Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty ImagesWhen The Four Tops perform at the Aretha Franklin tribute concert at Detroit’s Chene Park Amphitheatre on Thursday, the Motown legends will be debuting a new song called “Sister Ree” that pays homage the late singer.
Longtime Four Tops member Ronnie McNeir tells Billboard that he wrote the tune for Franklin last year, after he heard that she was ailing.
McNeir says he sent the song to Aretha via her sister-in-law and a week later Franklin called him and told him she liked the song so much that she planned to have it featured in her upcoming biopic that’s set to star Jennifer Hudson.
“She said, ‘This is so good, I’m gonna put this in my movie,'” McNeir reveals to Billboard. “I just said, ‘Well Ree, I hope you do get it in the movie, but I did this just for you.’ For [my song] to touch her like that, that the great Queen respects lil ol’ me, was really special.”
“Sister Ree” is a two-part composition that includes gospel and and blues-flavored sections. In the song, Ronnie praises Aretha for the impact her inspiring music has had on the world, and talks about how he first became friendly with her when he was 19.
McNeir tells Billboard that part of his connection with Franklin was a shared respect for each other’s piano playing.
“Her playing was the bomb to me, and she used to love the way I played, too,” he says. “She would hire me to play private parties for her.”
Ronnie plans to release “Sister Ree” next week along with a video.
As far as the song actually appearing in the biopic, McNeir says, “I know it’s about a year away, at least, so things could change.”
Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.