by Jas Keimig
In January 1972, Aretha Franklin took the stage at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
Backed by Rev. James Cleveland and the Southern California Community Choir, Franklin sang the gamut of gospel hymns and spirituals, moving all in attendance to tears, to awe, to ecstatic cries. The sweaty, tearful, emotional affair was captured on the 1972 live album Amazing Grace and subsequently in the long-delayed concert film of the same name.
During the pandemic, choreographer and dancer dani tirrell watched the documentary, moved by Franklin and gospel music’s raw power.
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