LOS ANGELES, Calif.–Grammy-winning soul singer Solomon Burke, known for the 1964 hit “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” apparently suffered a heart attack and died on a flight from Los Angeles to Amsterdam on Sunday. He was 70.
Burke, who was due to perform Tuesday in Amsterdam, was declared dead when the plane landed at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, according to published reports.
The Philadelphia native, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, had lived in Los Angeles, where he was a mortician and had a funeral business.
Burke, who grew up in the church and started his adult life as preacher, signed with Atlantic Records in the early 1960s. His first hit, “Just Out of My Reach (Of Own Two Arms), was a cover of country song.
The Rolling Stones covered “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love,” as did Wilson Pickett. In 1980, it also was featured in “The Blues Brothers” movie.
His song “Cry To Me,” a hit in the 60s, also was featured in the movie “Dirty Dancing” in the 1980s.
A big man, Burke appeared as Daddy Mention in 1987’s “Big Easy.” He also appeared in the 2004 movie “Lightning In A Bottle.”
Though critically acclaimed, he never reached the stardom enjoyed by Sam Cooke or Otis Redding.
Burke had a close association with the Roman Catholic Church and performed at the Vatican in 2000. This year, he released the CD “Nothing is Impossible.”
In 2002, he revived his career with “Don’t Give Up On Me,” released by Fat Possum Records. On it, he sang songs written specifically for the album by the likes of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson. In 2003, the album won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Burke is survived by 21 children and about 100 grandchildren. Funeral plans are pending.
