“Is that…is that Aretha?!?!”
In the Summer of 2008 I was getting my first record mastered at Capitol Records, it was my first time there and the engineer gave me a tour of the studios. We walked down a hall and one of the doors was shut but I could hear a voice singing that I’ve heard thousands of times before. I turned and said “Is that…is that Aretha?!?!?”, the engineer smiled to confirm and I almost spontaneously combusted in excitement. On the other side of that door was one of the best voices in rock & roll.
Throughout the day I kept walking down the hall hoping the door would open and I could get a glimpse, and sure enough it was wide open later that afternoon. I peered in, but no one was there, and the studio was covered with Christmas decorations. I figured it out quickly, Aretha was recording a holiday album in the middle of Summer and was using the decorations to get in the “spirit”, she was such a pro. I didn’t get to meet her, but knowing I was working down the hall from one of my heroes was truly inspiring.
I heard Aretha left us today, I hope she knows how much we all love her for sharing her voice.
Love,
SJ
