Solomon King

Born in Detroit and based in California, Solomon King is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter who dove deep into the West Coast rock scene before finding his niche as a blues artist. With a rich, textured voice that's earned comparisons to Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen, King's tough guitar work and strong, elemental melodies are based in blues and classic R&B, with 2009's Under the Sun serving as his introduction to the blues community. In between frequent rounds of touring, King delivered a handful of well-received albums, such as 2018's ambitious and experimental Against the Current and 2021's No. 5, a blend of electric and acoustic performances. Solomon King began his career under the name Jeffrey Laine; Laine was born and raised in Detroit, and he fell in love with music at an early age. He got his first guitar as a birthday present when he turned eight, and by the time he was twelve, he was playing school dances with a local band. He played with a number of groups in the Detroit area, one of which featured his friend Doug Fieger, and the two of them drove out to Los Angeles together in search of stardom. While Fieger found success with the Knack, Laine worked with a variety of bands and was mentored by blues great Etta James as he strove to make a name for himself. Laine joined Hollywood Underground, a band with punk, goth, and metal flavors, who landed a deal with the Capitol-distributed Apache label and released a self-titled LP in 1988. After Hollywood Underground broke up, Laine joined a group called Poetic Justice, who caught the ear of William "Smitty" Smith, a noted session musician who produced demos for the group shortly before a stroke ended his career. After spending time in Northern California studying classical music, Laine got to work on his first solo album. Produced by Irwin "Magic" Kramer, whose résumé included work with Ray Charles and the Paladins, 2003's Long Way to Go was an eclectic set that included rock, blues, country, and reggae influences. Laine's next solo set, 2006's Blues Vein, was a harder-edged rock album with a raw blues undertow, and he toured extensively in support of the release, playing in North America, the Hawaiian islands, Australia, and Israel. Jeff Laine reinvented himself as Solomon King for the 2009 album Under the Sun, recorded with veteran producer, arranger, and instrumentalist Sylvester Rivers, with a studio band that included Ray Parker, Jr., Reggie McBride, and Ollie Brown. Two songs from the album, “Jack Me Up” and “Frankie and Johnnie,” would be featured in the first season of HBO's vampire drama series True Blood. After more touring with his backing band the Chosen, King cut his second LP under his new handle, 2011's Medicine. Also in 2011, King appeared in a low-budget drama about Phil Spector and Lana Clarkson, I Think I Just Shot Her, in which he played the infamous producer; he also recorded a number of songs for the soundtrack. (Legal matters prevented the film from being released until 2016.) 2014's Train added a touch of Southern soul and swampy country to King's trademark mixture, and 2018's Against the Current eased back on the blues in favor of a set of songs steeped in classic rock, prog rock, and alternative rock. King walked back to the blues for No. 5, his fifth album since becoming Solomon King, which featured introspective acoustic tunes as well as rollicking electric cuts.
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