Solomon Burke
b. 1936, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The former Wonder Boy Preacher, Burke's first recordings appeared on the New York-based Apollo label. From 1955-59 he attempted various styles until a brisk rocker, Be Bop Grandma, attracted Atlantic Records. An eclectic performer, his reading of a sentimental country song, Just Out Of Reach (1961), was a US Top 30 hit, but the following year the ‘King of Soul’ began asserting a defined soul direction with Cry To Me. Burke's sonorous voice was then heard on a succession of inspired singles, including If You Need Me (1963), Goodbye Baby (Baby Goodbye) and the declamatory Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (both 1964). This exceptional period culminated with The Price, an impassioned release which marked the end of Burke's relationship with producer Bert Berns. Although further strong records appeared, indeed Got To Get You Off My Mind (1965) became his biggest hit, they lacked the drama of the earlier era. Still based in New York, Solomon was now overshadowed by Otis Redding, Sam And Dave and other acts who recorded at Stax and Fame. A belated Memphis session did provide a pop Top 50 entry in Take Me (Just As I Am), but Burke left Atlantic for Bell in 1968. The ensuing album, PROUD MARY, was a southern soul classic, while the title track, written by John Fogerty, charted as a single in the US. The '70s saw a switch to MGM, but his work there was marred by inconsistency. The same was true of his spells at Dunhill and Chess although his collaborations with Swamp Dogg on FROM THE HEART brought his old power to mind. This rebirth continued on SOUL ALIVE, where recorded in-concert, Solomon sounds inspired, infusing his ‘greatest hits’ with a newfound passion. A strong studio collection, A CHANGE IS GONNA COME, followed 1987's European tour and displayed Burke's still-considerable talent. Two albums, THE BEST OF SOLOMON BURKE (1966) and CRY TO ME (1984), gather together his Atlantic singles, while THE BISHOP RIDES SOUTH (1988) adds four extra tracks to the original PROUD MARY album.