Albert King took a guitar, flipped it upside down and created his own style of playing that inspired today's greatest guitarists. His influence ranks up there with B.B. King and Muddy Waters. Surprisingly, he started his professional career as a drummer in a band with Jimmy Reed. Luckily for the Blues he came out from behind the tubs and created Blues history.
The Sky Is Crying
Born Under A Bad Sign
She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride
Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
The title "King of the Blues" is aptly up for grabs by three guys named King. B.B. King, Freddie King, and Mississippi's Albert King. Put on a CD of one of today's hot Blues guitarists, and you will hear more Albert than Freddie or B.B. He created a hard, yet sophisticated style of playing and singing taking advantage of the unique way he held the guitar. Holding the guitar upside down without re-stringing it creates hand mechanics that are not common with conventional players. Jimi Hendrix, under King's influence, play in this manner. Close your eyes, listen to Albert, and you hear what later came through Stevie Ray Vaughan's guitar.
King played a Gibson "Flying V" guitar named Lucy.
King's first big hit was Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong. Other hits included Laundromat Blues, Cross Cut Saw, and Born Under a Bad Sign. The album "Born Under a Bad Sign", a compilation of cuts recorded for Staxx Records, became one of the most influential Blues records ever released. Many of these cuts were with the famed Staxx rhythm section, Booker T and the MGs.
Albert performed with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra!
King enjoyed a surge in popularity in the late 1960's by connecting with young white audiences. He was a regular at the Fillmore where he handed out cool lessons to the younger bands. His later recordings start leaning to the Soul side with the release of I'll Play the Blues for You.
King recorded a tribute to Elvis Presley in 1970.
Albert King recorded up till 1990 and performed right up to his death. His legacy supports the musical imaginations of most of today's favorites guitarists, and forever the emotional aspirations of his fans.
Albert King died of a heart attack in 1992.
