Burke's most famous recordings, which spanned five years in the early 1960s, bridged the gap between mainstream R&B and grittier R&B.Greg Kot, "Solomon Burke Dead at 70; 'The King of Rock and Soul'", Chicago Tribune (October 10, 2010). Burke was "a singer whose smooth, powerful articulation and mingling of sacred and profane themes helped define soul music in the early 1960s."Ben Sisario, "Solomon Burke, Influential Soul Singer, Dies at 70", The New York Times (October 11, 2010). He drew from his roots—gospel, jazz, country, and blues—as well as developing his own style at a time when R&B, and rock were both still in their infancy.Pete Lewis, "Solomon Burke: The Last Soul Man", B&S 1038 (2010). Described as both "Rabelaisian"Carlo Wolff, "Guralnick Studies Soul Music Roots," Schenectady Gazette (June 20, 1986):24. and also as a "spiritual enigma",Tony Cummings, "Solomon Burke: The '60s Soul Music Legend and a Spiritual Enigma", Crossrhythms (November 5, 2010). "perhaps more than any other artist, the ample figure of Solomon Burke symbolized the ways that spirituality and commerce, ecstasy and entertainment, sex and salvation, individualism and brotherhood, could blend in the world of 1960s soul music."Brian Ward, Just my Soul Responding: Rhythm and Blues, Black Consciousness, and Race Relations (University of California Press, 1998):199.
Burke's most famous recordings which spanned five years in the early 1960s bridged the gap between mainstream R&B and grittier R&BGreg Kot "Solomon Burke Dead at 70; 'The King of Rock and Soul'" Chicago Tribune (October 10 2010) Burke was "a singer whose smooth powerful articulation and mingling of sacred and profane themes helped define soul music in the early 1960s"Ben Sisario "Solomon Burke Influential Soul Singer Dies at 70" The New York Times (October 11 2010) He drew from his roots—gospel jazz country and blues—as well as developing his own style at a time when R&B and rock were both still in their infancyPete Lewis "Solomon Burke The Last Soul Man" B&S 1038 (2010) Described as both "Rabelaisian"Carlo Wolff "Guralnick Studies Soul Music Roots" Schenectady Gazette (June 20 1986)24 and also as a "spiritual enigma"Tony Cummings "Solomon Burke The '60s Soul Music Legend and a Spiritual Enigma" Crossrhythms (November 5 2010) "perhaps more than any other artist the ample figure of Solomon Burke symbolized the ways that spirituality and commerce ecstasy and entertainment sex and salvation individualism and brotherhood could blend in the world of 1960s soul music"Brian Ward Just my Soul Responding Rhythm and Blues Black Consciousness and Race Relations (University of California Press 1998)199