Freddie King
Instrument(s): acoustic and electric guitar, vocals
Lifespan: 1934 - 1976
Style synopsis: Chicago / Texas blues
Representative Recordings (ratings strictly my opinion)
Freddie King Sings (1961 -- label info later) (***)
Woman Across The River (1972, Shelter) (****)
Live in Antibes (Import, 1974, Esoldun CD 111) (****)
The Texas Cannonball (1974, Shelter) (***)
Contributed by: John Morgan (jpm@juliet.ll.mit.edu)
Contributor's comments: Freddie King, the one and only "Texas Cannonball",
fused the open-string sound of Texas blues guitar and the raw, screaming tones of West Side
Chicago blues. As a guitarist, he is best known for his extremely aggressive picking attack
(using a thumbpick and steel fingerpick), his phenomenal collection of signature riffs, and
one of the most wicked vibratos the planet has ever seen. His guitar playing was matched in
intensity only by his voice.
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