Solomon Burke

Soul singer [Attended briefly, but graduated from John Bartram High School][citation needed]

What is Solomon Burke known for?

Solomon Burke, also known as Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke, was born as James Solomon McDonald on March 21, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.. He was a prolific American singer and preacher, celebrated for his influential role as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s.

Throughout his career, Burke was known for his tremendous output and ability to blend various genres, including blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll. Notable hits include "Cry to Me", "If You Need Me", "Got to Get You Off My Mind", "Down in the Valley", and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". His unique style and powerful articulation linked mainstream R&B with grittier R&B, helping to define soul music in the early '60s.

During his 55-year professional career, Burke released 38 studio albums on at least 17 record labels and had 35 singles that charted in the US, including 26 that made the Billboard R&B charts. Despite this success, some consider him the "most unfairly overlooked singer" of soul music's golden age, mainly due to his minimal chart success compared to other soul greats like James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding.

In recognition of his significant contributions to music, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Additionally, his album "Don't Give Up on Me" won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2003. By 2005, Burke was credited with selling 17 million albums. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked him as No. 89 on its list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".

Burke passed away on October 10, 2010, at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. His musical legacy continues to have a profound influence on the world of soul music to this day.