November 7, 2002

Solomon Burke – long hailed as "The King of Rock and Soul" – was personally invited to open for the Rolling Stones at two of the band's shows on their US tour. The first show, which took place at the Wiltern Theater in LA on Monday, was a success on all fronts. Audience members at the intimate 2,200 capacity theater included stars such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood, Dwight Yoakam, Kiss singer Paul Stanley, former Rage Against the Machine singer Zack de la Rocha, Eagles bass player Timothy B. Schmit, Anjelica Huston, Benicio del Toro, writer/director Cameron Crowe, comedian Dennis Miller, Peter Boyle of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and Reese Witherspoon.

During the Stones' set, Mick Jagger invited Solomon Burke to join the group for one of their numbers, "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love," one of two Burke hits the Stones covered in the mid-60s.

It was during the Jagger-Burke duet that Burke's son threw Solomon's trademark gold and purple cape over Jagger's shoulders. Solomon has been wearing this illustrious garment for nearly 30 years, while performing for audiences around the world including the Pope and a former US President (while in office).

"I crowned the Rolling Stones 'The True Kings of Rock 'n' Roll' when I gave Mick the golden cloak," says Burke. "Several institutions, including the Smithsonian and the R&B Foundation have been after it for years, but I wanted to pass it on to the Stones. They have been spreading the word and awareness of black artists throughout the world for nearly forty years now."

The second show which Burke will open for the Stones takes place November 29 at the Joint in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Solomon's latest album Don't Give Up On Me, continues to resonate with fans and critics alike. Early indications point to the album ending up on many Top Ten lists for 2002. At the Wiltern show, Solomon performed a number of his '60s hits, including "Cry To Me," which was also covered by The Rolling Stones in 1965 on their Out Of Our Heads album. He also sang several cuts from his new album including the Tom Waits' song "Diamond In Your Mind," which Burke introduced by telling the audience the author was in the house. "Soul Searchin'," penned by Brian Wilson, was also a crowd pleaser, yet it was Solomon's heartfelt emotional rendition of the title track from the new album, which was clearly a highlight of his set. Perhaps, seeing a true soul legend sing, "I know it's late/But wait/Please don't give up on me/Oh, don't give up on me," made the most visceral impact on the audience.