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Albert King was one of the great blues guitarists, who influenced musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. 6' 4" in height and weighing 260 lbs, Albert King had an imposing physical presence. He had a dry, husky voice and played a torrid Flying V guitar. He was known as "The Velvet Bulldozer", as well as one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" along with B.B. King and Freddie King.
Albert King was born in 1923 in Indianola, Mississippi. As a child, he was fascinated by blues musicians such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Nighthawk and Elmore James, trying to copy their sound on his guitar. A left-hander, he learned to play the guitar upside down, using his thumb in place of a pick.
As a young man, King drove a bulldozer to earn a living while moving from city to city trying to get a break in the music business. In 1953 he released his first recording, "Bad Luck Blues" on the Parrot label, but sales were slow. Moving to St. Louis, he started recording for the Bobbin and King label, establishing a growing reputation as a strong performer. But it was not until 1961 that his single "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong" made it to number 14 on the R&B charts.
In 1966, Albert King started recording with Stax in Memphis, backed by Booker T & The MGs. He made a string of successful singles including "Laundromat Blues", "Crosscut Saw" and "Born Under A Bad Sign". In 1967 his first LP was released, including songs such as "The Hunter" and "As The Years Go Passing By" - from which Eric Clapton used the riff for Layla. The album caught on with White Rock & Roll audiences, making them increasingly aware of the Blues.
In 1968 Albert King shared a bill with John Mayall and Jimi Hendrix for opening night at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Later that year he recorded a live album at the Filmore: "Live Wire / Blues Power" that became one of the best selling live blues albums ever. In 1969, in an unusual departure for a bluesman, king played with the St. Louis Symphony orchestra.
King continued to record until he "retired" in the mid-1980s, but after this still made frequent appearances at Blues festivals. He died in 1992. Albert King was inducted by The Blues Foundation into their Hall of Fame.
Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan In Session - Stormy Monday
Japan 1989 "I'll Play The Blues For You"
Born Under a Bad Sign (Live in Sweden 1980)
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Blues Critic.com Reviews of many (but not all) of King's albums
Metro Lyrics Lyrics to some of Albert King's most popular songs