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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZKING, Albert(b Albert Nelson, 25 April '23, Indianola MS; d 21 Dec. '92, Memphis TN) Blues singer, influential guitarist. One of 13 children; sang in church, moved to Arkansas c'31, sang in gospel groups, worked day jobs and taught himself guitar on home-made instrument; gigged locally. To Gary IN and Chicago early '50s, recorded for Parrot '53, Bobbin '59 in St Louis, then King: no. 14 R&B hit '61 with 'Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong'. First LP The Big Blues '62 on King; early records compiled on Travelin' To California (King/Polydor). Top 40 R&B hits '66--71 incl. 'Think Twice Before You Speak' on Sahara, the rest on Stax; '66--8 hits incl. 'Born Under A Bad Sign', 'Cold Feet' etc with Booker T and the MGs and the Memphis Horns, compiled on Laundromat Blues on Edsel UK '84. LP King Of The Blues Guitar on Atlantic '68; others on Stax, Milestone, Fantasy incl. Born Under A Bad Sign '67, The Lost Session from '71, I'll Play The Blues For You '72, Live Wire/Blues Power live at the Fillmore; Albert King Does The King's Thing (tribute to Elvis, probably the same LP later aka Blues For Elvis), The Pinch, Lovejoy (after tiny Illinois township where King lived), Years Gone By, Albert King/Little Milton Chronicle, I Wanna Get Funky, San Francisco '83 and I'm In A Phone Booth, Baby on Fantasy. Also Truckload Of Lovin' '75, Chronicle and New Orleans Heat '79 on Tomato. Fusion of Delta blues, touch of psychedelia made style similar to that of B. B. King (see below), but with smokier voice like no other; also infl. by Lonnie Johnson, T-Bone Walker, others; thence an influence himself to a whole generation. |