Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 28th December!
Freddie King (3rd September 1934 – 28th December 1976)
On the 28th December 1976, Blues guitarist Freddie King died at the age of 42. Heart trouble and ulcers caused the death of the outstanding musician, who is often mentioned as one of the „Three Kings“ of Blues – beside Albert and B.B. King.
Already at the age of six years, Freddie was taught guitar lessons by his Mother Ella Mae and his uncle. In 1949 King moved with his family to Chicago, where he later get in touch with other great Blues musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin‘ Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson. Freddie King’s first band was called „The Every Hour Blues Boys“, featuring Jimmie Lee Robinson on guitar and Frank „Sonny“ Scott on drums. Also in the fifties he played with many other Blues legends – Jimmy Rogers, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Eddie Taylor, Hound Dog Taylor, Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim and Little Walter.
In 1960, Freddie King was signed to the label Federal Records and on the 26th August his debut single „Have You Ever Loved a Woman“ backed with „You’ve Got to Love Her with a Feeling“ was released. Also during these sessions, the instrumental „Hide Away“ was recorded, which reached one year later No. 5 on the R&B Charts and No. 29 on the Pop Singles Charts in the USA.
During that time, Freddie toured with Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson and James Brown. The two LPs for Atlantic Records „Freddie King Is a Blues Master“ (1969) and „My Feeling for the Blues“ (1970) hit the stores, before Freddie King recorded the classic song „Goin‘ Down“ (1971), which was written by Leon Russell and Don Nix.
The LP „Burglar“ (1974) features guest appearances of Eric Clapton, George Terry, drummer Jamie Oldaker and bassist Carl Radle. After the release of „Larger Than Life“ (1975), King began suffering stomack ulcers. Complications from that sickness and an acute pancreatitis led to death. Freddie King died on the 28th December 1976 at the age of only 42 years.
Get your Freddie King stuff here (for Austrian customer):
Shop for FREDDIE KING here:
GERMANY UK USA
Melomane Blog 