Remembering Solomon Burke. The King of Rock and Soul

[Smiley and West]

Smiley: "All of these great soul legends... are getting away from us."

 

West: "That older generation had levels of excellence... we just don't see now."

[Avid Follower]

The older generation of musicians and singers earned a much higher standard of excellence for lifetime acclaim. Timeless songs that touched your soul. Though these Stars are aging and passing on, it is good that some of their music is being sampled in today's market. As a child when my parents played Solomon Burke's records, we children would dance with joy and have a good time. Everyone would scream his name that's Solomon Burke! Happiness for all!

[Deanna Wagner-Brice]

I agree. I remember having his 45s. I met Solomon Burke when I was young; once during a talent search in L.A. when I was 13, and again when I was 16 at the office where I worked part time while in high school. He just walked in the office to see my boss (in the L.A. Valley?!). I was floored, but then again my boss was known as "Fast Eddie" so who knows.

[sharon lovely]

It is very sad to hear of the passing of such a talented icon Solomon Burke ...so many greats have gone to that jam session in the heavens above.I remember because it was the music my mother and father played that filled our home with joy,good times,memories of laughter and togetherness...his music filled every corner of the house while Mom was preparing dinner,Dad was talking of his youth remembering when he met Solomon and my Mother for the first time...it is moments like these that live... in the hearts of so many you have touch...parting is such sorrow but your genius lives on.I find comfort thinking that my Mother and Father will have front row seats at this Heavenly show. R.I.P. Mom,Dad, Burke and all the Greats that have gone too soon.

[BD Jones]

I once interviewd Solomon Burke at "The Beverly Hills Hotel", in LA for the Black Gospel Network. In this interview he chronicoled his transition from Gospel artist to Blues man and back to croonng the spirituals.
At the time I was a twenty-something and did not know how influentual Mr. Burke contribution(s) in the pantheon of Africa-American Music in the America's. To this day Solomon Burke(taught me that we are multi-dimensional across genres) along with CoCo Taylor(taught me the difference between Jazz and the Blues). Albertina Walker passing begs the question..Who will sing at Aretha's funeral? Are we losing our icons at a inordinate, rapid rate?
Rest in Peace Solomon....

[Helen Johnson]

Good-Evening To You Mr:Smiley And To You Mr:West.
Today I Stand Before You In Remembrance Of So Many Very Talented Singing Artists Of Old School That Are No Longer With Us Today In The Music Industry. In My Company Of Diva Queen Management Co,And Booking Agency, We Represent Some Of Thee Most Talented Singing Old School Artists And various Solo Male And Female Vocalists Capable Of Performing At Any Venue's. I Lost Great Talented Artists That Became Very Close To Me As Friends. In 2008 - 2009 I Met Mr:Ron,Banks Of The Dramatics, In 2009 - 2010 I Met Mr: Ron,Cartier Of The Persuaders, Both Artists I Knew Very Well, We Spoke With One Another Just About Everyday. The Persuaders Are One Group That We Represent. We Are Also Representing. Just To Give You A Few. The Intruders,Review, Mr:Frank,Washington Former Lead Singer Of The Spinners, The Dynamic,Superiors, Skip Mahoney And The Casuals,And Many Other Talented Artists. If Possible Mr:Smiley And Mr:West. We Are Asking Of Your Help. In Thee Area Of Helping Us To Connect With An Music Producer. Or A Music Promoter, That Would Allow Us To Place These Talented Singing Artists And Some Have Pave'd The Way Of The Music And Show's We Now Get To See And Enjoy. For Me This Part Sir Started Out As A Small Girl's Dream, Growing Up Learning How To Hand Dance With My Brother's And Also Dancing With My Mother When My Father Was At Work On Saturday Watching Soul Train, My Passed Away In 1996. She Was My Role Model And My Great Friend, My Compassionate Side I Got From My Mother. She Is My Angel Now Watching Over Me. Sometime's When The Uncaring Of The Day Are On My Heart. I Feel Her And God's Grace. Sir Just To Share Just A little Of My Life. Grewing Up And Seeing My Mom's Working 2-3 Job's When My Dad Would Miss Treat Her. It Was Always My Dream To Work Just As Hard As She Did And Buy A Large House. And Move My Mother In With Me And My Family. Our Home Was Built'ed In 1997, But My Mother Passed Away In 1996 Sadly She Did Not Get The Opportunity To Move In With Me. And I Miss My Mother. I Am A Mother's Day Baby. I Was Born On Mother's Day. I Have My Mother's Picture's And My Mother's Mother Picture On Face Book. When You Visit My Page. You Will Pull Up Helen,Johnson There You Shall See Me As A Cute Little Baby. We Are Trying To Work On Having This Venue Around December 2010. The Title Of The Show That I Gave. The Show Of The Century Old School Vs New School. A Show That Has Never Been Done By A Black Female Manager And Booking Agency. Ever. And This Has Been My Dream Since I Was A Child. But God Has Been Good To Me. That He Allow These Artists That We Now Represent Through My Agency. They Found Me. I Would Love Too Put This Great Venue Together With Artists I Grew Up With, Like, The Original Dells They Have Been Singing Together For Over 54yrs In The Music Industry. One Of Their Great Singer Passed Away Also. With The Dynamic,Superiors,The Legendary,Escorts,The Intruders,Review,Mr:Frank,Washington, Skip Mahoney And The Casuals, With Great Legend's Of Mr; Stevie,Wonder, Mr; Ice Man Mr; Jerry,Butler, With The Great Legendary Orioles With Their Top Hit Back In The Day Crying In The Chapel, The Great Velons Of Their Biggest Hit Also Back In The Day Everybody's got A home But Me, Mr: Al.Green , The Great Legendary Mr; Lionel, Richie, Mrs: Patty Labell, The Manhatton's , The Great Temptation's, Review, With New School Artists Usher, Jammie,Fox, Alica, Keys, Beyonce, And To Host The Show Mr: Steve,Harvey And Mr: Tom,Joyner, In Honor Of Some Of Thee Great Legend's That Are No Longer With Us In The Music Industry, While Thee Audiences Are Waiting For The Show To Began, Play Their Music And There Picture's With Their Song's Are Being Played, With Great Producer's Of Mr: Russell,Simmons, The Great Legend Mr; Quincy,Jones, And Invite Family's From Around The Country To Receive Award;s In Their Honor. To Give One Big Great Show In The Washington Area, We Were Told That Mr: Martin,Lawence Has A Great Theater In The D.C Area That Can Accommodate That Many People, And After This Great Show, What Better Way To End A Great Show But To Host A After Party. And The Fee Would Be 40.00 Per Person And Have A Long Buffet Line With Server's Of Great Food And A Open Bar, And To Bring In My Son Who Is A Top DJ And His Friends To DJ The After Party, With Old School And New School Music, And All Proceed's Shall Go To The Homeless Shelter Of Baltimore, Washington Area. And To Have This Show Our Very First Show Video Tape'd, My Dream Is To Be Blessed With My Very First Show Of The Century And Show's Touring With Some Of Thee Artists We Represent, My Dream Also To Be A Blessing To My Elderly Friends That Are On Fixed Income. To Go Around To Homeless Shelter's Donate Part Of My Money, That I Would Make Doing The Show's That I Have Always Dream't Of Doing. To Get Sponsor's Who Are A Great Humanitarian To Come To Give A Generous Charitable Contribution Like Giant Food,Food Lion, Crest, Colgate, Sprite, Old,Spice,Walmarts , Sams Club, Scotts Paper Co, Unilever, Mennen, Hotwheels, All Car Dealership's Head Quarter's, Mattel Toy Co, Utz's, And Other Great Company's That Are Doing Great, To Donate Money To Over Loaded Homeless Shelter's And There Products, People In The Baltimore,Washington Area's Are Staving All Year Long, Many Are Veteran's That This Country Have Long Forgotten About, Those That Went Off To War And Some Did Not Make It Back, What About Their Family's, Those I Don't Hear Talked About Other Than Veteran's Day, Alot Are Veteran's Also, Women With Children Are Living On The Streets Everyday, Some They Are Not There By Choice, Many Have Lost Their Job's, Lost Their Home's, As Were Are Out, I See Many Homeless People Of Baltimore, With Their Cardboard Boxes And Shopping Carts, Trying To Find A Place To Sleep In, Some Use To Sleep Around City Hall Down-Town But The City Spent Million's Of Money To Rebuild A Nice Grass Park Wright In Front Of City Hall, Now The Baltimore City And City Hall Won't Allow Them To Sleep There Any More. Here In Baltimore Year's Ago, The Called The Homeless Of Baltimore An Eye Sore. That Tourist Won't Keep Coming To Baltimore If They Are Seen Walking The Streets Or Coming Up To Them Begging For Money. My Dream Is To One Day, Help To Get Thee Most Top Business Here In Baltimore, To Build A Building Tall Enough To House Homeless Men And A Tall Building To House Homeless Women And Women With Children, Allow Them To Work Off Living There Until They Can Find Job's, To Clean Up The City Streets, To Have Some Of These Social Worker's Who Think Less Of These People To Be Put In Charge Of Supervising Them, Male Superior's For The Men, And Women Superior's For The Women, And They Are To See That They All Get Medical Attention, And For Those That Have Drug Addiction's, They Must Seek Help In Order To Remain House'd, And Once Clean'ed They Must Got To Meeting's And Finally Seek Some Type Of Employment, But We All Need To Pull Up Our Sleeve's And Help Those That Can't Help Them Self's, Should We Look Down On Them, No-No, Every Day When I Can Sit At My Computer Daily Sending Out E-mails After E-mails, Into Mr: Quincy,Jones E-mail Office, Mr:Russell,Simmons, Mr:Larry,L Johnson Of Bet, Mrs:Katie,Hudges, Mr:Tom,Joyner's Office, Mr:Micheal,Baisden, Mr;Steve,Harvey, Mr;Al Green's Office I Even Spoke With Mrs;Mary In His Office And Sent E-mails Back And Fourth, I Was At Thee Mother's Day Gospel Show, I Was On The Floor Seat. My Daughter Took Me To The Show. I Personally Gave Mr;Fred, Hammond 3-4 Of My Business Cards After The Show. He Said That He Would Put The Word Into One Of His Contacts That Is A R&B Producer, Other E-mail's That I Personally Sent Out,The Rickey Smiley Show,The Tom,Joyner Morning Show And Mr:J Anothony,Brown,Mr;Ray,Lewis Of The Raven He Was A Member Of Our Church Him And His Mother Have Meet Many Time's After Church,We Have Taking Picture's With Ray's Mother, One Sunday On Mother's Day He Thought That I Was Her Mother Because We Had Almost The Same Clothes And Same Style Hair,Mr;Jeff.Majors, Mr;Chuck,Gamble And Mr:Leon,Huff,Mr;Steve,Harvey,Mr;Kirk,Franklin I Gave 2-3 Of My Business Cards To Personally,Mr:Donnie,Simpson At W.P.G.C Before He Left, Deaf Jams In New,York Sent In All The Press Kits I Was Told To Send In By Mr; La'Reid In Marketing Dept, Mr;Paul,At Motown ,Legend,P-Diddy, Jay,Z.Mr:Jerry,Butler I Saw Him This Yr In Baltimore I Gave Him 5 Of My Business Cards,Mr;Micheal,Jordon, Magic,Johnson, Ms;Pattie,Labell, Mr;Samuel,Jackson,Rve:Al Sharpton Daughter , Music Promoter's And Music Producer's Just About All Around The World,The u.k, Canada,London, England, France, Berlin, Just To Name A Few, Then In The Country,Hollywood, Motown In Detroit,Nashville, Las,Vegas, Philly, New,York,New,Jersey,Def,Jams In New,York,All Cruise Liner Ships, One Cruise Ship I Personally Contacted Mrs;Audrey,Batts For The Capital Jazz Super Cruise, Wild Style Entertainment, Record Co, ABC Record Co, A&E Record Co, Capital,Records, Atlantic,Records In Burbank Ca, A&M Records, Motown,Records, Mr;David,Gest Producer Of The Temptations,Review,Ms;Oprah And Ms:Gale Of The Oprah Show, I Posted Thee Artists On Smooth,Jazz, Fan Club international Mr;Rickie,Tedford, Black,Start Up Biz, Face Book, Revebnation, Production @ The Apollo, And Many Other's, With Promise's But No Responds, I E-mail'ed Into Our Radio Station Here In Baltimore Of 95.9 Randy,Dennis, Tom,Joyner And The Tom Joyner Morning Show, Tim,Watts, Lee,Cross, Brad,Everatt, Low-Low, And Many Other DJ's In 95.9 And Top DJ's On 92q, We Have Reach'ed So-So Many Companies, Cooperate Events, Private Events, Sponsor's, Mr;Smiley,And Mr:West We Honestly Do Need Your Help; For This I Ask Of You, Not Just For Me But Sir All That Has Worked On Weekends, Coming In Allowing Me To Go Home To Get Much Need'ed Sleep, And Some Time's Weekend's Sitting At My Computer Until The Sun Is Coming Up, Not Giving Up Nor Giving In, Despite Negative Calls Coming In From Some-one That I Looked Up To On Thee Top Radio Station Here In Baltimore, I Won't Say His Name, But Honestly I Was So Hurt, Because I Met Him And Got Out Helping Hand Out Flyer's For The Radio Station He Works At, Alot Of My Old School Radio Station DJ's Also Let Me Down, Some Of My Top Singing R&B Singer's And Some Of My Gospel Singer's Let Me Down, I Remember Speaking With 8 Great Singer's Artists Names I Won't Say, I Meet Some In Chicago Back Stage, Las,Vegas Back Stage, La Back Stage, New,York Back Stage, Washington Back Stage, FL Back Stage, Baltimore Back Stage, Business Cards Giving As They Ask'ed, One Top Show We Took 6 Filled Buses From Baltimore To New,York To Their Show, And Called And Spoke With This Great Singer And Told Him Of How Many People That Knew Me And Came Out To Help Me Support Them, But Here, I Can't Get The One Door Or Window To Open For Us, I Worked Hard Now Since I Have Retired, Devoting Full Time Trying To Put My Dream's The Goals Of So Many That Are Still Sticking And Counting On Me, These Artists Have Earned Of What They Only Ask Now. A Large Venue Out Of The Country. I Have Meet With All Of Thee Artists We Represent Here, They Shown And Wanted Me To Know That They Are Ready To Enjoy The Rest Of Their Life's In Different Country, Thats My Passion That Keep's Me Going Forward No Matter Of The Good Days Or Not, I Don't Know The Word Of Stop'' Quite, Give In, Listen To Some Saying No One Won't Get Me The One opportunity Of That One Door Open Which Would And Can Bring Endless Possible's, I Pray Every night And All Threw The Day When It Seem's There Is No Light At The End Of The Tunnel, Mr:Smiley - Mr;West Do You Know How It Feel, When You Have Giving All You Have Inside You, I Go To Bed, Some Times The Morning Sun Is About To Come Up, 5;00 - 6:00 Am, I Have Those Same Dreams Every Night, So Much So, When I Get Up I Can Remember The Whole Dream, Have You Ever Had Dream's So Much Of The Same Dream's That You Can Remember The Whole, I Have This Same Dream, Its Starts Off With Me In My Bath Tub Hot Water And Filled With Bubbles, Praying And Yes Crying, Asking God Allow Me To Be Blessed With This Show That We Have Worked Since 2008, Buying Cases Of Paper To Fax Out E-mails That Don't Have An E-mail Address, Making International Calls, Calls Around The Country, My Cell Phone Bill I See Of How Much Usage I Have Made Each Month, Some Well Over 2300 Minutes Used, Thank God For Sprint, Packs, And Packs Of Ink, E-mails Sent Out With Conducting Follow Up Calls, Honestly And God Know's We Need Your Help; If You Maybe Able To Get One Window Open For Us Here, That In It Self Would Be A Blessing We Have Been Working Hard On And The Blessing We Have So Long Waited To Come Fourth, We Tank,You For Reading Our Long Daily Prayer, We All Here Thank You, May God Bless You Mr:Smiley And Mr:West To Be A Blessing To Us Which Would Place Us Here In The Position To Go Help Other's That Are In Need That We Don't Have The Mean's To Help As We Would Like To. And To Know That We Did Not Give In Nor Stop, These Artists Need's Their Break As Well Thats Been So-So Long Over Due, To Them, I Would Love And That Would Be My Honor Of Doing, It's Just We Need An Angel To Smile On Us And Go To Be Blessed To Finally Be At This Show That I Have Dream'th All My Life, But In My Dream's I See Every Thing So Clearly A Dream I Don't Want To Stop Dreaming, But At Thee End, My Dream I Am Awaken Before I Can See The Face Of Who Call's Me. To Say Ms:Johnson, Ms:Helen,Johnson Of Diva Queen Management Co,And Booking Agency We Have Good New's For You And Your Staff, Call The Artists That You Want To Start Touring, In My Dream I Was Told That Some-One Will Pick Me Up To Take Me To The Airport, And Have Your Artists Meet You At Thee Airport, In My Dream, I Was Ask'ed Have I Ever Travel'ed By A Private Jet Before, In My Dream I said No Sir I've Never Been In A Private Jet Ever,In My Dream All Thee Artists Are Getting Out Of Limo's Smiling Of All I Can See Is Their White Teeth's, I Go Into The Bathroom On The Plain Crying And Thanking God Both At The Same Time. For Blessing Us All, Of What We Have Worked So Hard To Bring Into A Living Reality, Sleeping In A Beautiful Suite, So Happy So Over Joyed I Can't Fall Asleep, Going To Our Very First Show And Looking Out Into The Audience,The Theater Is Pack'ed, Family And Many Friends Are There Showing Support, Now Finally All The Hard Work That We Put In, All Those Late Night And Early Morning E-mailing Was All Worth It, My E-mail Is [e-mail] My Office # Is 443-801-4206; Thank,You Sincerely Ms:Helen,Johnson.

[Dedra I. Knight]

We begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing.
That older generation had set standards that they not only performed but lived and that not what we see now. What I heard growing up was music that expressed what folks felt and wanted to be. What I hear now is a lot of how to have sex or kill and music is missing.