Remembering Solomon Burke

Grammy-Award winning singer/songwriter Solomon Burke passed of natural causes, en route to a performance in Amsterdam, on Sunday, October 10. A pioneer of early soul, Burke combined elements of gospel, blues, and country to develop his signature roots-driven style. He was 70 years old.

A preacher and gospel radio show host before signing with Atlantic in the '60s, Burke lent passionate vocals to countless R&B hits including "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms),""Got To Get You Off My Mind,""Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," and a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary." He is perhaps best known for the song "Cry To Me" which was later featured in the major motion picture Dirty Dancing. During this time Burke also garnered much esteem for his songwriting and for inspiring many covers by his peers, most notably Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, and Wilson Pickett.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, Burke saw a revival in his career at the turn of the millennium. In fact, the release of DON'T GIVE UP ON ME scored Burke his first Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album in 2003. The album featured songs written by the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, and Brian Wilson. His credibility in the music community was further reaffirmed with the release of 2006's NASHVILLE, a country album with guest vocals by Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, and more. Likewise, LIKE A FIRE, Burke's 2008 contemporary Blues album, featured songs written specifically for Burke by Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, and Keb' Mo' among others. His final album HOLD ON TIGHT, a collaboration with Dutch pop/soul outfit De Dijik, was due for release this month.

Burke will certainly be missed by all of us at Rhino. We will continue to celebrate his life and his music, ensuring that his legacy lives on.