Music

Aretha Franklin to be given top jazz honour

Published Sunday, Aug 14 2011, 15:43 BST | By Tom Eames | Add comment

Aretha Franklin will be honoured at a special concert in Washington next month, it has been announced.

The legendary soul singer will be given the Founder's Award at the 25th anniversary of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the Kennedy Centre on September 12.

Past winners of the award will perform at the event, which will be a tribute to the life and music of jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter will play, as will singers Dianne Reeves and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Aretha Franklin is currently not scheduled to perform at the concert, but organisers are reportedly hoping to convince her to do so.

The 'Respect' singer recently put on a free show at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City.

Franklin was forced to cancel a number of gigs last year due to health problems which were reportedly related to pancreatic cancer.

Watch Aretha Franklin perform 'I Say a Little Prayer' below: