New York City Council Member Andy King presenting the Franklin family with the New York City Council 12^th District Music and Humanitarian Award.

NEWARK – The 2019 McDonalds Gospelfest  this weekend paid special tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, with an outstanding celebration with the Franklin Family and gospel artists who included Hezekiah  Walker, Yolanda Adams and Tamar Braxton.

A highlight of the program was New York City Council Member Andy King presenting the Franklin family with the New York City Council 12^th District Music and Humanitarian Award. The award honors the life works of Ms. Franklin.

“It was truly an honor to be a part of history at the McDonald’s Gospelfest. Aretha Louise Franklin was one of the greatest giants of music, world-wide! More than any other performer, she exemplified a wide range of songs for more than five decades from soul to opera and from gospel to pop. But there were so many more layers to Ms. Franklin – humanitarian layers. She was involved in the struggle for civil rights and women’s rights. God bless Aretha Franklin’s legacy,” said Council Member King.

The McDonald’s Gospelfest is an annual gospel music festival, talent competition, and fundraiser in Newark, New Jersey. The event, inaugurated in 1983, and sponsored by McDonald’s, takes place in spring and has been held at the Prudential Center since 2008.