<back - FREDDIE KING - Freddie King is the third gleaming jewel inlaid within the majestic crown of 'The Royal Kings of the Blues'. He completes that glowing pinnacle alongside BB and Albert King. Freddie has influenced as many Blues, Blues Rock, Rock, and Funk guitar slingers as anybody, with Eric Clapton, Ronnie Earl, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray being just a few who have assimilated Freddie King’s ideas into their entire guitar approach. One can’t even begin to count the number of times that Freddie’s immortal instrumentals (San-Ho-Zay, The Stumble, Side-Tracked, Hide-Away, plus many others) have been played by guitarists.

He refused to repeat himself, and like the best Jazz players, he’d use a theme as take-off point from which to explore countless ideas. Freddie’s genius on the guitar was only matched by his brilliant vocals, creamy, soulfully rich, and always etched into one’s memory by powerfully arresting phrasing. Each song became a convincing personal statement. And what wonderful compositions they were too: Have You Ever Loved A Woman, I’m Tore Down, You’ve Got To Love Her With A Feeling, Someday After A While, and many others. They will survive as long as the Blues itself. In 1950 at age 16, Freddie had migrated to Chicago from Texas. Well grounded in the Texas school of T-Bone Walker, he would quickly absorb the styles of Southside sensations like Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Rogers, and Robert Jr. Lockwood, before switching his allegiance to the more astringent sounds of Magic Sam and Buddy Guy. But his career kicked in high gear with his 1960 signing to Federal (a subsidiary of King Records), recording 77 titles there via singles and albums over a 6-year stay. His first single I Love This Woman b/w Hideaway  hit paydirt, reaching #5 R&B and #29 Pop. 1961 saw the release of San-Ho-Zay, I’m Tore Down, and The Stumble—all Top 10 R&Bers, and each one a Blues classic. The Federal/King label, also recorded James Brown, and by the mid-60s, Brown was primary concern of the label. Owner Syd Nathan even re-packaged 1964’s 'Let’s Hideaway' instrumental album into 'Freddie King Goes Surfin’, figuring Freddie’s material wasn’t too far removed from the then-popular white surf bands.  By the late 60’s, Freddie was concentrating primarily on white audiences based on his enormous influence with Blues and Rock guitarists. He would record for Atlantic/Cotillion, moving to Leon Russell’s Shelter Records in 1970, then doing a couple 1974-75 albums on RSO: Burglar (produced/recorded with Clapton) and Larger Than Life. He spent 1975 touring America, Europe, and Australia, but throughout 1976 his health started to decline. He died of a heart attack on Dec 29, 1976 at only 42. Inducted into the Blues Hall Of Fame in 1982, Freddie King’s eternal legacy is as posthumous mentor to countless musicians, by guiding them to the highest standards of excellence. -Gary Tate  MP3- Have You Ever Loved A Woman