We are very sad to inform SoulTrackers that the legendary singer Solomon Burke, a peer of Otis Redding, Percy Sledge and Wilson Pickett and one of the most revered soul singers of the past half centure, has died in Amsterdam, Netherlands, as he prepared to perform there. His family issued the following statement:
Early this morning, Sunday, October 10, 2010, the legendary King of Rock & Soul, Solomon Burke, our father, passed away due to natural causes.
Solomon had just arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands for a sold out show at Paradiso with Dutch band, De Dijk. He was on his way to spread his message of love as he loved to do.
This is a time of great sorrow for our entire family. We truly appreciate all of the support and well wishes from his friends and fans. Although our hearts and lives will never be the same, his love, life and music will continue to live within us forever. As our family grieves during this time of mourning, thank you for respecting our privacy.
Family of Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke was a legendary singer who never received the commercial success that his immense talent warranted. But he is generally recognized within the music industry as one of the most important soul singers ever. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1940, he began his adult life as a preacher in Philadelphia, and soon moved on to hosting a gospel radio show.
In the 1960s, he signed with Atlantic Records and began moving towards more secular music. His first hit was "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)", a cover of a country song. Though well-received by both peers and critics, and attaining a few moderate pop and several major R&B hits, Burke never could quite break through into the mainstream as did Sam Cooke or Otis Redding, who covered Burke's "Down in the Valley" for 1965's Otis Blue. His best known song is "Cry to Me",which was a hit twice first in the 60's and again in the 1980s- used in the dance and seduction scene in the film Dirty Dancing. It hit again off of that popular film's soundtrack. READ MORE...
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