Freddie King
Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976) was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and B.B. King, none of whom was a blood relative). Mostly known for his soulful and powerful voice and distinctive guitar playing, King had a major influence on electric blues music and on many later blues guitarists.
Born in Gilmer, Texas, King became acquainted with the guitar at the age of six. He started learning the guitar from his mother and his uncle. King moved to Chicago when he was a teenager; there he formed his first band the Every Hour Blues Boys with guitarist Jimmie Lee Robinson and drummer Frank "Sonny" Scott. As he was repeatedly being rejected by Chess Records, he got signed to Federal Records, and got his break with single "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" and instrumental "Hide Away", which reached number five on the Billboard magazine's rhythm and blues chart in 1961. It later became a blues standard. King based his guitar style on Texas blues and Chicago blues influences. The album Freddy King Sings showcased his singing talents and included the record chart hits "You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling" and "I'm Tore Down". He later became involved with producers who were more oriented to rhythm and blues and rock and was one of the first bluesmen to have a multiracial backing band at performances.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by ZZ Top in 2012 and into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1982. His instrumental "Hide Away" was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "500 Songs that Shaped Rock". He was ranked 19th in the Rolling Stone magazine's 2023 edition of 250 greatest guitarists of all time.
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I Love the Woman - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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San-Ho-Zay - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Lonesome Whistle Blues - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Have You Ever Loved a Woman - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Wash Out - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Sen-Sa-Shun - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Heads Up - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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The Stumble - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Side Tracked - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Out Front - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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In the Open - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Butterscotch - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Swooshy - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Takin' Care of Business - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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I'm Tore Down - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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It's Too Bad Things Are Going so Tough - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Just Pickin' - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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Let Me Be (Stay Away from Me) - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
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See See Baby - Essential Classics, Vol. 117: Freddie King -
Freddie King
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