One of the “three kings of the blues guitar”, Texas-born Freddie King was a man of major influence, furthering the use of electric amplification in blues as pioneered by T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Black and white photo of American blues singer and guitarist Freddie King

Following on from the likes of Robert Johnson, Teddy Darby and Lead Belly, electric blues brought a new level of soul, grit and power to the style - everything of which King could encapsulate in his sound. Earning the nickname, “The Texas Cannonball”, King “sang like a lion and struck his guitar’s strings with rattlesnake intensity” (ref), marking him a significant musical figure in the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and within the growth of blues rock in the 50s and 60s.
Moving to Chicago in 1949 as a teenager, it was the South Side that acquainted him with with Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson and Muddy Waters; the latter of which he would lightly cross paths with, later playing with several of his sidemen (Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim, Jimmy Rogers). Developing a rougher, virtuosic style akin to Otis Rush and Magic Sam, young Freddie King ran with his love for challenging, reimagined blues, also taking on a new approach to BB King’s single-string style of playing.

Black and white image of the three kings of blues: Freddie King, BB King and Albert King — ***The three kings of blues***

When King records planted a base in Chicago in 1960, it was a fitting match. A&R scout Sonny Thompson signed the artist to the Cincinnati based label’s subsidiary, Federal Records, and debut single, “Have you ever loved a woman” landed on August 26th. It was in this session that surprise hit, “Hide Away” was recorded, which achieved a number 29 position on the Billboard Pop Chart and marked the growth of an even more surprising white audience early in his career. King was one of few bluesmen at the time to play afront a racially integrated backing band, marking him a progressive music character in both society and in sound.

After touring with artists such as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and James Brown, and releasing some well-received singles, King’s contract with Federal Records ended in 1966. Using the opportunity to move back to Texas, 1967 saw his first overseas tour, and the following year marked a new contract with Atlantic Records. Two albums were subsequently released: “Freddie King is a Blues Master” (1969) and “My feeling for the Blues” (1970), through subsidiary Cotillion Records. However, if you look at these albums in the context of the growing popularity of soul, King’s sound became considered too sophisticated and old-fashioned for the developing market (ref). The poor commercial success as a result of these releases likely influenced King’s move to Shelter Records and hiring Jack Calmes as manager. The change did in fact reap reward, as it was during this period that he created critically acclaimed album “Getting Ready” and time-served favourite, “Going Down”.

By the mid 70s, King had worked with Eric Clapton and producers Tom Dowd and Mike Vernon, released a handful of albums, and made a move to RSO records. It was by this point that his health began to decline and years of constant touring, high levels of stress, a poor diet and typical rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle led to acute pancreatitis and his death in December 1976.

Like so many other faces of blues and rock, his loss was untimely, yet the career was bountiful. Combining characteristics of Texas and Chicago blues, King produced a style that has forever felt contemporary, with techniques and a passion passed down the line to influence later legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Mick Taylor.

Freddie King: Rhí’s Top Picks:

“Going Down” - from “Getting Ready”
“You Was Wrong” - from “Texas Cannonball”
“I Don’t Know” - from “My Feeling For The Blues”
“Hideaway” - from “Freddie King is a Blues Master”
“Sittin’ On The Boatdock” - from “24 Vocals and Instrumentals”
“If You Believe (In What You Do)” - from “Freddie King Sings”

If you’re looking to discover some contemporary blues artists, check out our latest article highlighting fantastic new talent from Ireland, the UK and the USA: