Died On This Date (December 21, 1992) Albert King / Blues Guitar Great

themusicsover December 21, 2009 1 Comments

Albert King
April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992

Albert King was a singer and electric guitarists who is considered one of the all-time greats of the blues.  What distinguished him from the others is that he was left-handed but played a right-handed guitar upside-down.  He also prefered to play what is called a “flying V” guitar that is usually played by metal guitarists.  King scored a few minor hits during the early days of his career, but after signing with Stax Records in 1966, he found himself being backed by Booker T. and the MGs on what would become numerous influential records.  His hits included “Crosscut Saw” and “Born Under a Bad Sign,” which has since become a blues standard.  King has been cited as a direct influence on the likes of Gary Moore, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Joe Walsh, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.  Albert King died of a heart attack on December 21, 1992.  He was 69 years old.

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