Solomon Burke may call himself the King of Rock ‘n’ Soul, but he’s always had a fantasy of recording a country album. After twenty records and forty years in the business, Burke finally, last September released his first all-country record, “Nashville.” Growing up in a musical, gospel-rich family, Burke’s roots were in soul music, but he always felt a special love for classic country artists such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Burke found his beginnings as a preacher in his hometown of Philadelphia before hosting his own gospel radio show and finally signing with Atlantic Records. Despite a prolific career, frequent appearances on the R&B charts, and leaving a distinctive imprint in both soul and country (his first hit song, “Just Out of Reach of My Open Arms,” was actually a cover of a country song), Burke never found a solid footing in the mainstream pop world. But today, Burke is widely recognized as a famed soul and R&B singer in the ranks of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, or Ray Charles.
“Nashville” (Shout! Factory) features Burke’s inimitable baritone along with five of country music’s finest leading ladies — Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch and Patty Loveless all contribute guest vocals.
Burke’s concert this Thursday night at the State Theatre will be a special “request only” night, with Burke performing songs largely requested by his fans and audience. With a back catalog as extensive and eclectic as his, Burke should have no trouble crafting a fine, rich set.
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Popcorn Youth: Growing up, what kind of music was the most influential on you?
Solomon Burke: Well, soul music has always been in my life. I was born and raised in the church, and soul is what I’m all about. Soul is the gospel inside of me that is related to all types of song and all types of music. It’s expressing your soul, it’s expressing how you feel. And it’s a deeper feeling from within.
Popcorn Youth: What was your experience like with country music?
Solomon Burke: Well, my country experience was very simple. It was Gene Autry and Roy Rogers and Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. I was just crazy about how Gene Autry sang, and my Grandma would say, “Don’t watch him, just listen to his pronunciation of the words, listen to his diction.” And I was like, “Yeah, that is pretty special! He is saying this, he is singing that, you can hear every word!” (Laughs) And we we would ride around in the empty lots with the old brooms we had and that would make dust trails like horses, and like little kids we played cowboys and had fun.
Popcorn Youth: As a recording artist in the 60s, would it have been possible to make an all-country record such as Nashville?
Solomon Burke: I don’t think so. I think the greatest challenge was that we were able to record in 1964 with Atlantic [Records] our first release “Just Out of Reach of My Open Arms,” and three other songs. Those songs were the beginning of history and opened up doors and windows for country from a black artist in America. We were very excited about that. It took a while, it took us a year and a half before we could even get airplay, but from there, everything began to blossom.
And Atlantic Records just put to a halt to it. They said, listen we’re not in the country music business, and you’ve got to get back to your quote unquote “soul” music and our R&B music and here’s Bert Berns and Don Covay and Brook Benton and all these great people to write songs for you. (Laughs) And for me, the dream was completed for me when I met with Shout! Factory [Records] and was allowed to do this country album, which was a completion of a dream.
Popcorn Youth: So were musicians who worked within multiple genres of music unusual in those days?
Solomon Burke: Absolutely. It’s a challenge, and it’s still a challenge, but it’s something that I find is very necessary. I was raised in a church atmosphere, and my grandmother said, “You must learn all genres of music, you must know and respect and accept and listen and appreciate all types of music. Opera, jazz, blues, country, rock, pop, listen to it and appreciate it and understand it.” It’s a healing, it’s a magic, it’s a miracle … And I’ve learned a lot from her words, which still exist in my heart and mind today, and this is why I try to check up on every phase of music that I possibly can.
Popcorn Youth: Why did you wait until now to release your first all-country record?
Solomon Burke: It was not just the timing, it was the opportunity. When you have a record company who believes in you enough to say to you, “Listen, we just finished that record. What would you like to do next?” Don’t ever, ever ask somebody who’s been waiting for someone to ask them that! (Laughs) And I said, “You really want to know?” And they said, “We want to know what you want to do.” And I said I would like to do a country album. And the next thing I knew, God had blessed me to be asked to sing at the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman, and then we met with Buddy Miller that night, and he said, “Man, I would love to do an album,” and we said, “Man, we would love to do an album!”
Popcorn Youth: How did you choose which songs were included on “Nashville”?
Solomon Burke: There was a great wealth of songs to choose from, and we listened to hundreds of songs. The idea was to pick the songs that made up part of a story, songs that made sense to me, that I could get my teeth into and really try to feel the magic of Nashville.
Popcorn Youth: You’re originally from Philadelphia. Why is Nashville a special city to you?
Solomon Burke: It’s the sound of Nashville. It’s the talent there. The people in Nashville believe in what they’re doing. Everyone has a song or knows a song, or plays an instrument, or is willing to write a song. The musicians are eager to help you, to be part of what you’re doing. It comes from their heart, their talent and ability to please and to work with you. It’s such an open-hearted and beautiful situation.
You’ve got to go, just one time. Just walk into the hotel and the waiters have songs! The cooks are songwriters, someone’s got a guitar in the lobby. It’s just so wonderful to see the atmosphere is there. That country music lives in the hearts and minds of the people. To me, it’s the University of Country Music. (Laughs)
Popcorn Youth: Tell me about the collaborations on “Nashville.”
Solomon Burke: What could I tell you! I had five of country’s royalty on my album, five of the most charming ladies I’ve ever met or ever worked with in my life. And it was so unique and so incredible. To this moment in time, it’s still been like a dream. I wrote a song many years ago called “Walking in a Dream” for Apollo Records, and the whole time that I was doing this, I thought, “I am now living my song.”
Popcorn Youth: Were the guest artists’ roles on “Nashville” planned out before you went to the studio?
Solomon Burke: None whatsoever. It was very of the moment. Emmylou Harris showed up and said, “Hey, I’ve got some songs I’d like you to hear,” and we started listening to her songs and then she said, “Can I sing that one with you?” (Laughs) Are you kidding? Yes, you can! And five minutes later, we’re recording that song.
Popcorn Youth: Looking back on your career, is this where you saw yourself today?
Solomon Burke: No, it’s not something I visualized. It’s something that was part of some unfinished business in my life. Then, I felt like I should have been able to continue and make a beautiful album. But the beauty of it was, Ray Charles came up later and had one of the greatest country albums of all time. It opened up my heart and mind to say, “Yes, there is possibility, there is hope. This can happen.” And today, there are so many great black artists that I recognize in country music.
Popcorn Youth: What is your opinion on the current state of soul music?
Solomon Burke: I think what’s going on today in soul music is completely incredible. I’m watching the young people today just come up and sing their hearts out. They’re performing now like it used to be many years ago. We’ve taken show business back to where it really used to be, where you could go see a show, and not just see someone walk on in a pair of sneakers and a T-shirt, but walk on stage and be very well performed, having a routine, and having pulled yourself together.
Popcorn Youth: What excites you about 2007?
Solomon Burke: I think what is great is programs like “American Idol” that bring new talent forth and give people outlets to express themselves. And the amazing thing is, the public is becoming more aware of talent. The sea of artists that never would have been hit artists if it were left up to a record company, become stars and famous people.
Popcorn Youth: What is the most special aspect about performing live?
Solomon Burke: It’s the life of my music and of my soul. Performing live gives me the energy to keep going. My heartbeat depends on the public and depends on the people in front of me, not the band behind me, because we become one when I’m on the stage with those musicians. And I hope that I’m able to sing all of the songs that they want to hear. If I don’t know the words to it, then I’ll say to the person, “Do you know the words to it? Come on up here, and let’s do this!” (Laughs) So get ready!
Solomon Burke will perform with the Ithaca Calvary Baptist Church Choir, this Thursday, March 1, at 8pm at the State Theatre. For tickets, 607-273-4497.