Albert King

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Albert King (April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992) was an American blues guitarist and singer.

Albert King was truly a “King of the Blues”. Along with B.B. King and [artist, Albert King is one of the major influences on blues and rock guitar players. Without him, modern guitar music would not sound as it does — his style influenced both black and white blues players from Otis Rush and Robert Cray to Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. It’s important to note that while almost all modern blues guitarists seldom play for long without falling into a B.B. King guitar cliché, Albert King never did — he had his own style and unique tone from the beginning.

Albert King played guitar left-handed, without re-stringing the guitar from the right-handed setup; this “upside-down” playing accounted for his difference in tone, since he pulled down on the same strings that most players push up on when bending the blues notes. King’s massive tone and totally unique way of squeezing bends out of a guitar string had a major impact. Many young white guitarists — especially rock & rollers — were influenced by King’s playing, and many players who emulate his style may never have heard of Albert King, let alone heard his music. His style is immediately distinguishable from all other blues guitarists, and he was one of the most important blues guitarists to ever pick up the electric guitar.

Tagged as:

blues, rhythm and blues, guitar, electric blues, classic blues
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King of the Blues Guitar
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Blues Power
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The Very Best of Albert King
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Live 69
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Top Tracks

1	Born Under A Bad Sign full track	916
2	Crosscut Saw	569
3	Laundromat Blues	380
4	Personal Manager	274
5	Kansas City	197
6	As the Years Go Passing By	166
6	I'll Play The Blues For You full track	166
8	Cold Feet	163
9	The Hunter	157
10	The Very Thought Of You full track	150
11	Breaking Up Somebody's Home	134
12	Down Don't Bother Me	127
13	Searchin' for a Woman full track	121
14	Overall Junction	113
15	I Almost Lost My Mind	110

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Lonrik wrote:
17 days ago

he invented the Blues Power, can you dig it?

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velvetbride wrote:
21 days ago

Gary Moore's famous song "King of the Blues" is dedicated to Albert King, not to B.B. As many ppl think! ;)

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Drumsets wrote:
November 2009

awesome rhythm blues!

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malvarez65 wrote:
September 2009

genial

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Mokami wrote:
September 2009

i got the blues

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BossmanJunior wrote:
August 2009

Is it just me or is Albert's profile pic the best ever?

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NickollasHS wrote:
August 2009

Guitar Power

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ikeepdreaming wrote:
August 2009

master

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bzeppy20 wrote:
July 2009

A master of the blues

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AsahiPentax wrote:
July 2009

No, mexamjew, Stevie Ray Vaughan sounds like Albert King.

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Phatrage wrote:
June 2009

Albert is a blues genius...period.

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bcwilliamson wrote:
June 2009

great blues. you might want to check out B.C. Williamson, who is a fictional blues artist with an endlessly complicated backstory, spanning over 60 years. and now he has a 22-track compilation album coming out. "The Greatest Blues Singer Who Never Lived."

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augustynjzz wrote:
June 2009

epic winner

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mexamjew wrote:
May 2009

Sounds like Steve Ray Vaughan

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Mii85 wrote:
May 2009

As amazing as music can get and love this picture we have aswell.

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BierbaronFlix wrote:
May 2009

The King of Cool

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mgradyc wrote:
April 2009

The Montreux recording of "Stormy Monday" (on the album "Blues At Sunset") has got to be one of the greatest electric guitar solos of all time! Compare it to Dicky Betts and Duane Allman's version on "The Filmore Concerts" or Eric Clapton on "Blues". The Brothers jam on it. Clapton builds a slow smoldering fire that burns forever, but King's version is an incendiary blast that consumes everything in it's path!

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bcwilliamson wrote:
April 2009

another towering presence in the blues, in both physical and skillful senses. born under a bad sign is a brilliant forgotten record. some of you people might like to check out my music of a similar era... http://www.last.fm/music/B.C.+Williamson god bless

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steining wrote:
April 2009

Great ! movin and groovin'

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Banthabrain wrote:
March 2009

Personal Manager, I Get EViL, Wed night at Filmore, becuz the live versions are even better, sooo Zen, the best of the "Kings"

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