# Solomon King > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Solomon_King > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Solomon_King.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_King > Source revision: 1331088538 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American singer (1930–2005)}} {{for|the New Zealander|Solomon King (rugby union)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Solomon King | image = | image_upright = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Allen Verner Levy | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1930|08|13|mf=y}} | birth_place = [Lexington, Kentucky](/source/Lexington%2C_Kentucky), U.S. | origin = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|01|20|1930|08|13|mf=y}} | death_place = [Norman, Oklahoma](/source/Norman%2C_Oklahoma), U.S. | genre = [Pop](/source/Pop_music) | occupation = Singer | instrument = | years_active = 1952–2005 | label = | associated_acts = | website = }} '''Solomon King''' (born '''Allen Verner Levy'''; August 13, 1930 – January 20, 2005){{cite web |url=https://obits.oklahoman.com/obituaries/oklahoman/obituary.aspx?n=allen-v-levy&pid=3073674|title=Allen V. Levy|date=2005-01-23|access-date= 2021-06-12|publisher=The Oklahoman}} was an American 1960s and 1970s [popular music](/source/popular_music) [singer](/source/singing). He is best remembered for his 1968 British [hit single](/source/hit_single), "[She Wears My Ring](/source/She_Wears_My_Ring)", which charted in 40 countries. ==Early life== Born Allen Verner Levy in [Lexington, Kentucky](/source/Lexington%2C_Kentucky), as a teenager he attended the [Cincinnati Conservatory of Music](/source/University_of_Cincinnati_College-Conservatory_of_Music), and was offered a scholarship to study Cantatorial Music by Jan Peerce. ==Career== He first started singing professionally in 1952. Under his first pseudonym, Randy Leeds, his [records](/source/gramophone_record) such as "I'm Gonna Live Til I Die" did not sell. King was the first [white](/source/white_people) singer taken on tour by [Billie Holiday](/source/Billie_Holiday), as well as working with [Elvis Presley](/source/Elvis_Presley)'s backing group the [Jordanaires](/source/Jordanaires), whom he used as his own backing group when recording his first version of "[She Wears My Ring](/source/La_golondrina)" in [Nashville, Tennessee](/source/Nashville%2C_Tennessee). King's [chart](/source/record_chart) success in the [UK](/source/United_Kingdom) began with "She Wears My Ring", which was a top three [hit](/source/hit_record) there in 1968,{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 302}} and was also a hit in 40 other countries,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/solomon-king-488031.html |title=Solomon King Singer best known for 'She Wears My Ring'|work=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)|date=2005-01-24 |access-date=2009-10-08}} but failed to reach the [US](/source/United_States) [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) [chart](/source/record_chart), it did reach number 117 on the Bubbling Under chart, and made number 92 on Cashbox's Top 100. "She Wears My Ring", based on "La Golondrina (The Swallow)" by the [Mexican](/source/Mexico) [composer](/source/composer) Narciso Serradel Sevilla, was written by the Nashville husband and wife team [Boudleaux](/source/Boudleaux_Bryant) and [Felice Bryant](/source/Felice_Bryant). Also in 1968, "When We Were Young", written by songwriting duo [Les Reed](/source/Les_Reed_(songwriter)) and [Barry Mason](/source/Barry_Mason) was a number 21 hit in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart). In 1970, he released "This Wonderful Day" (under the name "Levi Jackson") on the Columbia record label which is still popular on the [Northern soul](/source/Northern_soul) scene. In 1972, he released the single "[When You've Gotta Go](/source/When_You've_Gotta_Go)", written by [Lynsey de Paul](/source/Lynsey_de_Paul) and [Ron Roker](/source/Ron_Roker) on the Polydor label and it made the Australian chart,{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/2058258de |title=Solomon King - When You've Gotta Go / Life Child - Polydor - Germany - 2058 258 |website=45cat.com |date=2015-12-07 |access-date=2020-03-01}} as well as the Dutch "Tipparade", where it peaked at number 17.{{Cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/solomon-king/solomon-king-when-you-ve-gotta-go-18688|title=Solomon King - When You've Gotta Go|website=Top40.nl|access-date=September 30, 2025}} It received UK radio air play and was covered by Ricki Disoni, a former ''[New Faces](/source/New_Faces)'' contestant.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.whosampled.com/Ricki-Disoni/When-You%27ve-Gotta-Go/ |title=When You've Gotta Go by Ricki Disoni - Samples, Covers and Remixes |website=Whosampled.com |date= |access-date=2020-03-01}} At {{convert|6|ft|8|in|m|1}} tall, some television interviewers refused to have him on their shows unless he sat down.{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4196027.stm |title=US singer Solomon King dies at 73 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |date=2005-01-21 |access-date=2007-03-31}} King continued singing in [clubs](/source/nightclub) in the United States, after returning in 1980. ==Personal life== King married [Canadian](/source/Canada) [journalist](/source/journalist) Henny Lowy in 1960, and they spent 20 years living in [Higher Crumpsall](/source/Higher_Crumpsall), [Manchester](/source/Manchester), England, where the couple had four children. After a divorce with Lowy in 1980, he moved back to the United States, where he wed a further two times. King died in [Norman, Oklahoma](/source/Norman%2C_Oklahoma), of [cancer](/source/cancer), on January 20, 2005, at the age of 74.{{cite web|url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2005.html|title=The Dead Rock Stars Club : 2005 January to June|website=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com|access-date=2011-03-01}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|1260873|Solomon King}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:King, Solomon}} Category:1930 births Category:2005 deaths Category:American male pop singers Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Category:Musicians from Lexington, Kentucky Category:Deaths from cancer in Oklahoma Category:20th-century American singers Category:Singers from Kentucky Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom Category:20th-century American male singers --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Solomon King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_King) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_King?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.