when Aretha was 14. But one of the wills states that Clarence's father was Edward Jordan Sr., with whom she also had her second son, Edward, in 1957. Edward Franklin (son, born to Aretha Franklin and Edward Jordan) Date of Birth: January 5, 1957. But for moviegoers getting their first look at Respect this weekend, there are bound to be questions about key moments and plot points depicted onscreen. In fact, that January 1970 release by Franklin beat the Beatles to the punch: The world wouldnt hear the group's own version of Let It Be until their single was released two months later. The document names Clarence's father as Edward Jordan Sr., another local boy with whom she shared her second son, Edward, born when Franklin was 15. After their split, Franklin went on to marry Glynn Turman in 1978. They got divorced in 1969 after the couple was separated in 1968. Franklin after an abusive relation. ! he wrote. Aretha and her Son Eddie Franklin sing a soulsational "This Christmas" Duet. Cunningham has spoken out against not only the Genius series, but also the biopic Respect, which stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha. Aretha Franklins four sons inherited her estate following her passing in 2018. Clarence pictured with his younger brother Kecalf and Aretha. Jordan is described in David Ritz's 2014 biography, Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin, as a "player" whom Franklin once knew. Edward Jordan accused of fatally shooting 49-year-old neighbor. James said she ran to her dressing room in tears, later to be consoled by some mentoring words from Washington herself just like Respect depicts the Aretha situation. Edward is the second of Aretha's four sons. He is Clarences step-father, meaning he is married to Clarences mother and has taken on the role of beig a father figure for Clarence. Youve got some Janning to do! Yet the soul superstar also took the opportunity to take a swipe at his father, Edward Sr. On page 6 of the lengthy 16-page document, she unambigously declared Edward Sr. should have no claim to any stake in her estate. The child was named after his father, Edward. Aretha Franklin with her son - McDGospelfest 2013 in NJ Aretha Franklin singing with her son at McDonald's Gospelfest . Wilkerson died of complications from COVID-19 in April 2020. At age 12, the music legend gave birth to her first child, Clarence, in 1955. After Franklin passed away, Edward reportedly paid tribute to his grandfather by singing one of his mothers favorite gospel songs, His Eye Is On a Sparrow. Edward, also known as Eddie, reportedly brought the house down, receiving a standing ovation from the audience that left many crying, per theDetroit News. As she accepts her Someone to Watch award on stage. Yet her family are now hitting the headlines for a very different reason - they are locked in a bitter war battling over her will, after the discovery of four explosive handwritten notes supposedly dividing her estate between her sons. Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. In 2002, Edward Franklin was reportedly named as one of the suspects in a 2002 fire at Aretha Franklins 10,000 home in Detroit. Aretha FranklinBio Details. While the 2014 will says his brothers and other representatives of the estate are to look after him, the 2010 version is more specific, giving Clarence $150 per week and leaving instructions to provide him with seasonal clothing. Two years later, she had a second baby boy named Edward with a local friend. In the will, Franklin emphatically declares that Clarence's father is to receive no money or property: "He has never made any contribution to his welfare, future or past.". He was a part Franklin's star-studded funeral service Friday (Aug. 31) at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, MI, singing Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" as a tribute to his mother. According to NBC News, after the singers death, her family reportedly uncovered three handwritten wills in her home. C.L. Per a 2019 piece from The New York Times, her son Teddy played guitar at Arethas live shows for 25 years, while Edward sang gospel music, and her eldest, Clarence, reportedly has made music as well. It appears that Franklins estate wont be nearly as complicated as the mess Prince left behind (with all of his sibling drama and extremely convoluted finances, which included hefty tax bills and a trove of unreleased recordings), but there are still plenty of questions. Clarence Franklin. Teddy Richards is likely the most prolific and successful musician in the family. Is Frankie Valli Still Alive And How Old Is He? The song In Your Garden was appears on Teddy's CD Gravity. Unfortunately, he is no longer among us. Music written or performed by Clarence Franklin is difficult to find record of today. Get to know Aretha Franklin's father, C. L. Franklin, husband Ted White, and her family. At age 12, the music legend gave birth to her first child, Clarence, in 1955. giving birth to her son Clarence (named after Aretha's father) in 1955. Argent Ordnance: Charge Up Your Rocket Launcher! She then had another child when she was 14-years-old by Edward Jordan - who her brother . Edward Franklin is the second oldest son of Aretha Franklin, born on January 22, 1957 to Franklin and Edward Jordan. Franklins gospel group in the 1950s said: When it came to pure heart singing, they were motherf*****s. When it came to pure sex, they were wilder than meand thats saying something.