Claims to fame:
- The "King of Rock and Soul"
- Along with Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson, essential in bringing gospel into hard R&B, pioneering the soul genre
- One of the first artists to integrate country into soul
- One of soul's first crossover stars
- Considered by legendary Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler to be the greatest soul singer of all time
- Engineered a stunning comeback in the last years of his life with tasteful country-soul albums that restored him to his former popularity
Facts:
Born: James Soloman McDonald, March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, PA; died October 10, 2010, Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands
Styles: Soul, R&B, Blues, Gospel, Soul-blues
Instruments: Guitar, piano, vocals
Awards and honors: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2001); GRAMMY Award (2002)
Early years:
By the time Solomon Burke began his classic run of soul hits in 1960, he'd already built and lost an amazing career in gospel. His grandmother Eleanora, founder of a local church, believed God had his hand on Solomon from birth, and she ordained him as a bishop in the church while he was still a child. By the age of 12, Solomon had learned to sing and preach well enough to be a local radio fixture on his weekly WDAS program "Solomon's Temple." The day Eleanora passed away, Burke showed up at what he thought was a service, and after performing "Oh, Ship Of Zion," Apollo Records head Bess Berman signed him on the spot.
Success:
However, after a less-than-Christian manager robbed him of his royalties, Burke, broke and homeless, began to work in the family's mortuary business. Fortunately, he was still known to Atlantic's Jerry Wexler, who needed a new R&B star after the departure of Ray Charles, and soon Burke's string of hits began. Though he never crossed over into pop (not for lack of trying), Solomon remained a mainstay in the new field of soul -- but as the music became harder and more secular, Burke opted out, instead moving to Bell Records in the late Sixties to try and duplicate his successes. It didn't happen.
Later years:
However, the inclusion of Burke's "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers brought his name back into the public consciousness, and for the next two decades the singer toured as one of the few surviving remnants of an outmoded but still beloved style. In 2002, shortly after his induction into the Rock Hall of Fame, Solomon recorded the stunning all-star album Don't Give Up On Me, which won him a Grammy the next year. Burke became a critical and commercial favorite for the next decade; while en route from Los Angeles in 2010, he passed away on a plane in Amsterdam at age 70.
Solomon Burke hit singles and albums:
#1 R&B singles:
"Got To Get You Off My Mind" (1965)
"Got To Get You Off My Mind" (1965)
Top 10 R&B singles:
"Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)" (1961)
"Cry To Me" (1962)
"If You Need Me" (1963)
"You're Good For Me" (1963)
"Tonight's The Night" (1965)
Top 10 Adult Contemporary singles:
"Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)" (1961)
Top 10 R&B albums:
The Rest Of Solomon Burke (1965)
Other Solomon Burke facts and trivia:
- Eleanora claimed to have dreamed of his coming 12 years before Solomon's birth
- Also known as "The Bishop of Soul"
- Wrote his 1964 hit "Got to Get You Off My Mind" in memory of his friend Sam Cooke
- Sold meals to black musicians at his shows, since they often couldn't be served in Southern restaurants
- Was once booked for a show that turned out to be a Klan rally; the KKK loved him, however, and presented him with one of their sheets
- Fathered 21 children, 90 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren
- The "King" often performed in a cape and crown modeled after the British crown jewels
- Was twice invited to perform at the Vatican
Solomon Burke movie appearances:
"The Big Easy" (1986), "The Little Death" (1996), "Time Of Fear" (2002), "Lightning In A Bottle" (2004), "Derailroaded" (2005)
Covered by:
The Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, The 13th Floor Elevators, Thee Midniters, The Shadows Of Night, Slim Smith, Jerry Garcia Band, Jools Holland, The Pretty Things, Tom Petty, Professor Longhair, Freddy Scott, Garnett Mimms, Betty Scott, The Underdogs, Bobby Powell, A.J. Croce, Buckwheat Zydeco, Peter and Gordon, Huey Lewis and the News, Ronnie McDowell, Candi Staton, Spencer Wiggins, The Blues Brothers, Pete Best
Other important songs by Solomon Burke:
"I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You," "I Really Don't Want To Know," "Can't Nobody Love You," "He'll Have To Go," "Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye)," "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," "Yes I Do," "The Price," "Someone Is Watching," "Only Love (Can Save Me Now)," "Baby Come On Home," "I Feel A Sin Coming On," "Keep Looking," "Keep A Light In The Window Till I Come Home," "Take Me (Just As I Am)," "Detroit City," "I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)," "Up Tight Good Woman," "The Electronic Magnetism (That's Heavy, Baby)," "Love's Street And Fool's Road," "We're Almost Home," "Get Up And Do Something For Yourself," "Midnight And You," "You And Your Baby Blues," "Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You," "Please Don't You Say Goodbye To Me," "Soul Meeting," "Down In The Valley," "Home In Your Heart," "Looking For My Baby," "Words," "Stupidity," "Send Me Some Loving," "Go On Back To Him," "Baby (I Wanna Be Loved)," "Can't Nobody Love You," "Someone To Love Me," "Dance Dance Dance," "Get Out Of My Life Woman," "When She Touches Me (Nothing Else Matters)," "Party People," "Meet Me In Church," "Shame On Me," "I Stayed Away Too Long," "Time Is A Thief," "Woman, How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do," "It's Been A Change"
