According to some sources, Burke was born James Solomon McDonald on March 21, 1936, in the second floor of his grandmother Eleanor Moore’s row house in West Philadelphia.
As one of the pioneers of soul music in the 1960s, Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke was an American vocalist who helped define the sound of rhythm and blues.
He was hailed for his “prodigious output” and was described as “a major transitional figure spanning R&B and soul”.
In addition to “Cry to Me,” “If You Need Me,” “Got to Get You Off My Mind,” “Down in the Valley,” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” he also had a run of other top successes.
Honorific terms used to describe Burke include “King Solomon,” “King of Rock ‘n’ Soul,” “Bishop of Soul,” and “Muhammad Ali of soul.”
Solomon Burke parents: Meet Josephine Moore
Burke was the son of Josephine Moore and a father who was not present. His mother Josephine worked as a priest, teacher, nurse, and concert performer.
