ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Christmas has come early to the Queen of Soul. Aretha Franklin graces the cover of the Nov. 27 issue of Rolling Stone magazine, having topped its list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time." This extraordinary distinction comes as Ms. Franklin has also recently released her first-ever Christmas album, "This Christmas Aretha," which is sold exclusively at Borders, Waldenbooks and on Borders.com. The recording, produced by Tena Clark and Aretha Franklin for DMI Records, features classic and contemporary songs infused with Aretha Franklin's trademark gospel, soul, R&B and classical styles. It is destined to become a holiday classic that fans will enjoy each year for many decades to come.
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"Borders is truly honored to be working with Ms. Franklin and thrilled that she has earned the top spot on the Rolling Stone list," said Borders Group Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing Rob Gruen. "This distinction is richly deserved as she has maintained incredible vocal proficiency and her inimitable style throughout a career that has spanned more than 40 years. In all that time, she has never -- until now -- recorded a full Christmas album. Borders is ecstatic to be the only place where fans will find this new CD and we thank Ms. Franklin for giving us this very special opportunity."
"This Christmas Aretha" has 11 tracks that include: "Angels We Have Heard on High," "This Christmas," "My Grown-Up Christmas List," "The Lord Will Make A Way," "Silent Night," "Ave Maria," "Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without The One You Love)," "14 Angels," "One Night With The King," "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
The CD is available at all Borders and Waldenbooks stores nationwide and on Borders.com. It can also be purchased as a download at http://musicdownloads.borders.com/ where single songs or the entire album can be downloaded.
About Aretha Franklin
Known around the world by her first name, Aretha Franklin has achieved global recognition on an unprecedented scale. She is one of the most influential and important voices in the history of pop music. Her ever-distinctive, soulful, to-the-bone vocal style has graced music charts for over four decades and her live performances have touched the hearts of tens of millions since she began her musical journey in Detroit as a singing child prodigy. Aretha Franklin has earned countless international and national awards as well as accolades and global recognition on an unprecedented scale including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Kennedy Center Honor, the American National Medal of the Arts Award, 18 GRAMMY(R) Awards including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for eight consecutive years, a GRAMMY Legend Award, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, and five American Music Awards. In 1987, she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1979, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Earlier this year, she was named 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year by the Recording Academy and she was presented with the prestigious NAACP Vanguard Award.
About DMI Records
Aretha Franklin joins a growing list of major artists who are collaborating with DMI for upcoming projects. Founded by Tena Clark, one of the first female record producers in the music industry, DMI is home to a talented roster of music and marketing executives. Clark and Franklin are producing "This Christmas Aretha" together. DMI Records is a division of the leading music and branding agency DMI Music & Media Solutions.
About Borders Group, Inc.
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. , is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100 stores worldwide primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names and recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. For more information, visit http://www.borders.com/aboutus .
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