Solomon Burke

1940 – 2010

The good right Reverend Solomon Burke, the “King Of Rock & Soul” died on a plane at the Amsterdam Airport on Sunday, October 10, 2010.  He was 70 years old and promoting his latest, critically acclaimed LP, “Nothing’s Impossible.”  Burke, who was never given his full credit as one of the innovators of American Soul Music during the 1960s had been enjoying a comeback of sorts since the 2002 release of the very well-received “Don’t Give Up On Me” for Fat Possum Records.

Back in the ’90s when I spun soul records on WERS in Boston (The Soul Bucket), Solomon Burke was a mainstay on my playlist.  Even though he was from Philadelphia, in my mind he was one of the kings of southern soul.  He was also an incredible entrepreneur, selling popcorn and snacks during the intermissions of his OWN performances at the Apollo Theater in NY and all around the “chitlin circuit.”  He was a massive man, both in stature and in pure talent and it’s a shame that it didn’t show in record sales or chart success through the years.  For me, his early Atlantic sides, heavily influenced by Country & Western music tell the real depth of his talent.  Like Ivory Joe Hunter and Ray Charles before him, Burke found much soul in the heart of Country Music.  He scored much success with Wilson Pickett’s song, “If You Need Me,” and then Pickett scored success a few years later with Burke’s wonderful song “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love.”  That song enjoyed a comeback in the early ’80s when the Blues Brothers recorded it as well.  “Got To Get You Out Of My Mind,” “Down In The Valley,” “Cry To Me” and countless other Burke classics adorn every true collector of soul music’s collection.  Life is better with these tunes in it.

During the week of October 18th, I am pleased to present some of Solomon Burke’s lesser-known sides on my R&B radio program, “Juke In The Back.”  I will feature his very first recordings, beginning in 1955 for the Apollo label and follow through to his recordings for the Signature Label, right before he signed to Atlantic to become a national star.  You won’t hear hits on this “Juke In The Back” program, but what you will hear is a young man finding his voice.  I doubt that Solomon Burke would have developed into the soul legend he is remembered as today, if he had not cut his teeth back in the 1950s, recording for small labels. 

Catch Solomon Burke’s early recordings on the “Juke In The Back” during the week of October 18-24th.  Below is a list of radio stations carrying “Juke In The Back.”  Many of them offer web streams, so tune in from anywhere to listen to this landmark show featuring one of the greatest soul singers of all-time.

KZGM 88.1 FM in Cabool, MO

Sunday Nights at 7 PM Central

Listen Online Live at www.mykz88.com

www.kz88.org

KVPI 92.5 FM in Ville Platte, LA

Sunday Nights at 8 PM Central

Listen online live at: http://oldies925.com/listenlive.php

http://oldies925.com/

WSKW (Legacy 1160 AM) in Skowhegan, ME

Saturdays 6-7 PM Eastern

Sundays 2-3 PM Eastern

Listen live online at http://legacy1160.com/

WLWL (Big Wave Radio) 770 AM in Rockingham, NC

Saturdays at noon Eastern

WHWS 105.7 FM in Genva, NY

Saturday Nights at 9 PM Eastern

Listen live at http://www.whws.fm

KPOV 106.7 FM in Bend, OR

Friday evenings at 5 PM Pacific

Listen live at http://www.kpov.org/

WAZU 90.7 FM in Peoria, IL

Sunday Nights at 7 PM Central

WYAP 101.7 FM in Clay, WV

Friday and Saturday Nights at various times

Listen online at http://www.wyap.com/radio.html

WERU 89.9 FM in Blue Hill, ME

http://weru.org/

detour MUSIC

http://thedetour.us/

Thursdays at noon Eastern

Saturdays at 10am Eastern

Detour BLUES

http://thedetour.us/

Tuesdays at 2 pm Eastern