One for the Road: Remembering Solomon Burke

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 12, 2010 10:00PM

Two days after the passing of Albertina Walker, soul music pioneer and man-mountain Solomon Burke died at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport at the age of 70. The son of a preacher who once said "I'll sing as long as I draw breath" was en route to a concert appearance in Amsterdam.

Burke often sat on a royal blue throne onstage as both a stage prop and to accommodate his massive frame, but his voice was one that only knew one level: loud. Producer Joe Henry modeled Mr. Burke's 2003 Grammy winning album Don't Give Up On Me after Sam Cooke's Night Beat. Here is Mr. Burke singing the title track from that album.