Solomon Burke: last of the great soul men

"Humility," I ask Solomon Burke, soul legend, mortician and archbishop of The House of God For All People, "is a central pillar of religious faith, isn't it? The idea is that you should strive to be humble, and modest?"

"Absolutely," says Burke, who is talking to me in his church, in South Central Los Angeles.

"I mention this because there are one or two things that are sort of bothering me about you."

"Such as?"

"Oh, I don't know: your golden throne; your crown; the sceptre..."

"My throne," he interrupts, "represents a number of things. It indicates that I am under the direction of God."

"...the way you are referred to as 'King Solomon' on your website."

"We are all kings."

"No we aren't."

"We are."