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Why Aretha Franklin called off her 1968 Red Rocks at the last minute

During Aretha's 1968 schedule concert, she actually didn't end up singing due to a fee dispute.
Aretha Franklin refused to sing on stage at Red Rocks in 1968, causing a riot among some of her fans that ended up in the news.

"Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, passed away at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.

While the nation is remembering her and the numerous sensational songs she produced, we're also remembering her visits to Colorado.

Aretha Franklin, also known as the "Queen of Soul," passed away at the age of 76 after battling pancreatic cancer.

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Her most notable appearance was 50 years ago in August 1968, when she was set to perform at Red Rocks.

Back then, prices of tickets were a whopping $6, which seems unimaginable for Red Rocks tickets, now.

However, this concert didn't go down in history as a good one. In fact, Franklin didn't even sing.

Apparently, she signed a contract calling for $20,000 to be paid before she performed. Unfortunately, her promoter lost some money and told Franklin that he wouldn't be able to pay her until the next morning.

So, Franklin announced on stage that she simply wouldn't sing.

Aretha Franklin refused to sing on stage at Red Rocks in 1968, causing a riot among some of her fans that ended up in the news.

After hearing this, some people left peacefully, but a few upset fans started a riot -not just a simple chant expressing their disappointment, though. They broke chairs and music stands, damaged a grand piano and even set fire to trees, bushes and trash piles.

The aftermath of a riot in 1968 at Red Rocks after Aretha Franklin refused to sing.
The aftermath of a riot in 1968 at Red Rocks after Aretha Franklin refused to sing.
Aretha Franklin refused to sing on stage at Red Rocks in 1968, causing a riot among some of her fans that ended up in the news.

That night, Franklin went back to the Denver Hilton where she was staying and said that she did plan on performing and she even brought her team of 23 people all the way to Colorado to do so.

Franklin was actually in Denver three years prior to her scheduled Red Rocks performance.

She performed at the NAACP Convention Grand Ball on July 3, 1965. An article in a local African American newspaper, "The Denver Blade," covered the performance in their paper.

"Miss Franklin's style is not easily defined - she has the ability to move into an intricate jazz tune and perform vocal gymnastics - and then slip into a simple ballad," a snippet from the newspaper said.

A snippet from a newspaper back in 1965 about Aretha Franklin coming to perform in Denver.

"The Denver Blade" also noted Franklin, someone who is now known as the "Queen of Soul," as a "competent pianist -- because she sometimes accompanies herself on piano while she sings."

If only they know that the "competent pianist" that they covered in their newspaper will go down in history as the "Queen of Soul".

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