Solomon King Music Inc.

“Some people are born great. Some become great. Some have greatness thrust upon them…” Winston Churchill There are those that simply play the blues and some people that have lived them, and there are those like SOLOMON KING who have done both. Hailing from Detroit, King’s days as an auto worker read like something out of a Charles Bukowski novel complete with booze and broads. When the massive layoffs came, King headed West with an acoustic guitar in hand and began a career in the very music that celebrates hard living, drinking and woman that know how to take your mind off things, only to land you in more trouble. Fast-forward to 2008. Solomon King starts hanging out at Babe and Ricky’s the now defunct, seminal South Central Los Angeles Blues Club. If there is such a thing as a hipster destination for blues, this is it. And King belongs. The same year Solomon his first album “Under The Sun,” produced by Motown legend Sylvester Rivers who brings in the ace rhythm section of Motown hit makers. Surprisingly (but not to King), “Under The Sun” is nominated for a Grammy in the “Best Contemporary Blues Album” category. Two of the songs from that album, “Jack Me Up” and “Frankie and Johnnie,” are featured in the first season of HBO’s “True Blood.” Suddenly the grit and grime of King’s native Detroit seem a million miles away, compared to the glitz and glam of Hollywood. Of course, there’s a cautionary tale to be told here, as well: As that glitters is rarely gold. In what seems a natural role for him, in 2010 Solomon King stars as Phil Spector in the indie film “The Phil Spector Incident.” Al Pacino and David Mamet have a similar idea two years later and produce “Phil Spector” for HBO. Which version is closer to the truth? When asked that question Solomon King quotes Mark Twain, “truth is our most precious commodity. Let us economize it.” In 2011 Solomon collaborates with esoteric producer Marvin Etzioni to create “Medicine.” This album turns its back on formula pop blues and returns to early John Lee Hooker and Bo Diddley: no-nonsense, no filter in your face guitar, drums, vocals. Either you get it or you don’t. Some did. Some didn’t. Some will. Some won’t. Fast-forward this time to 2013: King releases “Train,” a tasty collection of blues-rock tunes that walk the line between love and lust, while celebrating getting on with one’s life. With his live touring band firing fierce salvos of modern New-School Blues across the musical tracks the question of “put up or shut up?” is definitively answered. Rockwired Magazine tabs Solomon King as one of its “25 Guitarists You’ve Gotta Hear.” Good. In between making records and the occasional movie, Solomon King has been performing in venues from Hawaii to Chicago. If there’s a dance floor the audience is on it. His live shows are unpredictable, spontaneous and attended by all ages, colors and races who seek something different from the usual rehash of blues standards (though King is known to hash up a standard from time to time). Solomon King is well aware that in the oft-compartmentalized structure system that makes up the world of the Blues, he is the proverbial square peg in a round hole. For his growing legion of fans, and king himself, that suits him just fine. In the next installment of Solomon King: Past.Present.Future?: King discusses how he chose his name (or rather, how it chose him). Solomon King is Los Angeles-based guitarist-singer-songwriter and a top "New-School Blues" practitioner. King was a 2009 Grammy Awards entrant nominee in the Contemporary Blues category for his CD release, "Under The Sun."