Happy Birthday Freddie King!
Hi WA Friends!
Today I'm honoring the late great (and I really mean great!) Freddie King, also known by the name the "Texas Cannonball!" He's the guy that really took Blues to another level!
When I was in the early stages of learning guitar, someone turned me on to him, and there it was, so close but yet so far. Many (60 to 70%) of the guitar licks I was learning from Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin albums came from Freddie! If you ever heard Eric's version of "I'm Torn down," that was written by Freddie!
Freddie was one of the original masters of electric blues!
Well, as long as I'm talking about it, let's not forget that he's one of the exalted "Three Kings" (none of them are related).
1. Freddie King - Our star today!
2. Albert King (if you know the tune "Born Under A Bad Sign," then you know his work!)
3. B. B. King - The undisputed King of the Blues!
Getting back to Freddie, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by none other than that little ol' band from Texas, ZZ Top! Freddie was also from Texas and helped define the Texas Blues sound.
Check out Freddies instrumental tune "Hide Away," which the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included in the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock!" Do you know what Muddy Waters once said? He said that "The Blues Had A Baby And Called It Rock And Roll!"
And why hasn't Ted Nugent, the "Motor City Madman," been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Yet - huh??? That's a terrible tale for another day.
Freddie was also inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1982 and was ranked 15th in Rolling Stone's (you read that magazine, right?) list of "100 greatest guitarists of all time, back in 2011! Before you ask me, Jimi Hendrix was ranked number one! Yes, the number one best guitarist in any genre of music!!
Freddie gave us 13 studio albums, 10 compilation albums, and 10 singles that were big radio hits!
Happy Birthday, Freddie, and God Bless You! 🎂
Keep on Rockin' (and playin' the blues) 🤘
Frank 🎸
Recent Comments
28
Ummm, thanks, Frank! I love the blues music and electric guitars.
Happy blessed birthday, Freddie!
Monica
Hey Frank,
Nice... I just did. I haven't heard of Freddie before till now. He's really good and what an electric guitar player too.
I made a trip to Chicago some years ago and got to listen to some Janis Joplin music. The gal who was singing sounded just like Janis and of course sang a lot of her songs.
Thank you for introducing me to Freddie King Now I must listen to more 🎶.
Have a wonderful rest new week.
Monica
You’re welcome, Monica.
You should also take a listen to Albert King! A totally different playing style. He played his guitar upside down, like you.
He didn’t reverse the strings, so his high E string was on the top instead of the bottom.
Albert King essentially invented that style of electric blues playing. His unique approach comes from bending the strings down instead of up.
It’s a killer sound!
Frank 🎸
Happy Birthday, Freddie! I had not hear of him until now, Frank! You always briung new knowledge to your posts, my friend!
Jeff😎🎸
Thanks, Jeff!
Put Freddie on the "listening list!"
Check out Albert King and Albert Collins (the Ice Man), while you're at it! They'll all rock you blues world! 😎
I'm sure you're familiar with B.B. King.
Frank 🎸
I'll be certain to take a look when I get the chance, Frank! Thanks for another excellent share!
Jeff😎🎸
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You are a music library.
Happy birthday Freddie
Mirjana
Thanks, Mirjana! 😎
Take a listen!
Frank 🎸