Music writer Peter Guralnick was among those who recognized Burke as a key figure in the emergence of soul music, and Atlantic Records as the key record label. A big man with a big voice, he rolled out several big hits, starting in 1961, and soul music hit the stage testifying. So special that Burke was consecrated a bishop at birth by his grandmother in the Solomon’s Temple, a congregation of the United House of Prayer for All People, which she founded at her home in Black Bottom, West Philadelphia.Īnd what an entrance he made. It needed a special force to unite those early elements.Įnter the special force of Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke (born James Solomon McDonald). I know, you need a scorecard.īut all of that music was initially kind of sporadic. The other Royals (formerly the Royal Sons Quintet, a gospel group), became the “5” Royales, and left gospel for something more akin to the devil’s music. As an interesting sidelight (and there are many when you start to trace musical genres), another group that also called itself the Royals (formerly the Four Falcons), brought in Hank Ballard and then became the Midnighters, and went on to specialize in some raucously salacious R&B (“Work With Me Annie,” “Annie Had A Baby”).
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