Music / Civil rights & activism
Erma Franklin
1938–2002 · singer
Aretha Franklin's elder sister, raised at New Bethel Baptist Church, who recorded the original "Piece of My Heart" (1967).
- Born
Shelby, Mississippi- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 64- Birth name
- Erma Vernice Franklin
- Detroit years
- 1940s–2002
- Field
- Music, Civil rights & activism
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Erma Franklin was the eldest daughter of Rev. C. L. Franklin and grew up in Detroit, where her father was pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church; she, Aretha and Carolyn sang there as girls. After studying business at Clark College in Atlanta, she toured and sang backup with Aretha, including on "Respect". In 1967 she recorded the original "Piece of My Heart", written and produced by Bert Berns and Jerry Ragovoy; it was an R&B Top 10 hit and earned a Grammy nomination a year before Janis Joplin's version, and it charted again in Britain in 1992 after a Levi's commercial. She left the industry in the mid-1970s and for 25 years worked at the Boysville Holy Cross community center, which serves disadvantaged Detroit children. She sang at Nelson Mandela's 1990 rally at Tiger Stadium, died of cancer in Detroit in 2002 and is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Highlights
- Original version of "Piece of My Heart" (1967), Grammy-nominated
- Backing vocals on Aretha Franklin's "Respect"
- Sang at Nelson Mandela's 1990 Tiger Stadium rally
- Worked 25 years for Boysville Holy Cross in Detroit
- National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame induction announced 2026
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 4
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Performed here · 1940s–1950s
New Bethel Baptist Church
Her father's church, where she sang with her sisters as a girl.
Performed here · 1990
Tiger Stadium
Demolished · 1912–2009
She performed at Nelson Mandela's rally here on June 28, 1990. The stadium was demolished in 2009.
Performed here · 1986
orsa Music Hall (Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts)
She was a guest on Aretha Franklin's 1986 Showtime special filmed here.
Buried here · 2002
Woodlawn Cemetery
Her grave, near other Franklin family members.