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albert king

Biography

Albert King, born Albert Nelson on April 25, 1923, in Indianola, Mississippi, was a towering figure in the world of electric blues, renowned for his powerful string-bending guitar style and soulful, smoky vocals[1][2][3]. Raised in a large, musically inclined family—one of 13 children—King grew up in the Mississippi Delta before moving to Arkansas as a child, where he worked as a farmhand and later as a bulldozer operator[1][2][4]. His early musical experiences included singing in a family gospel group and constructing his first instrument from a cigar box, but he soon transitioned to blues, inspired by Delta legends like Elmore James and Robert Nighthawk, whom he heard performing in West Memphis, Arkansas[1][3][4]. King was largely self-taught, developing a unique approach by playing a right-handed guitar upside down as a left-handed player, which contributed to his distinctive sound—sparse, single-note lines with intense sustain and a deep, emotive voice[1][2][4].

King’s career took off in the 1950s and 1960s as he moved through the Midwest, recording for labels like Parrot, Bobbin, and King, and eventually joining Stax Records in Memphis, where he released his seminal 1967 album Born Under a Bad Sign[1][2][3]. This album, along with hits like “Crosscut Saw” and “I’ll Play the Blues for You,” cemented his reputation as a key figure in blues, rhythm-and-blues, and rock music, influencing generations of guitarists[1][2][3]. King’s blend of Delta blues with Memphis soul made him one of the “Three Kings of the Blues” (alongside B.B. King and Freddie King), and his legacy endures through his innovative techniques and the profound impact he had on both blues and rock guitar playing[1][3][5]. He continued to tour and record until his death from a heart attack in 1992, leaving behind a body of work that remains foundational to modern blues and rock[1][2][3].

Fun Facts

  • Albert King was left-handed but played a right-handed guitar upside down, creating his signature sound by pulling the strings down instead of up[1][2][4].
  • He was known for his towering physical presence, standing 6’4” and weighing over 250 pounds, earning him the nickname 'The Velvet Bulldozer'[1][6].
  • King’s main guitar, a Gibson Flying V named 'Lucy,' became iconic in blues history for its distinctive tone and sustain[2][4].
  • He rarely used a guitar pick, preferring to play with the meat of his thumb for a warmer, more expressive sound[4].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

  • Elmore James - early blues inspiration, slide guitar style (live performances in West Memphis, AR) [1930s–1940s]
  • Robert Nighthawk - Delta blues influence, live performances (live performances in West Memphis, AR) [1930s–1940s]
  • Blind Lemon Jefferson - early guitar inspiration (N/A) [1920s–1930s]

Key Collaborators

  • Stax Records house band (Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Memphis Horns) - studio and live backing band (Born Under a Bad Sign, Live Wire/Blues Power) [1966–1974]
  • Jimmy Reed - briefly played drums behind Reed (live performances) [early 1950s]

Artists Influenced

  • Jimi Hendrix - adopted King’s string-bending and vibrato techniques (numerous covers and stylistic nods) [1960s–1970s]
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan - deeply influenced by King’s tone and phrasing (cover of “Born Under a Bad Sign”) [1980s]
  • Eric Clapton - cited King as a major influence on his blues-rock style (Cream, solo career) [1960s–present]
  • Joe Walsh - adopted King’s guitar approach in rock context (The James Gang, solo work) [1970s–present]

Connection Network

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Mentors
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Discography

Albums

Title Release Date Type
Born Under A Bad Sign (Mono) 1967-01-01 Album
Born Under A Bad Sign 1967 Album
In Session (Deluxe Edition / Remastered 2024) 2024-10-18 Album
Chronicle 1979-01-01 Album
I Wanna Get Funky 1973-01-01 Album
In Session 1999-01-01 Album
Years Gone By 1969 Album
Stax Profiles: Albert King 2006-01-01 Album
I'll Play The Blues For You 1972-01-01 Album
Jammed Together 1969-01-01 Album
The Definitive Albert King 2011-01-01 Album
Albert King Live: Blues For You 2025-06-03 Album
Funky London 1994-01-01 Album
King Of The Blues Guitar (Reissue) 1989-08-08 Album
I'll Play The Blues For You [Stax Remasters] 2012-01-01 Album

Top Tracks

  1. Born Under A Bad Sign - Mono Mix (Born Under A Bad Sign (Mono))
  2. Born Under A Bad Sign (Born Under A Bad Sign)
  3. I'll Play The Blues For You - Edit (Chronicle)
  4. Crosscut Saw - Mono Mix (Born Under A Bad Sign (Mono))
  5. As The Years Go Passing By (Born Under A Bad Sign)
  6. Oh, Pretty Woman - Mono Mix (Born Under A Bad Sign (Mono))
  7. Travelin' Man (I Wanna Get Funky)
  8. The Sky Is Crying (Years Gone By)
  9. Pride And Joy - Remastered 2024 (In Session (Deluxe Edition / Remastered 2024))
  10. Crosscut Saw (The Very Best Of Albert King)
  • Spotify
  • [Wikipedia](Not directly provided in search results; no Wikipedia URL found in cited sources.)
  • MusicBrainz

Tags: #1960s, #1970s, #1980s

Heard on WWOZ

albert king has been played 17 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station. Showing the 10 most recent plays.

DateTimeTitleShowSpotify
Jan 8, 202614:10Personal Managerfrom Born Under A Bad SignBluesw/ DJ Giant
Dec 26, 202519:34tupeloMusic of Mass Distractionw/ Black Mold
Dec 25, 202514:31I`ll Play The Bluesfrom Bluesville - Original Blues ClasBluesw/ DJ Giant
Dec 25, 202514:12Cold Feetfrom The Very Best Of Albert KingBluesw/ DJ Giant
Dec 18, 202519:09santa claus wants some lovingR&Bw/ Your Cousin Dimitri
Dec 18, 202514:58Down Don`t Bother Mefrom Born Under A Bad SignBluesw/ DJ Giant
Dec 12, 202515:41I Got The Bluesfrom New Orleans HeatThe Blues Breakdown
Dec 11, 202515:24Down Don`t Bother Mefrom Born Under A Bad SignBluesw/ DJ Giant
Dec 8, 202519:29Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'Blues and R&Bw/ Gentilly Jr.
Nov 26, 202515:32born under a bad signfrom born under a bad signSittin' at the Crossroadw/ Big D

View all 17 plays