The wonderful Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976) was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Born in Gilmer, Texas, King became acquainted with the guitar at the age of six. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" along with Albert King and B.B. King.
Mostly known for his soulful and powerful voice and distinctive guitar playing, Freddy had a major influence on electric blues music and on many later blues guitarists.
Almost as soon as he had moved to Chicago, King started sneaking into South Side nightclubs, where he heard blues performed by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James, and Sonny Boy Williamson. King formed his first band in 1952.
He got signed to Federal Records, and got his break with the single "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" and the instrumental "Hide Away"
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.
Nearly constant touring took its toll on King—he was on the road almost 300 days out of the year. In 1976 he began suffering from stomach ulcers. His health quickly deteriorated, and he died on December 28 of acute pancreatitis at the age of 42.
According to those who knew him, King's untimely death was due to stress, a legendary hard-partying lifestyle and a poor diet of consuming Bloody Marys because as he told a journalist, "they've got food in them.
Mostly known for his soulful and powerful voice and distinctive guitar playing, Freddy had a major influence on electric blues music and on many later blues guitarists.
Almost as soon as he had moved to Chicago, King started sneaking into South Side nightclubs, where he heard blues performed by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Elmore James, and Sonny Boy Williamson. King formed his first band in 1952.
He got signed to Federal Records, and got his break with the single "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" and the instrumental "Hide Away"
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.
Nearly constant touring took its toll on King—he was on the road almost 300 days out of the year. In 1976 he began suffering from stomach ulcers. His health quickly deteriorated, and he died on December 28 of acute pancreatitis at the age of 42.
According to those who knew him, King's untimely death was due to stress, a legendary hard-partying lifestyle and a poor diet of consuming Bloody Marys because as he told a journalist, "they've got food in them.