Side Tracked...

This week’s blues spotlight is on Freddie King (September 3, 1934 – December 28, 1976), thought to have born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball". He was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert King and B.B. King. Freddie King based his guitar style on Texas and Chicago influences and was one of the first bluesmen to have a multi-racial backing band onstage with him at live performances. He is best known for singles such as "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" (1960) and his Top 40 hit "Hide Away" (1961). He is also known for albums such as the early, instrumental-packed Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King (1961) and the later album Burglar (1974), which displayed King's mature versatility as both player and singer in a range of blues and funk styles. King had a twenty-year recording career and became established as an influential guitarist with hits for Federal Records, in the early 1960s. He inspired American musicians from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan, and others. His influence was also felt in UK, through recordings by blues revivalists such as, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Chicken Shack. King died from heart failure on December 28, 1976, age forty two.

In the Aces Wild band, we open all of our shows with Freddie’s “Sidetracked.” Thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_King for the info, and keep on rockin’!