(Credits: Far Out / Larry Rogers)
Sun 12 October 2025 13:26, UK
The Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards, may not be blessed with a voice that was sculpted from angels; however, he has rubbed shoulders with plenty of legendary singers.
For most of his career, Richards has been side-by-side with Mick Jagger, who moulded the archetype when it comes to being a rock ‘n’ roll frontman. However, while Jagger is capable of reaching up to the skies to pull out an impeccable high note, his forte has always been his infectious energy and showmanship rather than vocal skills.
Together, Richards and Jagger are a match made in heaven, who have been getting the best out of one another for as long as they can remember. Yet, despite the reverence that Richards has for his partner in crime, Jagger doesn’t come close to topping his list when it comes to the greatest singers of all time.
Everybody with a basic knowledge of Richards is aware that he’s a devout lover of rhythm and blues, which is a genre that has soundtracked his life for as long as he could talk. His mother, Doris, indoctrinated him to these sounds as a child by keeping him occupied with the soothing sounds of the radio playing constantly. While she sadly departed decades ago, that love she passed on remains part of his life and offers a window back into his childhood.
Yet, when it comes to singers, Richards once said that the greatest vocalist of all time is ‘Lady Soul’ herself, Aretha Franklin. Richards made the admission back in 2008 when the guitarist participated in a Rolling Stone survey which attempted to uncover the greatest singer of all time by asking musical icons for their selections.
Keith Richards with Mick Jagger. (Credits: Far Out / Alamy)
“Being the Queen is not all about singing,” the late soul icon once proclaimed, “It has much to do with your service to people… your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well. Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It can take you right back, it’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”
For many years, Richards admired Franklin’s magnificence from afar until one day, when he found himself performing alongside one of his heroes. He had the thrill of seeing her magic up close and personal in 1986 when she took on The Rolling Stones’ song ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ with the assistance of himself and bandmate, Ronnie Wood.
The cover, which took the song to another dimension, only reiterated and intensified his appreciation of her talent. Not only could Franklin deliver the goods in the studio, but she could also sing every note under the sun on stage without any technological assistance. In Richards’ view, nobody else comes close.
Franklin made history when she became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Fittingly, the person who had the honour of inducting her in Cleveland was her biggest fan.
“The dictionary has been used up, there’s no superlatives left, and there’s nothing to read anyway,” Richards said in his muddled speech before bursting into a fit of laughter. “What can I say about Aretha? You’re in baby. My turn next, maybe?” he added half-jokingly before welcoming her family, who accepted the award on the singer’s behalf.
Sadly, in 2018, a light went out in the musical world when Franklin’s life came to an end following a lengthy battle with cancer. Following her passing, Richards again declared his love for the singer and perfectly epitomised her talent, writing on social media, “The most consistent voice in music for 60 years has been Aretha Franklin’s voice… The world of music has lost a bit of its soul.”
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