Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke (* 21st March 1940 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; † 10. October 2010 in Haarlemmermeer , The Netherlands ) was an American Soul - and rhythm-and-blues - singer , who lived in the 1960s, the height of his popularity and also worked as a composer of hits such as Everybody Needs Somebody to Love .
Life
The eldest of a total of seven children began to sing in his grandmother's church choir at a very early age and at the age of nine already preached to the local congregation, where he was known as the “Wonder Boy Preacher”. At the age of twelve, he traveled around the Philadelphia area and performed as a gospel singer. In 1954, his grandmother gave Burke a guitar for Christmas . In 1955 he signed up with his band, the Cavaliers , on a talent show. There the wife of a famous radio DJ became aware of Burke and in December 1955 she got him a recording contract with Apollo Records in New York , where he recorded both sacred and secular music.
The records all flopped and Apollo couldn't pay Burke, so he soon returned to Philadelphia. There he ran an aunt's funeral home for some time. After some unsuccessful recordings with Singular Records, Burke finally got a contract with Atlantic Records in 1960 . He first hit the US charts in September 1961 with the country hit Just Out of Reach . Between the recording date December 6, 1961 and the recording session on August 28, 1964, Bert Berns was the producer for Burke. During this period a total of 13 singles were released on Atlantic Records, including If You Need Me , which climbed to number 2 on the Rhythm & Blues charts , and the fast-paced Everybody Needs Somebody to Love . Ironically, the next single without Berns' producer, Got to Get You off My Mind , released in February 1965, became Burke's biggest hit at number 1 on the R&B charts and number 22 on the pop charts . By 1969 Burke was able to place various songs in the hit parade, including another number 2 placement Tonight's the Night . Burke influenced singers like Mick Jagger , Rod Stewart and Tom Jones . In 1965 he toured Europe for the first time, and his concerts were usually very well attended.
After seven years at Atlantic, Burke moved to Bell Records in 1969 . Many other label changes followed in 1970/71, but the successes decreased noticeably. In 1972 Burke disappeared from the charts for good. In 1975 he left the music business completely after a final release on Chess Records . He only returned to the music scene nine years later. He toured North America and Europe and continued to have a lot of fans, but his releases were no longer notable for success.
After the 1987 album Love Trap received miserable reviews, Burke withdrew again into his community and initially stopped publishing. He built his own funeral home, had 21 children and eventually became a great-grandfather. In 1992 he came up with the idea of a Blues - album record and signed with Black Top Records . In 1993 the album Soul of the Blues was released , which received excellent reviews. In the same year he received a Pioneer Award from the R&B Foundation. In 1994 he received a W. C. Handy Award for his album Live at the House of Blues . In 1996, Burke's biography of George Kidneyberg was filmed as Sweet Inspiration and in 2001 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .
In 2002 he released the Joe Henry produced album Don't Give Up on Me , which was released on Fat Possum Records. The songs came from a. by Van Morrison , Tom Waits , Elvis Costello , Joe Henry and Nick Lowe . For this he got a Grammy in the category Best Contemporary Blues Album . In the following years he was nominated three times in this and twice in other categories for another award. In 2003 he received the Living Blues Award in the categories of Best Live Performer and Most Outstanding Blues Singer.
Like a Fire was the name of his 2008 album on Shout! / Soulfood. The songs came from a. by Eric Clapton . Burke dedicated the album to his late daughter Michelle. In 2010 he released the album Nothing's Impossible on E1 , which received the 2011 Blues Music Award for best soul-blues album. Burke himself was honored as the best soul blues artist that year.
On October 10, 2010, at the age of 70, he died probably of a heart attack on an airplane shortly after the plane from Los Angeles landed at Amsterdam Airport . He left 21 children and 90 grandchildren.
In 2008, Rolling Stone listed Burke 89th of the 100 best singers of all time .
Discography
Albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 US
|
R&B
|
|||
| 1965 | The Very Best of Solomon Burke | - | - |
US141 (3 weeks) US |
R&B6 (5 weeks) R&B |
|
| 1969 | Proud Mary | - | - |
US140 (4 weeks) US |
- | |
| 1975 | Music to Make Love By | - | - | - |
R&B54 (6 weeks) R&B |
|
| 2002 | Don't give up on me |
DE63 (5 weeks) DE |
AT75 (2 weeks) AT |
US138 (2 weeks) US |
- | |
| 2005 | Make Do with What You Got | - |
AT50 (2 weeks) AT |
- | - | |
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
Album releases
|
|
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
US
|
R&B
|
|||
| 1961 | Just out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) Rock 'n Soul |
US24 (17 weeks) US |
R&B7 (19 weeks) R&B |
Author: Virgil Stewart
|
| 1962 | Cry to Me Rock 'n Soul |
US44 (10 weeks) US |
R&B5 (12 weeks) R&B |
Author: B. Russell
|
| I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You Solomon Burke's Greatest Hits |
US85 (2 weeks) US |
R&B15 (11 weeks) R&B |
Authors: John Berry, D. Covay
|
|
| Down in the Valley Solomon Burke's Greatest Hits |
US71 (8 weeks) US |
R&B20 (7 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke, B. Russell
as a B-side of I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You published |
|
| I Really Don't Want to Know If You Need Me |
US93 (3 weeks) US |
- | ||
| 1963 | If You Need Me If You Need Me |
US37 (11 weeks) US |
R&B2 (12 weeks) R&B |
Original: Wilson Pickett (1963), authors: W. Pickett, Robert Bateman, Sonny Sanders
|
| Can't Nobody Love You |
US66 (6 weeks) US |
- |
Author: James Mitchell
|
|
| You're Good for Me Rock 'n Soul |
US49 (8 weeks) US |
R&B3 (15 weeks) R&B |
||
| 1964 | He'll have to go rock 'n soul |
US51 (8 weeks) US |
R&B17 (6 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Joe Allison, Audrey Allison
|
| Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) Rock 'n Soul |
US33 (10 weeks) US |
R&B8 (13 weeks) R&B |
Authors: B. Russell , W. Farrell
|
|
|
Everybody Needs Somebody to Love The Best of Solomon Burke |
US58 (8 weeks) US |
R&B4 (14 weeks) R&B |
||
| Yes I Do |
US92 (3 weeks) US |
R&B38 (4 weeks) R&B |
Author: B. Russell
|
|
| The Price The Best of Solomon Burke |
US57 (5 weeks) US |
R&B10 (10 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke, S. Burke Jr., JB Moore
|
|
| 1965 | Got to Get You off My Mind The Best of Solomon Burke |
US22 (10 weeks) US |
R&B1 (13 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Delores Burke, S. Burke
|
| Tonight's the Night The Best of Solomon Burke |
US28 (10 weeks) US |
R&B2 (15 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke, D. Covay
|
|
| Someone Is Watching King Solomon |
US89 (4 weeks) US |
R&B24 (6 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke, E. Floyd , Al Bell
|
|
| Only Love (Can Save Me Now) |
US94 (2 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Larry Harrison, Jimmy T. Williams, S. Burke
|
|
| 1966 | Baby Come On Home King Solomon |
US96 (2 weeks) US |
R&B31 (3 weeks) R&B |
Author: B. Russell
|
| I feel a sin coming on |
US97 (2 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Orville Couch, Eddie McDuff
|
|
| Keep Looking | - |
R&B38 (5 weeks) R&B |
Author: S. Burke
|
|
| 1967 | Keep a Light in the Window Till I Come Home King Solomon |
US64 (5 weeks) US |
R&B15 (9 weeks) R&B |
Author: JW Alexander
|
| Take Me (Just as I Am) King Solomon |
US49 (5 weeks) US |
R&B11 (10 weeks) R&B |
Author: J. Brown
|
|
| Detroit City King Solomon |
- |
R&B47 (2 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Danny Dill, M. Tillis
|
|
| 1968 | I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free) I Wish I Knew |
US68 (8 weeks) US |
R&B32 (6 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Billy Taylor , Dick Dallas
|
| 1969 | Up Tight, Good Woman Proud Mary |
- |
R&B47 (4 weeks) R&B |
Original: Laura Lee as Up Tight, Good Man (1967)
Authors: Dan Penn, Jimmy Johnson, Spooner Oldham |
|
Proud Mary Proud Mary |
US45 (7 weeks) US |
R&B15 (6 weeks) R&B |
Original: Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969), author: John Fogerty
|
|
| 1971 | The Electronic Magnetism (That's Heavy, Baby) Electronic Magnetism |
US96 (2 weeks) US |
R&B26 (9 weeks) R&B |
Authors: M. Burke, S. Burke Jr., B. Burke
|
| 1972 | Love's Street and Fool's Road Cool Breeze (Soundtrack) |
US89 (5 weeks) US |
R&B13 (13 weeks) R&B |
Author: S. Burke
|
| We're Almost Home Cool Breeze (Soundtrack) |
- |
R&B42 (4 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke Jr., S. Burke
|
|
| Get Up and Do Something for Yourself Cool Breeze (Soundtrack) |
- |
R&B49 (2 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke Jr., S. Burke
|
|
| 1973 | Shambala | - |
R&B97 (2 weeks) R&B |
Author: Daniel Moore
|
| 1974 | Midnight and You | - |
R&B14 (10 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Billy Page, Gene Page
|
| 1975 | You and Your Baby Blues Music to Make Love By |
US96 (2 weeks) US |
R&B19 (4 weeks) R&B |
Authors: S. Burke, Jerry Styner
|
| Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You Music to Make Love By |
- |
R&B72 (7 weeks) R&B |
Author: S. Burke
|
|
| 1978 | Please don't you say goodbye to me | - |
R&B91 (4 weeks) R&B |
Author: J. Williams Jr.
|
Guest Posts
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
 UK
|
|||
| 2003 | Catch Up to My Step |
UK63 (2 weeks) UK |
Junkie XL feat. Solomon Burke
|
- Single releases
Apollo:
- Christmas Presents / When I'm All Alone (# 485), December 1955
- I'm in Love / Why Do Me That Way (# 487), February 1956
- I'm All Alone / To Thee (# 491), May 1956
- No Man Walks Alone / Walking in a Dream (# 500), September 1956
- You Can Run but You Can't Hide / A Picture of You (# 505), November 1956
- This Is It / I Need You Tonight (# 511), April 1957
- You Are My One Love / For You and You Alone (# 512), June 1957
- They Always Say / Don't Cry (# 522), March 1958
- My Heart Is a Chapel / This Is It (# 527), August 1958
Singular:
- Doodle Dee Doo / It's All Right (# 1314), June 1959
- This Little Ring / I'm Not Afraid (# 1812), July 1960
Atlantic:
- Keep the Magic Working / How Many Times (# 2089), January 1961
As Little Vincent:
- You Don't Send Me Anymore / Always Together (Apollo # 747), February 1961
Solomon Burke: Atlantic:
- Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms) / Be Bop Grandma (# 2114), September 1961
-
Cry to Me / I Almost Lost My Mind (# 2131), December 1961, (UK:
silver) - I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You / Down in the Valley (# 2147), May 1962
- I Really Don't Want to Know / Tonight My Heart She Is Crying (# 2157), August 1962
- Go On Back to Him / I Said I Was Sorry (# 2170), December 1962
- Words / Home in Your Heart (# 2180), March 1963
- If You Need Me / You Can Make It if You Try (# 2185), April 1963
- Can't Nobody Love You / Stupidity (# 2196), July 1963
- You're Good for Me / Beautiful Brown Eyes (# 2205), September 1963
- He'll Have to Go / Rockin 'Soul (# 2218), January 1964
- Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) / Someone to Love Me (# 2226), April 1964
- Everybody Needs Somebody to Love / Looking for My Baby (# 2241), July 1964
- Yes I Do / Won't You Give Him (One More Chance) (# 2254), September 1964
- The Price / More Rockin 'Soul (# 2259), November 1964
- Got to Get You off My Mind / Peepin ' (# 2276), February 1965
- Tonight's the Night / Maggie's Farm (# 2288), May 1965
- Someone Is Watching / Dance, Dance, Dance (# 2299), August 1965
- Only Love Can Save Me Now / Little Girl That Loves Me (# 2308), November 1965
- Baby Come On Home / I Can't Stop Loving You Now (# 2314), December 1965
- I Feel a Sin Coming On / Mountain of Pride (# 2327), March 1966
- Lawdy Miss Clawdy / Suddenly (# 2345), June 1966
- Keep Looking / I Don't Want You No More (# 2349), July 1966
- When She Touches Me / How Do You Make Me Love You Like I Do (# 2359), September 1966
- Presents for Christmas / A Tear Fell (# 2369), November 1966
- Keep a Light in the Window Till I Come Home / Time Is a Thief (# 2378), February 1967
- Take Me (Just as I Am) / I Stayed Away Too Long (# 2416), June 1967
- Detroit City / It's Been a Change (# 2459), November 1967
- Party People / Need Your Love So Bad (# 2483), February 1968
- I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free) / It's Just a Matter of Time (# 2507), April 1968
- Meet Me in Church / Save It (# 2537), June 1968
- What'd I Say / Get Out of My Life Woman (# 2566), September 1968
BELL:
- Up Tight Good Woman / I Can't Stop (# 759), January 1969
- Proud Mary / What Am I Living For (# 783), April 1969
- That Lucky Old Sun / How Big a Fool (# 806), July 1969
- The Generation of Revelations / I'm Gonna Stay Right Here (# 829), October 1969
- In the Ghetto / God Knows I Love You (# 891), August 1970
MGM:
- Lookin 'Out My Back Door / All for the Love of Sunshine (# 14185), November 1970
- The Electronic Magnetism (That's Heavy, Baby) / Bridge of Life (# 14221), April 1971
- JC, I Know Who You Are / The Things Love Will Make You Do (# 14279), July 1971
- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down / PSR 1983 (# 14302), November 1971
- Love's Street and Fool's Road / I Got to Tell It (# 14353), April 1972
- We're Almost Home / Fight Back (# 14402), June 1972
- Get Up and Do Something for Yourself / Misty (# 14425), August 1972
PRIDE:
- I Can't Stop Loving You Pt. 1 / I Can't Stop Loving You Pt.2 (# 1017), October 1972
- All I Want for Christmas / I Can't Stop Loving You , Pt.1 (# 1022), December 1972
MGM:
- Shambala / Love Thy Neighbor (# 14571), May 1973
- Georgia Up North / Here Comes the Train (# 14651), October 1973
PRIDE:
- My Prayer / Ookie Bookie Man (# 1028), December 1973
- Sentimental Journey / Vaya Con Dios (with Lady Lee) (# 1038), April 1974
ABC:
- Midnight and You / I Have a Dream (# 4388), April 1974
CHESS:
- You and Your Baby Blues / I'm Leaving on That Late, Late Train (# 2159), March 1975
- Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You / Everlasting Love (# 2172), June 1975
- I'll Never Stop Loving You / Do Right Song (# 401), 1976
- I'm Going Back to My Roots / Love's Paradise (# 30003), 1977
AMHERST:
- Please Don't Say Goodbye to Me / See That Girl (# 736), 1978
INFINITY:
- Sidewalks, Fences and Walls / Boo Hoo Hoo (Cra-Cra-Craya) (# 50046), 1979
SAVOY:
- Silent Night / A Christmas Prayer (# 0002), December 1980
SOULTOWN:
- Bettin 'on America / Cowboy Hat (# 3001), 1981
ROUNDER:
- A Change Is Gonna Come / Let It Be You and Me (# 4554), 1986
- Love Buys Love / What a Man Won't Do for a Woman (# 4557), 1987
OUTPOST:
- Power (# OET-3001), 1989
The Soul Clan:
- Soul Meeting / That's How It Feels (# 2530), original recording from 1968
Fat Possum:
- None of Us Are Free (Radio Edit) / Don't Give Up on Me (Live) / I Need a Holiday (# 1090-2), 2002
Video albums
- 2007: Live at Baloise Session
- 2013: Live at Montreux
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Solomon Burke in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- ↑ Living Blues Award 2003 ( Memento from June 14, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Süddeutsche Zeitung: King of Souls died in an airplane
- ↑ t-online.de: Soul singer Solomon Burke died in the plane
- ↑ 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 2, 2010, accessed August 9, 2017 .
- ↑ Chart sources: DE AT US
- ↑ US Billboard 200: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn presents the Billboard Albums . 6th edition. Billboard Books, New York 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 . / US R&B albums: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Albums 1965–1998 . Billboard Books, New York 1999, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
- ↑ Solomon Burke in the US charts (Billboard)
- ↑ US Hot 100: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 . Billboard Books, New York 2007, ISBN 0-89820-172-1 . / US R&B singles: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn presents Hot R&B Songs 1942-2010 . Billboard Books, New York 2011, ISBN 0-89820-186-1 .
- ↑ Catch Up to My Step (Junkie XL ft Solomon Burke) in the UK charts
- ↑ Music Sales Awards: UK
literature
- Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 87f - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .
Web links
- Solomon Burke at the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Discography at Soulexpress.net
- Bio at Rockhall.com
- Soul legend Solomon Burke is dead , Spiegel Online , October 10, 2010
- THE WASHINGTON POST: Solomon Burke, 70th Grammy-winning R&B singer was also Pentecostal preacher (October 11, 2010)
- Solomon Burke in-depth interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' July 2010
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Burke, Solomon |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American soul / R&B singer and songwriter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 21, 1940 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 10, 2010 |
| Place of death | Amsterdam , Netherlands |