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Solomon Burke: Barbican, London

Nick Hasted, The Independent, 11 October 2002

IT'S BEEN 28 YEARS since the self-styled king of rock'n'soul last graced a British stage, at which rate this could be a farewell performance, too. His throne and 11-piece band precede him, giving you time to recall the legend of the man many rate over his contemporary, Otis Redding – a 300lb ordained bishop of his own church, whose royal title was taken seriously enough for James Brown to vainly demand that the crown he wore on stage be handed to him.

Total word count of piece: 457

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