KING SOLOMON/ Complete Recordings

KING SOLOMON/ Complete Recordings

              

Several bluesmen have used the "King Solomon" moniker, mainly ace pre-war guitarist King Solomon Hill, the pianist and sometimes singer Ellis Walters Jr (1919-63) who recorded under the name King Solomon or Soloman (sic) as well as a session man behind many West Coast bluesmen as Solomon Ellis. Soul star Solomon Burke also recorded as King Solomon as well as jazz tenor saxophonist Clifford Solomon! And there is now a young good bluesman playing and recording under the name King Solomon Hicks!

               But the only "real" King Solomon (his real name) is this blues singer that we are featuring here. Born King Sylvester Lee Melicious Solomon on 12th October 1934 (or 1940? but this year sometimes given seems to be improbable even impossible) at Tallulah, La, he began to sing in his mother's church before creating his own Gospel a-capella quartet.

               When King Solomon comes to Chicago in 1949 to work as a busboy in a restaurant, he listens more and more the blues in the Windy City's clubs, befriending with Sunnyland Slim. Soon one finds him singing the blues at Theresa's or at Du Sable Lounge. But, tired of the hard Chicago's winters, Solomon settles in Los Angeles in 1954, meeting Charles Brown, Lowell Fulson and Maxwell Davis who encourages him to form his own band. During the late 50's, King Solomon and his Soul Brothers Band play regularly in the L.A. area, Charles Wright holding the lead guitar. In 1961, his first autobiographic record Non Support blues Parts I & II hits the West Coast before being taken over by the Checker label, and then climbing to n°39 on Billboard.

               Solomon then tours the Western States for awhile with big stars like B.B. King, Little Milton, Etta James and even opens for Sammy Davis Jr during a couple of weeks in Davis' cabaret in Las Vegas.

               King Solomon records regularly during the 1960's for a large variety of labels, some important like Kent but generally for small independent ones like Don-J, Magnum or his own Mader-D. With a somewhat poor distribution, those records sell quite confidentially with the exception of the small local hit You are nothing but a teenager.

              

During the 1970's, Solomon seeks commercial success in turning his music towards the Rock/ Psychedelic audience, his guitarist Joe Kincaid playing constantly the wah-wah guitar and with heavy bass and drums. This is the music featured on the only album recorded as such by Solomon Energy Crisis, probably during the mid-70's (1977 is the date generally admitted).

               Outside a small article on Blues Unlimited, King Solomon was mainly unknown outside his L.A. area until the excellent Dutch Diving Duck label issued a compilation of some of his best tracks during the mid-80's!

               Today, one doesn't know if King Solomon is still living or if so where he lives. Anyway, his recorded work is much worthy. We have tried to gather the complete recordings by this King Solomon but there still are 5 numbers that have been impossible to find. Thanks by advance to anyone who would have them and would be willing to share!

               Thanks to Diving Duck label, Mr Mightygroove and the excellent Groovy Gumbo blog for their help.

                                                                                       

Gérard HERZHAFT

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1961

01. Non support blues I & II

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1962

02. I got to move

03. Uncle John's swinging farm

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1963

04. Louisiana groove

05. I'm in love with you

06. My dream

I'm in your corner baby

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1964

07. Separation n°1

08. I want to know

09. Yodeling this morning

10. Scratch my back

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1965

11. Big things

12. You ain't nothing but a teenager

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1966

13. Mr bad luck

14. S.K. blues

15. New figure

16. Let me be your eagle baby I & II

17. Almost midnight

18. Please Mr President

King Solomon, vcl; Charles Wright, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1967

19. Separation n°2

20. Little dab will do it

21. Where is my shoe

22. What you got

Skidrow

Brainwashed woman

When a man loves a woman

I don't play that way

King Solomon, vcl; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1968

23. Just a little faith

24. Sittin' here thinkin'

King Solomon, vcl; Joe Kincaid, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. 1969

25. The natural look

26. No woman's no stranger

27. The miracle worker

28. The Moon Walk

29. Love bug

30. Something's wrong with me

King Solomon, vcl; Joe Kincaid, g; band. Los Angeles, Ca. c. 1977

31. I got a sweet tooth for your love

32. If I were a strong man

33. Energy crisis

34. Political rag

35. Ain´t it funky ya´ll I & II

36. Sexy baby

37. Get up soul brother

38. Don´t play this song

39. A little dab will do ya