Aretha Franklin went through a lot of changes over the six decades of her performing career.
The Queen of Soul also embraced rhythm and blues, rock and roll and pop music. Her eclecticism helped her top the charts over and over again and become an intergenerational icon.
But through all the changes to her style and presentation, Aretha maintained one tradition: she always took the stage with a purse on her arm. It was a subtle ritual, and not really part of Aretha's show — she tended to place the purse out of view almost immediately.
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The fact was, no matter how large Aretha's legend loomed, she wouldn't perform before getting paid, according to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul author Mark Bego.
"She would never get on stage without her purse," Bego told 710 WOR New York's Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning. "That is an old show business thing; you either pay me in full before I get on stage, in cash, or I'm not getting on stage."
Aretha even carried bedazzled handbag onstage with her during her legendary Kennedy Center Honors Performance in honor of Carole King. During her rendition of "(You Make Be Feel Like) A Natural Woman" that brought President Obama (and so many others) to tears, the sparkly purse was laid atop the piano — where she could see it.
Like Bego says, Aretha was far from the only performer to demand payment before singing, though she might have been the most famous. Legend has it that Chuck Berry would count his money backstage before going on.
A bonafide legend for the majority of her near-60-year career, Aretha was rarely at a loss for bookings or collaborators. As Bego explains, the ball was in Aretha's court for most of the '70s and '80s in terms of what she wanted to do, and how much she wanted to do it.
"She was so well-respected in the business that people were always seeking out the new Aretha Franklin album," Bego continued. "Where would she go? Who would she sing with? ...She would constantly align herself with whoever was hot in the music industry."
You can listen to the full conversation with Bego in the player below.
Photo: Getty Images