Remembering soul legend Solomon Burke’s hit singles and essential deep cuts

Nothing is impossible when you learn about the life of pioneering soul and rhythm and blues artist Solomon Burke. Stick around for a detailed discography of Burke’s Billboard charting hits and other deep cuts that you have to hear. Seen above is a penetrating side profile of Burke’s face distributed in Spain only as the single 45 of “Detroit City” b/w “Got To Get You Off My Mind” circa November 1967. Burke’s breathtaking rendering of the country standard was sadly met with indifference by the record buying public. Image Credit: 45Cat user Bsf1975 / Atlantic Records

Soul-R&B pioneer Solomon Burke never gained the level of fame afforded to contemporaries James Brown, Al Green, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, or Sam Cooke. Rather, artists such as the Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, and the Blues Brothers introduced him to a wider audience through their cover versions.

The Stones’ early versions of “Cry to Me” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” especially stand out. In fact, the former appeared over 20 years later in the 1987 blockbuster Dirty Dancing, garnering renewed interest in the singer.

Born above Philadelphia’s Solomon’s Temple church, Burke was an ordained minister throughout his life as well as a mortician. He certainly led a very colorful life, as evidenced by a revealing Rolling Stone profile.

Always full of life, the singer never actually slowed down even in the face of obvious weight gain and immobility, recording, touring, and often preaching from the pulpit of his Los Angeles church, the House of Prayer for All People and World Wide Center for Life and Truth — the church must have a wide sign.

He passed away suddenly on October 10, 2010, of natural causes after arriving in Switzerland by jet for a live performance with Dutch rock band De Dijk. Hold on Tight, a final, collaborative studio…