Freddie King - Guitar Instrumental King

Fred Christian:
Freddie King traveled a common Blues journey. Born in Texas, his family moved to Chicago when he was a teenager. Though he is no relation to B.B. or Albert King, his influence, especially among Blues guitarists, has been legendary.

Born:
September 3, 1934

Died:
December 28, 1976

Birthplace:
Gilmer, Texas

Listen:
The Stumble

You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling
Hide Away

He Got Them Rokin':
Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Stevie Ray Vaughan have all have given him loving recognition and tall props.

Gotta love a man who gave us The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist.

Freddie King was a double threat on vocals and guitar. His hits Country Boy, Have You Ever Loved a Woman, and the Blues anthem You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling became standards for future Blues singers. Hits like Hide Away and Stumble have become Blues guitar classics. I'm Tore Down hit the charts twice. Freddie's original, and Eric Clapton's cover on his 1994 release From the Cradle.

Hide Away was named after a popular bar in Chicago.

King's voice was light and airy. His intensity would come out in his guitar. The contrast of these talents was Freddie King's signature style. At the start of the 60's, King recorded instrumental records. In 1965 he cut Freddy King Gives You a Bonanza of Instrumentals. His later hits were vocal performances.

Freddie King recorded for numerous labels including Chess, Federal, Atlantic, and Leon Russell's Shelter Records. His last record, Burglar, was produced by Clapton for RSO Records in 1974.

Freddie's great backup bands were some of the first racially integrated Blues outfits. They toured with bigger rock acts in the early seventies, bringing the Blues to a new audience. Many a rock fan walked away from those shows remembering Freddie instead of the big act they came to see.

Freddie King died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas in 1976 at the age of 42.