King Solomon started building his legacy at age 7! How did he do tonight? Doesn't he make you wish you had your own throne? Were you singing along with MFSB--reliving your glory days in front of Soul Train?
King Solomon took the stage in darkness. When the lights came up, his horn section was center stage. As they peeled off to take their positions stage right, Burke was revealed in all his 300 pound glory sitting on a 8 foot high, red velvet throne in a metalic blue, sequined, three piece suit and magenta silk shirt. What ensued was 90 minutes of the best show biz and soul revival to hit Philly in years. Equal parts Otis Redding and Little Richard.
He was joined by 5 of his 99 children and grandchildren. Two of them on hand just to cater to his every whim - whether it was passing out dozens of roses to the ladies in the house, throwing Mardi Gras beads or mopping his great bald head between every song with what appeared to be a hotel shoe mitt.
In ancient Rome, the Emperors were bathed by a series of beauties. It is said that when they were finished, a dwarf was summoned to finish the ablutions. His only function was to wash the Emperor's testicals and he was known as a shaqua palle (sp?) or ball washer. In my neighborhood in the 70s, shaqua palle became the name kids shouted derisively at any lowlife we encountered. When I first saw Solomon's son adorn the shoe mitt and wipe his father's massive head, the memories of all the shaqua palle's we knew back in the day came flooding into the Kimmel Center. But the care and love with which everything on stage was done last night changed my mind. Solomon has an entourage around him that truly loves and respects him and they do so because that respect is returned ten fold by the man they serve.
The joy of music, the joy of life, the respect he showed to the singers who laid the groudwork for him, made this an unforgettable night. Kudos to the Kimmel for giving King Solomon a chance to come back to Philly in style.