Grandstand for Soul: Ron and Darnita Williams celebrate Aretha in Cologne!

Grandstand for Soul: Ron and Darnita Williams celebrate Aretha in Cologne!

Köln-Lindenthal, Deutschland - On June 13, 2025, visitors to the Lindenthal district of Cologne experienced a musical highlight. Ron Williams and Darnita Williams performed in the renowned record shop "Good Mood Records" and presented their new song "Ain’t But the One" from the show "Respect - The Aretha Franklin Story". This event was a foretaste of the upcoming Cologne summer festival, which will take place from July 29 to August 3, 2025 in the Philharmonie. The show celebrates life and music of the legendary Aretha Franklin.

"Good Mood Records", a meeting point for rock’n’roll, blues and soul fans, is managed by Michele Sander and has made a name for itself in the past five years. During the performance, Ron and Darnita Williams spoke about their personal connection to the "Queen of Soul". Ron Williams emphasized the enormous musical heritage Aretha Franklins and emphasized their influence on both artists and society.

The influence of Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin published her iconic version of "Respect" in April 1967 at the age of 24 and landed in first place on the Billboard charts, where the song stayed for twelve weeks. Otis Redding originally released the song in 1965, but Franklin transformed it into a powerful hymn of women's reflection and the fight for civil rights. Her arrangement and the changed texts made “Respect” a battle cry for girls and women and the voice of an entire movement.

It is particularly important to mention that Franklin was already active and was on tour with sizes like Martin Luther King Jr. Her version of the song became a significant for many movement and inspired generations. The recordings she made on February 14, 1967 together with her sisters Carolyn and Erma included the iconic sentence "Sock it to me", which became the culture of that time.

experiences of the artists

ron Williams looks back on an impressive career that includes over five decades. He participated in more than 800 television programs and was awarded a special price of the Inthega board in 2024. Darnita Williams has over 35 years of experience and has worked with artists such as Morgan Freeman and Mariah Carey. She said that the challenge and honor of interpreting Aretha Franklin's songs live were particularly important for her.

The two artists are accompanied by five singers and a ten -member band on the show "Respect - The Aretha Franklin Story". Ron Williams, as an expert for Black Music, will lead the audience by Aretha Franklin's fascinating life and their impressive career, which certainly promises an unforgettable experience.