Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke (born James Solomon McDonald, March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was an American singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s.[2] He has been called "a key transitional figure bridging R&B and soul",[3] and was known for his "prodigious output".[4][5][6]
He had a string of hits including "Cry to Me", "If You Need Me", "Got to Get You Off My Mind", "Down in the Valley", and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". Burke was referred to honorifically as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", "Bishop of Soul", and the "Muhammad Ali of Soul".[7][8][1] Due to his minimal chart success in comparison to other soul music greats such as James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding, Burke has been described as the genre's "most unfairly overlooked singer" of its golden age.[9] Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler referred to Burke as "the greatest male soul singer of all time".[1][8][10]
Burke's most famous recordings, which spanned five years in the early 1960s, bridged the gap between mainstream R&B and grittier R&B.[11] Burke was "a singer whose smooth, powerful articulation and mingling of sacred and profane themes helped define soul music in the early 1960s."[12] He drew from his roots—gospel, jazz, country, and blues—as well as developing his own style at a time when R&B, and rock were both still in their infancy.[13] Described as both "Rabelaisian"[14] and also as a "spiritual enigma",[15] "perhaps more than any other artist, the ample figure of Solomon Burke symbolized the ways that spirituality and commerce, ecstasy and entertainment, sex and salvation, individualism and brotherhood, could blend in the world of 1960s soul music."[16]
During the 55 years that he performed professionally, Burke released 38 studio albums on at least 17 record labels and had 35 singles that charted in the US, including 26 singles that made the Billboard R&B charts. In 2001, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a performer. His album Don't Give Up on Me won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003. By 2005 Burke was credited with selling 17 million albums.[13][17][18]Rolling Stone ranked Burke as No. 89 on its 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".[19]
^ abcJonathan Valania (July 17, 2002). "Solomon Burke brings it home". Philadelphia Weekly. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
^Hoffmann 2006, p. 29.
^"Soul Story |TimeLife.com | Soul Music | R&B Music". www.timelife.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
^Leigh, Spencer (October 11, 2010). "Solomon Burke: The 1960s 'King of Rock and Soul' who enjoyed a modern". The Independent. Retrieved February 20, 2018. Everything about the soul singer Solomon Burke was larger than life: his gargantuan frame, his dynamic vocals, his prodigious recording output and his huge family.
^Stambler 1974, p. 83.
^Hoffmann 1981, p. 116.
^Chalmers, Robert (June 29, 2008). "Solomon Burke: last of the great soul men". The Independent. London.
^ abJet 2001, p. 35. sfn error: no target: CITEREFJet2001 (help)
^David Cantwell, "Editorial Review"
^Wexler 1993, p. 49.
^Greg Kot, "Solomon Burke Dead at 70; 'The King of Rock and Soul'", Chicago Tribune (October 10, 2010).
^Ben Sisario, "Solomon Burke, Influential Soul Singer, Dies at 70", The New York Times (October 11, 2010).
^ abPete Lewis, "Solomon Burke: The Last Soul Man", B&S 1038 (2010).
Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke (born James Solomon McDonald, March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was an American singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and...
Russell") and first recorded by American soul singer SolomonBurke in 1961. Released in 1962, it was Burke's second single to appear in both Billboard magazine's...
singles to peak at No. 2 for the group. Later that year, R&B singer SolomonBurke released a rendition on Bell Records that reached No. 15 on the Billboard...
Bert Berns, SolomonBurke, and Jerry Wexler, and originally recorded by Burke under the production of Berns at Atlantic Records in 1964. Burke's version charted...
Didn't Have a Dime (to Play the Jukebox)"). Berns's early work with SolomonBurke brought him to the attention of Atlantic label chiefs Ahmet Ertegun...
originally recorded by Wilson Pickett. It was made into a bigger hit by SolomonBurke, who sent the song to #2 on the R&B charts that year. The song was written...
those to identify SolomonBurke as a key figure in the emergence of soul music, and Atlantic Records as the key record label. Burke's early 1960s songs...
After producing the Grammy-award-winning album Don't Give Up on Me by SolomonBurke, Henry produced additional records and in 2006 opened up a home studio...
singer SolomonBurke arrived at Jerry Wexler's office unannounced. Wexler was a fan of Burke's and had long wanted to sign him so when Burke told Wexler...
(born 1961), Australian actor Sinéad Burke (born 1990), Irish writer, academic and disability activist SolomonBurke (1936/40–2010), American soul singer...
recording of his performance of "Don't Give Up On Me" (originally by SolomonBurke), which was featured in an episode of The O.C. He also has a video for...
John Lee Hooker, Mahalia Jackson and soul singers such as Al Green and SolomonBurke. Pyro credited a former American friend with a great taste in music...
develop the growth of soul music, with artists such as Ben E. King, SolomonBurke, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin and Wilson...
Gill, Rhonda Vincent, Vestal Goodman, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, SolomonBurke, and George Jones are among those who have recorded her songs. Her songs...
one point, Fischer was the opening act for the Byrds, Iron Butterfly, SolomonBurke, and Bo Diddley. His relationship with Zappa came to an abrupt end after...
Annie - Free The Children King Solomon - SolomonBurke (1968) I'm in Love - Wilson Pickett (1968) I Wish I Knew - SolomonBurke (1968) Soulful - Dionne Warwick...
single written and performed by SolomonBurke. The single was produced by Jerry Wexler, and was the most successful of Burke's long career, becoming his highest-charting...
their back catalogue". Sheryl Crow appears on "Honky Tonk Women", while SolomonBurke sings on his own "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love", which the Rolling...