Many of us have taken a few minutes to poke fun at Aretha Franklin over her girth and her awkward dress habits, as well as a variety of personal issues within her family and business-related matters.

But, in a city which has literally gushed forth so many great, great musicians [[don't even get me started on the teeming flock of jazz musicians,) Aretha Franklin is one of the true Giants.

So, as so many of us have taken the time to snicker about one thing or another, let's all take a moment to send up [[or sideways, for those who are not quite sure about all of that God, Heaven, afterlife stuff) some Good Vibes in support of one of the greatest singers-- and musicians, because you can't be the one without being the other-- to arise from the U.S. in the 20th century.