Solomon Burke: King Solomon

WHEN SOLOMON BURKE makes an entrance, it's obvious that royalty has arrived. I once witnessed the self-proclaimed King of Rock'n'Soul take the stage. It was just a few blocks from Chicago's Chess Studios, on the fabled Michigan Avenue. Solomon was resplendent in an ecclesiastical purple cloak with gold trimmings. A crown sat atop his pompadour, but eclipsing it all was his massive scarlet suit, which needed a volume control of its own.