Solomon Burke

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Philadelphia, United States (1940 – 2010)

Solomon Burke (born March 21, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, died October 10, 2010 at Schiphol Airport, The Netherlands) was a music pioneer and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite releasing numerous chart hits in the 1960s, he never had a Top 20 hit on the pop charts. Burke’s influence, however, has outstripped his mainstream commercial success. He is considered a legend of American music.

He began his adult life as a young preacher in Philadelphia, where he hosted a gospel radio show. In the 1960s, he signed with Atlantic Records and began moving towards more secular music. His first hit was Just Out Of Reach Of My Open Arms, a cover of a country song. Though well-received by both peers and critics, and attaining a few moderate pop and several major R&B hits, Burke never could quite break through into the mainstream as did his contemporaries like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin.

Nevertheless, his emotive delivery, polished production, as well as the touches of country and pop sensibility in his music won him admirers and imitators. In 1964 he wrote and recorded Everybody Needs Somebody To Love his most prominent bid for an enduring soul standard. Covered by the Rolling Stones the same year, other well-known versions include one by Wilson Pickett and another a decade and a half later in the 1980 feature film by The Blues Brothers. Burke’s biggest hit was a 1969 of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary.
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  • merrari

    R.I.P. Solomon.

    11 days ago
  • rm508

    Won't You Give Him (One More Chance)? Won't you?

    November 2011
  • nocturana

    :)

    November 2011
  • spookella

    The sexiest voice I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

    October 2011
  • Z0l_tar

    Fast Train ♥

    August 2011
  • Olejakobe

    His voice will live on forever. A true legend.

    April 2011
  • My_quest

    R.I.P. Thank you for your music, dear Solomon..

    February 2011
  • hazycosmos

    Solomon was a pure genius and could reach to the bottom of anyone;s soul and make you feel so good.....just put on Dirty Dancing and listen to his song as they make love for the first time....Patrick Swayze welcomed him into the golden gates!

    January 2011
  • Billy-o

    The new record with De Dijk - absolutely brilliant.

    January 2011
  • Luxhan

    :) his music says he was good man :) rip

    December 2010
  • DZRTsurfer88

    ~R.I.P.~

    December 2010
  • StoneFree82

    New record with De Dijk is fabulous :) R.I.P.

    December 2010
  • ShiningStar911

    ♥♥♥ Solomon Burke ♥♥♥

    December 2010
  • darmik89

    respect and thanks for music!

    October 2010
  • paulbrouns

    One of the last big voices of 1960's soul has died a few weeks ago on his way to a great concert in Holland with Dutch band De Dijk. The CD "Hold On Tight" which he also recorded with this band is another beautiful record in line of "Don't Give Up on Me". I will keep listening to this true KING OF SOUL!!!

    October 2010
  • RedSteel92

    R.I.P.

    October 2010
  • KingCrunch

    R.I.P.

    October 2010
  • No3made

    RIP! Big Guy

    October 2010
  • fm_thimp

    de dijk & solomon burke, hold on thight: wow!

    October 2010
  • SoulJazzsterInc

    R.I.P.

    October 2010
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