Albert King
Albert King (April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992) was an American blues guitari… Read Full Bio ↴Albert King (April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992) was an American blues guitarist and singer.
One of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with B.B. King and Freddie King), Albert King stood 6' 4", weighed 250 lbs and was known as "The Velvet Bulldozer". He was born Albert Nelson on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi. During his childhood he would sing at a family gospel group at a church. One of 13 children, King grew up picking cotton on plantations near Forrest City, Arkansas where the family moved when he was eight years old. He began his professional work as a musician with a group called In The Groove Boys in Osceola, Arkansas. He had also briefly played drums for Jimmy Reed's band and on several early Reed recordings. Influenced by blues musicians Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lonnie Johnson, but also interestingly Hawaiian music, the electric guitar became his signature instrument, his preference being the Gibson Flying V, which he named "Lucy".
King was a left-handed "upside-down/backwards" guitarist. He was left-handed, but usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down so the low E string was on the bottom. In later years he played a custom-made guitar that was basically left-handed, but had the strings reversed (as he was used to playing). He also used very unorthodox tunings (i.e., tuning as low as C to allow him to make sweeping string bends). Some believe that he was using open E minor tuning (C-B-E-G-B-E) or open F tuning (C-F-C-F-A-D). A "less is more" type blues player, he was known for his expressive "bending" of notes, a technique characteristic of blues guitarists.
He recorded his first record in 1953 for Parrot Records in Chicago, but it had no impact. His first minor hit came in 1959 with Lonely Man written by Bobbin Records A&R man and fellow guitar hero Little Milton, responsible for King's signing with the label. However, it was not until his 1961 release Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong that he had a major hit, reaching number fourteen on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. In 1966 he signed with the Stax record label. Produced by Al Jackson, Jr., King with Booker T. & the MG's recorded dozens of influential sides, such as Crosscut Saw and As The Years Go Passing By, and in 1967 Stax released the album, Born Under a Bad Sign. The title track of that album (written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell) became King's best known songs and has been covered by many other artists.
Another landmark album followed in Live Wire/Blues Power from one of many dates King played at promoter Bill Graham's Fillmore venues. It had a wide and long-term influence on Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, and later Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan (Criminal World, on David Bowie's 1983 release Let's Dance, features a guitar solo copied note-for-note from his hero Albert King by young session musician Stevie Ray Vaughan).
In the 1970s, King was teamed with members of The Bar-Kays and The Movement (Isaac Hayes's backing group), including bassist James Alexander and drummer Willie Hall adding strong funk elements to his music. Adding strings and multiple rhythm guitarists, producers Allen Jones and Henry Bush created a wall of sound that contrasted the sparse, punchy records King made with Booker T. & the MG's. Among these was another of King's signature tunes with I'll Play the Blues For You in 1972.
Recorded in December 1983, In Session captures an in-concert jam between Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan
As he hit his mid-sixties King began to muse about retirement, not unreasonable given that he had health problems. Nevertheless, when near to death, he was planning yet another overseas tour.
King died on December 21, 1992 from a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee.
One of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with B.B. King and Freddie King), Albert King stood 6' 4", weighed 250 lbs and was known as "The Velvet Bulldozer". He was born Albert Nelson on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi. During his childhood he would sing at a family gospel group at a church. One of 13 children, King grew up picking cotton on plantations near Forrest City, Arkansas where the family moved when he was eight years old. He began his professional work as a musician with a group called In The Groove Boys in Osceola, Arkansas. He had also briefly played drums for Jimmy Reed's band and on several early Reed recordings. Influenced by blues musicians Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lonnie Johnson, but also interestingly Hawaiian music, the electric guitar became his signature instrument, his preference being the Gibson Flying V, which he named "Lucy".
King was a left-handed "upside-down/backwards" guitarist. He was left-handed, but usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down so the low E string was on the bottom. In later years he played a custom-made guitar that was basically left-handed, but had the strings reversed (as he was used to playing). He also used very unorthodox tunings (i.e., tuning as low as C to allow him to make sweeping string bends). Some believe that he was using open E minor tuning (C-B-E-G-B-E) or open F tuning (C-F-C-F-A-D). A "less is more" type blues player, he was known for his expressive "bending" of notes, a technique characteristic of blues guitarists.
He recorded his first record in 1953 for Parrot Records in Chicago, but it had no impact. His first minor hit came in 1959 with Lonely Man written by Bobbin Records A&R man and fellow guitar hero Little Milton, responsible for King's signing with the label. However, it was not until his 1961 release Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong that he had a major hit, reaching number fourteen on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. In 1966 he signed with the Stax record label. Produced by Al Jackson, Jr., King with Booker T. & the MG's recorded dozens of influential sides, such as Crosscut Saw and As The Years Go Passing By, and in 1967 Stax released the album, Born Under a Bad Sign. The title track of that album (written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell) became King's best known songs and has been covered by many other artists.
Another landmark album followed in Live Wire/Blues Power from one of many dates King played at promoter Bill Graham's Fillmore venues. It had a wide and long-term influence on Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, and later Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan (Criminal World, on David Bowie's 1983 release Let's Dance, features a guitar solo copied note-for-note from his hero Albert King by young session musician Stevie Ray Vaughan).
In the 1970s, King was teamed with members of The Bar-Kays and The Movement (Isaac Hayes's backing group), including bassist James Alexander and drummer Willie Hall adding strong funk elements to his music. Adding strings and multiple rhythm guitarists, producers Allen Jones and Henry Bush created a wall of sound that contrasted the sparse, punchy records King made with Booker T. & the MG's. Among these was another of King's signature tunes with I'll Play the Blues For You in 1972.
Recorded in December 1983, In Session captures an in-concert jam between Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan
As he hit his mid-sixties King began to muse about retirement, not unreasonable given that he had health problems. Nevertheless, when near to death, he was planning yet another overseas tour.
King died on December 21, 1992 from a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Albert King Lyrics
03 Oh Pretty Woman Oh, pretty woman Sure's the rising sun Says all your cheap…
8 Rub My Back I worked hard today An' I'm tired as a man can…
A Real Good Sign Man, when ya woman kiss ya An' hold ya real tight Catch…
Ain Throw me away You can treat me like trash But still I…
Ain't It Beautiful Man, when ya woman kiss ya An' hold ya real tight Catch…
Ain't Nothing You Can Do Throw me away You can treat me like trash But still I…
All The Way Down You know I feel so bad You know I feel so…
All Your Love All the loving is loving, all the kissin' is kissing All…
Angel Of Mercy I went to work this mo'nin' My foreman looked me in…
Answer To The Laundromat Blues This number's bein' especially played And dedicated to all o…
As The Years Go Passing By Ah the blues The ball and chain that is 'round every…
Ask Me No Questions You go out when you get ready You come home when…
Blue Suede Shoes Well, it's one for the money, two for the show, Three…
Blues At Sunrise When the sunrise in the east, lover It set deeply in…
Blues Power This is blues power! Well Play it now) Everybody understa…
Born Under a Bad Sign Born under a bad sign Been down since I began to…
Breaking Up Somebody's Home Laying round home alone On a rainy night like this Starving …
Cadillac Assembly Line Goin' to Detroit, Michigan Girl, I can't take you Hey, I'm g…
California Chest to chest Nose to nose Palm to palm We were always just…
Call It Stormy Monday They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday is as just…
Call My Job Call my job, tell the boss I won't be in Call…
Can't You See What You're Doing To Me I wonder where, I wonder where, this Sears Roebuck drummer…
Change of Pace Hey, I went 'cross town to see my woman I knocked…
Christmas Comes But Once A Year I said c′mere We've got to have a talk Because you think…
Chump Chance Baby, there's something about you don't understand how you, …
Cockroach …
Cold Feet Keep raisin' saying if I play this chord They hittin' the…
Cold Sweat Cold Sweat James Brown Ha! I don't care ha about you…
Cold Women With Warm Hearts Cold women with warm hearts is my kind of woman Cold…
Corina Corina Got a bird that whistles Baby got a bird, mama got…
Crosscut Saw I'm a cross cut saw Just drag me 'cross your…
Don't Be Cruel You know what can be found Sitting home all alone If you…
Don't Burn Down the Bridge Now this tune is all about a girl that's got…
Don't Burn Down The Bridge ('Cause You Might Wanna Come Back Across] Your mind's set on leavin' To a house down a one…
Don't Burn The Bridge Now this tune is all about a girl that's got…
Don't Lie to Me There's two kind of people I just can't stand Evil-hearted…
Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Hey baby, Don't throw your love on me so strong. Hey baby, …
Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong (Live) hey baby, don't throw your love on me so strong. hey baby, d…
Down Don I've been down so long You know, down don't bother me I've…
Drifting Blues Well I'm drifting and drifting, Like a ship out on the…
Drowning On Dry Land I'm going down. My nose is in the sand I'm going…
Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven Everybody wants to laugh Ah, but nobody wants to cry I say…
For The Love Of A Woman One, two, three, four! For the love of a woman A man…
Funk-Shun Call my job Tell the boss I won't be in I said,…
Get Out Of My Life Woman Get out of my life woman, you don't no love…
Going Back To Iuka Everybody wants to go to heaven But nobody wants to die …
Gonna Make It Somehow We may not have a cent to pay the rent …
Good Time Charlie I'm tired of being, your good time Charlie To you, that's…
Goodtime Charlie I'm tired of being, your good time Charlie To you, that's…
Guitar Man Let's get it on, let's get it on, guitar man,…
Heart Fixing Business I'm a heart fixer, babe I specialize in heart repair I'm a…
High Cost Of Loving The price is getting Higher every day When it comes to good…
Honky Tonk Woman I met a gypsy barroom queen in Memphis An' on the…
Honky Tonk Women I met a gypsy barroom queen in Memphis An' on the…
Hound Dog You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, keep cryin' all…
I If you're down and out and you feel real hurt Come…
I Almost Lost My Mind When I lost my baby, I almost lost my mind When…
I Believe One of these days an' it won't be long, yeah You…
I Believe to My Soul One of these days an' it won't be long, yeah You…
I Can't Hear Nothing But The Blues My mother and father were great people Oh what a beautiful…
I Can't Stand The Rain I can't stand the rain Against my window Bringing back…
I Don't Care What My Baby Do I don't care what my baby do Long as I'm doin'…
I Get Evil Two kind of people I just can't stand That's an evil-hearte…
I Got The Blues I got the blues 'cause my woman has gone Oh, I…
I Love Lucy I love lucy and she loves me We're as happy as…
I Wanna Get Funky Yeah, I want to get down I want to get funky I want…
I'll Be Doggone Well, I'll Be Doggone if I would work all day And…
I'll Play The Blues For You If you're down and out and you feel real hurt Come…
I'll Play the Blues for You Pts. 1 & 2 If you're down an' out, an' you feel real hurt Come…
I'm Doing Fine I can remember the times When I used to cry And then…
I'm Ready I'm ready, ready as anybody can be I'm ready, ready as…
Kansas City I'm goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City, here I come I'm…
Killing Floor I should-a quit you, along time ago I should-a quit you,…
Knock On Wood I don't want to lose you, this good thing That I…
Laundromat Blues You been meetin' your man, baby Down at the local laundromat…
Let's Have a Natural Ball Well come on baby Let's have a natural ball Yes come on…
Little Brother Spoken: Now all a-you young folks, ravin' An' hollerin' abou…
Lucy I love lucy and she loves me We're as happy as…
Match Box Blues Now, this tune should be easy for you to deal…
My Babe My baby don't stand no cheating, my babe No, my baby…
Oh Oh, pretty woman Sure's the rising sun Says all your cheap p…
Oh, Pretty Woman Oh pretty woman she's the rising sun Says all your cheap…
Oh, Pretty Woman - Can't Make You Love Me Single Oh, pretty woman she's the rising sun Says all your cheap…
Personal Manager I want to be your personal manager babe I want to…
Phone Booth Phone Booth: Quotes The Caller: If you have to ask, you're…
Pride And Joy Well you've heard about love givin' sight to the blind My…
Red House …
Roadhouse Blues Two, three (Lord!) The moon is risin', an' it done got…
Rub My Back I worked hard today An' I'm tired as a man can…
Running out of Steam I've been chasin' after you babe It seem like a mighty…
Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' Now Mama's in the kitchen cookin' And her children are fast…
Searchin' For A Woman One, two, three, four! For the love of a woman A man…
She Caught the Katy (And Left Me a Mule to Ride) My baby caught the katy, and she left me a…
Sky Is Crying The sky is crying, Can you see the tears roll down…
So Many Roads so Many Trains So many roads, so many trains to ride So many…
Stormy Monday They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday is as just…
That What the Blues Is All About Oh you come home one eve'nin' To nothin' but the four…
That's What Love Will Make You Do Oh, when I hear your name I start to shake inside,…
That's What The Blues Is All About Oh you come home one eve'nin' To nothin' but the four…
The Blues Don't Change Our rythm don't change, they don't change The blues don't ch…
The Feeling FEELINGS (Morris Albert) Feelings, nothing more than feeli…
The Hunter They call me the hunter, that's my name A pretty woman…
The Pinch Paid Off Cold Sweat James Brown Ha! I don't care ha about you…
The Sky Is Crying The sky is crying, Can you see the tears roll down…
The Very Thought Of You The very thought of you And I forget to do The little…
Tin Pan Alley They tell me Tin Pan Alley The roughest place in town They…
Travelin' Man Left my home in Texas I moved to Arkansas Now if you…
Tupelo Pt. 1 Cold Sweat James Brown Ha! I don't care ha about you…
Very Thought of You The very thought of you And I forget to do The little…
Water I'm a dying man won't you give me water My baby…
Watermelon Man Live Instrumental Written by Herbie Hancock…
We All Wanna Boogie Some want all the money, well Some want all the honey,…
You If you're down and out and you feel real hurt Come…
You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain I walked into your store Just to have a look around Asked…