37 Facts About Albert King

1.

Albert Nelson, known by his stage name Albert King, was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time.

2.

Albert King is perhaps best known for his popular and influential album Born Under a Bad Sign and its title track.

3.

Albert King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983.

4.

Albert King was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

5.

Albert King was born on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi.

6.

However, when he applied for a Social Security card in 1942, he gave his birthplace as "Aboden" and signed his name as Albert King Nelson, listing his father as Will Nelson.

7.

Albert King said his family had lived in Arcola, Mississippi, for a time.

8.

Albert King made his first guitar out of a cigar box, a piece of a bush, and a strand of broom wire.

9.

Albert King picked cotton, drove a bulldozer, worked in construction, and held other jobs until he was able to support himself as a musician.

10.

Albert King began his professional work as a musician with a group called the Groove Boys in Osceola, Arkansas.

11.

Albert King became a popular attraction around the St Louis nightclub scene alongside Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm and Chuck Berry.

12.

Albert King signed to Little Milton's Bobbin label in 1959, releasing a few singles, but none of them charted.

13.

Albert King left Bobbin in late 1962 and recorded one session for Albert King Records.

14.

In 1967, Stax released the album Born Under a Bad Sign, a collection of the singles Albert King recorded at Stax.

15.

In 1968, Albert King was performing at Ike Turner's Manhattan Club in East St Louis when promoter Bill Graham offered him $1,600 to play three nights at the The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.

16.

In 1969, Albert King performed live with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra.

17.

On June 6,1970, Albert King joined the Doors on stage at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.

18.

Albert King recorded another album with the Bar-Kays, I Wanna Get Funky.

19.

Albert King made a cameo on an Albert Brooks' comedy album, A Star Is Bought.

20.

In 1975, Albert King's career took a turn downward when Stax Records filed for bankruptcy, after which he moved to the small Utopia label.

21.

Clara McDaniel teamed up with Albert King at Ned Love's Club.

22.

The last recording Albert King made for Utopia was Live Blues in 1977, from his performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

23.

In 1978, Albert King moved to a new label, Tomato Records, for which he recorded the album New Orleans Heat.

24.

Albert King took a four-year break from recording after the disappointing sales of his albums in the late 1970s.

25.

In 1984, Albert King released the album, I'm in a Phone Booth, Baby, which was nominated for a Grammy Award.

26.

Albert King died of a heart attack on December 21,1992, in his Memphis home.

27.

Albert King was survived by his wife, Glendle; two daughters, Evelyn Smith and Gloria Randolph; a son, Donald Randolph; a sister, Elvie Wells; eight grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

28.

Albert King was left-handed, but usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down.

29.

The luthier Dan Erlewine said Albert King tuned to C-F-C-F-A-D with light-gauge strings.

30.

Albert King influenced other guitarists, including Jimi Hendrix, Mick Taylor, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Mike Bloomfield and Joe Walsh.

31.

Albert King influenced his contemporaries Albert Collins and Otis Rush.

32.

Albert King was often cited by Stevie Ray Vaughan as having been his greatest influence.

33.

In 1983, Albert King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

34.

Albert King received a star on the St Louis Walk of Fame in 1993.

35.

In 2011, Albert King was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in his hometown Indianola.

36.

Albert King was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

37.

Albert King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.