Albert King

Albert King was born in Indianola, Mississippi in 1923 and later became a fixture in the Memphis blues scene. He developed a guitar style that was all his own, playing a right-handed guitar upside down as a left-hander, which gave his playing that distinctive, searing tone. His 1967 album 'Born Under a Bad Sign' became a cornerstone of electric blues, with the title track becoming one of his most enduring songs.

He recorded for the Stax label in Memphis, backed by the house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which gave his sound a tight, soulful punch. Songs like 'As The Years Go Passing By' and 'Laundromat Blues' from that period show how he could stretch out a slow blues with both power and control. His playing wasn't about flashy speed; it was about space, bending notes, and making a few well-chosen phrases say everything.

King's influence reached well beyond blues circles. Guitarists like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix listened closely to his records, borrowing some of his phrasing and his approach to tone. He kept performing and recording through the 1970s and 80s, with songs like 'Cadillac Assembly Line' showing he could adapt his style to funkier rhythms without losing his identity. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983 and passed away in 1992.