In 1962 Solomon Burke (McDonald) released "Cry To Me" (Bert Russell). The Juilliard School graduate, songwriter Bert Burns produced the single with Cissy Houston singing back up. This was recorded after Solomon rejected "Hang On Sloopy" and "A Little Bit Of Soap". The song peaked at number five R&B and number forty-four pop.

Bert Burns also directed the Betty Harris version of "Cry To Me" in 1963. This time the slower feel reached number twenty-three on the Top One Hundred and number ten on the R&B chart.