b. James Solomon MacDonald, 21st March 1936, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
d. 10th October 2010, Schipol Airport, Amstersdam, Netherlands
Solomon Burke penned the classic song 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love', which featured in the movie 'The Blues Brothers'.
He was born in Philadelphia, becoming a preacher and hosted a gospel radio show during his lifetime.
Solomon began recording gospel and R&B sides for the Apollo imprint in the mid- to late '50's.
no man walks alone - 1956 / they always say - 1958
These included 'Christmas Presents From Heaven' (1955), 'I'm In Love', 'I'm All Alone', 'No Man Walks Alone', 'You Can Run But You Can't Hide' (all in 1956), and 'I Need You Tonight', 'For You And You Alone', 'They Always Say' and 'My Heart Is A Chapel' (during 1957 and 1958).
He left Apollo in 1961 and he signed with Ahmet Ertegun's Atlantic Records the same year, recording his first hit record, 'Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)' b/w 'Be-Bop Grandma'.
In December 1961, he released 'Cry To Me', which was utilised as part of the film 'Dirty Dancing'.
solomon burke - 1962 (1st album)
His 1964 song, 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love' b/w 'Looking For My Baby', was later recorded by various artists including The Rolling Stones and Wilson Pickett.
At Atlantic he recorded 25 singles between 1961 and 1968.
He ledt the label in 1968 and signed to Bell Records initially, before later joining MGM in 1970.
Other Seventies and Eighties labels enjoying Solomon's input included ABC Dunhill, Chess, Amherst, Infinity, Soultown, Flashback, Savoy, Northern Earth, Rounder and Outpost Records.
solomon with doris troy in 1965
the blues brothers 1980
Solomon also later became internationally famous following the version recorded by Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi in the 1980 film 'The Blues Brothers'.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and won a Grammy in 2003.
In 2004, he recorded a duet with the Italian singer Zucchero.
On the 24th of July 2009, Solomon played at the Open-air stage in Charlton Park for the WOMAD Music Festival, held in Wiltshire, England.
nothing's impossible 2010
Solomon recorded another collaboration album with producer Willie Mitchell, releasing 'Nothing’s Impossible', an album released shortly after Willie Mitchell’s death in 2010, for the Koch Records’ E1 Music imprint.
Solomon Burke died at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, as he arrived for a gig with the Dutch group De Dijk at the Paradiso Club in the City on Tuesday the 12th of October 2010.
During his lifetime he was also an undertaker and owned a mortuary business in Los Angeles.
Solomon was father to 21 children (14 daughters and 7 sons), 90 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Albums:
Solomon Burke (Apollo Records 1962)
If You Need Me (Atlantic Records 1963)
Rock 'N Soul (Atlantic Records 1964)
I Wish I Knew (Atlantic Records 1968)
King Solomon (Atlantic Records 1968)
Proud Mary (Bell Records 1969)
Electronic Magnetism (Polydor Records 1972)
King Heavy (Polydor Records 1972)
We're Almost Home (Polydor Records 1972)
I Have A Dream (Dunhill Records 1974)
Me And You (Dunhill Records 1975)
Music To Make Love By (Chess Records 1975)
Back To My Roots (Chess Records 1977)
Please Don't You Say Goodbye To Me (Amherst Records 1978)
Sidewalks Fences & Walls (Infinity Records 1979)
Lord, I Need A Miracle Right Now (Savoy Records 1981)
Into My Life You Came (Savoy Records 1982)
Take Me, Shake Me (Savoy Records 1983)
This Is His Song (Savoy Records 1984)
Alive (Rounder Records 1984)
A Change Is Gonna Come (Rounder Records 1986)
Love Trap (Polygram Records 1987)
The Bishop Rides South (Charly Records 1988)
Home Land (Bizarre Records 1991)
Soul Of The Blues (Black Top Records 1993)
Live At The House Of Blues (Black Top Records 1994)
Definition Of Soul (Pointblank / Virgin Records 1997)
The Very Best of Solomon Burke (Rhino Records 1998)
If You Need Me / Rock 'n' Soul (Collectables Records 1998)
I Wish I Knew / King Solomon (Collectables Records 1999)
Proud Mary: The Bell Sessions (Sundazed Records 2000)
Don't Give Up On Me (Fat Possum Records Records 2002)
The Apollo Album [live] (P-Vine Records 2003)
Make Do with What You Got (Shout! Factory 2005)
Nashville (Shout! Factory 2006)
Like a Fire (Shout! Factory 2008)
Nothing's Impossible (E1 Entertainment 2010)
