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Solomon Burke

 


Solomon Burke | Amazon | tc067

Singer, song writer, preacher, mortician, part time snow plough driver, businessman, caterer and guitarist Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1940. While at school he sang in a gospel choir. His grandmother gave him his first guitar.  

He had an enormous influence on shaping rhythm and blues and especially soul music. Atlantic's Jerry Wexler regarded him as the greatest soul singer. While his major successes were recorded for the Atlantic label, he recorded for a total of 17 labels, including Chess, during the period of All Platinum’s ownership of the label. He released 38 albums and had a total of 35 charting singles.

Somewhat overweight and troubled with arthritis in his later life, and a wheelchair user, Solomon Burke died from the effects of a pulmonary embolism while travelling at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on October 10, 2010.

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