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Freddie King

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Freddie King, also spelled Freddy King, was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was born on 3 September 1934 in Gilmer, Texas, and died on 28 December 1976. His mother and an uncle taught him to play guitar at the age of six. In 1949 the family moved from Dallas to the South Side of Chicago. There, as a teenager, he sneaked into the clubs and heard Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker and Elmore James. His first band was called the Every Hour Blues Boys, and by day he worked in a steel mill.

Music and breakthrough

After rejections from Chess Records, King signed with Federal Records. His breakthrough came in 1961 with the single Have You Ever Loved a Woman and the instrumental Hide Away, which reached number five on Billboard's R&B chart in 1961. Hide Away became a blues standard. The album Freddy King Sings from 1961 showcased his singing and contains I'm Tore Down, among others. Later he worked with producers who leaned more towards rhythm and blues and rock, and he was one of the first blues musicians to have a mixed band on stage.

Influence

King's style derives from Texas and Chicago blues. Together with Albert King and B.B. King he is regarded as one of the Three Kings of the Blues Guitar, although they were not related. He had a great influence on electric blues and on later guitarists. In 2012 ZZ Top inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Hide Away is on the list of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Hide Away and notice how the guitar carries the melody without vocals. Try to hear how the guitar takes the place of the singer.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists