Freddie worked in the steel mills during day and  

gigs at night. He would ocassionally work as a sideman in recording sessions. He and his running buddies Jimmy Rogers and Eddie Taylor were young, fresh and eager to venture out in search of something new, something different. The southside of Chicago served up its blues with the big blues band sound that 

included a rhythm section, horns, a piano,and sometimes a harp. The westside of Chicago with its small taverns, eagerly embraced these young blues mavericks  and their blues sound that consisted of a electrifying lead guitarist who usually doubled as the lead vocalist. a bassman, and drummer. Freddie jumped at the chance that the westside travens offered. So he along with two other young guys, guitarist Jimmy Lee Robinson and drummer Sonny Scott formed his first band,"The Every Hour Blues Boys". 

In 1953 Freddie cut several sides for the Parrot Label. He continued to do session recordings whenever possible. 

It was not until 1956 that Freddie recorded a 45 with a local label El-Bee. Side A was a duet with Margaret Whitfield "Country Boy" and side B was a fast tempo blues, " Thats What You Think". His friend Robert Lockwood Jr. added guitar licks. Chess Records was one of the biggest blues labels at that time. Their home office and recording studio was located in Chicago. Many big name Chicago blues artists were signed, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and Little Walter, just to name a few. My father auditioned several times with no success. They stated that he sounded vocally like B.B. King. He would later say that Chess rejection was a blessing in disguise, because it forced him to develope his own vocal style. 

It is now 1957 and Freddie is performing with bluesmen like blues pianist Memphis Slim and blues guitarist Magic Sam Maghett( a good friend and neighbor. Uncle Sam came calling on the blues community. My father was not drafted because he had no arch support (flat feet). Magic Sam was not so lucky he was drafted.

1959 Freddie is rejected once more by Chess Records  and he meets Sonny Thompson a pianist who happened  to be a talent scout for King/Federal label. Sonny recognized something unique about Freddie's blues style. 

In 1960 Freddie signed with Syd Nathan's King /Federal Label. Syd Nathan was a total control freak, a smart hard nose businessman who at times could be fairer than most record label owners of this period. His contract artists range from sensational James Brown, Freddie King ,Albert King,Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Memphis Slim, John Lee Hooker and others, Country &  Western, Ferlin Huskey, The Stanley Brothers, Hank Penny, Grandpa Jones and others, R&B, Hank Ballad, Bill Doggett, Little Willie John, The Platters, The Ink Spots, Chantals, Royals,and other, Jazz, Nina Simone, Carmen McRae, Errol Garner, Bobby Scott, Bobby Troup and others, Gospel artists and International artists.

All artists recorded at one location in Cincinnati Ohio, at the Brewster locations. Records were mastered, pressed,stored, and distributed from this location. The album covers were designed and printed from the same location. Yes Syd Nathan was a control freak. Freddie's time with King label was bitter sweet. He was happy to be under contract, but he did not like being control and manipulated artistically. Nathan would suggest ideas for songs that Freddie disagreed with. Nathan wanted Freddie to cover some of his country and western artist tunes. Freddie had always been a fan of C&W but Nathan and Freddie could never agree on which tune to record. Then one day Nathan over heard a studio jam session that consisted of some country and western musicians and Freddie doing a blues swing version of" Remmington Ride". Nathan quickly had Freddie nail that tune to vinyl. The collaboration of Freddie King and Sonny Thompson on instrumentals such as "The Stumble," "Low Tide," "Wash Out," "Sidetracked," "HeadsUp," "Onion Rings," "The Sad Nite Owl," and "Hide Away", contains some of the most brilliant and most dynamic  melodies in guitar blues history.

Many of Freddie's songwriting credits under the King label were shared with Sonny Thompson. They would have marathon sessions of 16 hrs and more. The first 45 release: side A " Have You Ever Loved A Woman", side B "Hide Away". Both sides were big hits on the R&B charts. The surprise was the Hide Away release. It became a crossover hit on the Pop chart reaching # 29. This was a first, a blues artist registering a hit on the Pop chart. No other blues artist had accomplished this before. Young whites were digging Freddie's blues style. Nathan quickly capitalized on it. He insisting that Freddie and Sonny concentrate on instrumentals. Freddie sold more albums during this period (1961-63) than any other blues artist including B.B. King. 

"His biggest year was 1961, when he placed six singles on Billboard’s R&B chart, including four that entered the Top 10. His run of hits in that year began with “Hide Away” (Number Five), which was followed by “Lonesome Whistle Blues” (Number Eight), “San-Ho-Zay” (Number Four), “See See Baby” (Number 21), “I’m Tore Down” (Number Five) and the seasonal single “Christmas Tears” (Number 26)."

His instrumentals tended to be rollicking and uptempo, while his vocal numbers, such as “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” and “Love Her With a Feeling,” were often soulfully sung slow blues. He recorded more than 30 instrumentals for King Records, many of them issued on 

Albums Let’s Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King (1961) and Freddy King Gives You a Bonanza of Instrumentals (1965). Also released on King were the albums Freddie King Sings (1961), Bossa Nova and Blues (1962) and Freddy King Goes Surfin’ (1963

Freddie King modern blues would soon wake up the young British music community to the Freddie King  groove 

"King had numerous disciples in the rock world, including British guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green (cofounder of Fleetwood Mac and an alumni of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers), Mick Taylor (another Mayall alumni and member of the Rolling Stones), and Stan Webb (leader the blues-rock band Chicken Shack). In 1966, Eric Clapton covered “Hide Away” on Blues Breakers, his lone album with John Mayall."

Eric Clapton has stated many times in interviews that Freddie King was his early inspiration,his guitar hero, the reason he purchased a Les paul guitar. The 45 release: side A " Have You Ever Loved A Woman", side B "Hide Away"converted him.  

King was unhappy with King/Federal Label and Syd Nathan so when his contract expired  1966. he went looking for a new label. and his first overseas tour followed in 1967.

King spirits was soon lifted with the success of his first overseas tour . He was originally booked for a month and it was extended to three. He was amazed by his popularity in England, a new generation of young white musicians like Eric Clapton,MickTaylor, John Mayhall and others were trying to emulate Freddie King sound.

King's availability was noticed by producer and saxophonist King Curtis, who had recorded a cover of "Hide Away," with Cornell Dupree on guitar in 1962. Curtis signed King to Atlantic in 1968, which resulted in two LPs, Freddie King Is a Blues Master (1969) and My Feeling for the Blues (1970), produced by Curtis for the Atlantic subsidiary Cotillion Records.

Both releases were soulful and funky and showcased his singing talents,both albums had moderate success.Freddie was disappointed with the lack of success in the two releases.

In 1969 Freddie hires a new manager Jack Calmes. Jack is young, white busnesss man who is part of the "counter culture" that has discovered the blues. Jack helped orchestrate Freddie's career into high gear with the 1969 Texas Pop Festival,there he shared billing with Led Zeppelin, Sly and the family stone,Ten years After, B.B. King, among others, " Led Zeppelin's guys were standing there watching him perform with their mouth open" Jack said. Calmes secured a contract deal for Freddie with Leon Russell's new label Shelter Records . Leon had been a fan of Freddie's sizzling guitar style for years. Leon was now creating the Oklahoma blues culture with the start up of his own label. Leon Russell record label included Joe Cocker, JJ Cale 'The Nitty Gitty Dirt Band and others. Leon spared no expense the sessions were top shelf he flew the studio crew to Chicago and recorded the first album Getting Ready" at the old Chess Records studio. Freddie now had the freedom to showcase and record what he wanted, Leon wanted the listening audience to experience the brilliance and raw essences of Freddie King. Shelter was the perfect springbroad for Freddie's style of blues, hard driving and in your face. This collaboration put Freddie into the mainstream of the white blues /rock explosion. The release of "Getting Ready" produced Freddie's signature blues/rock hit "Going Down". 

Shelter Records Releases

1971   Getting Ready 

1972  The Texas Cannonball

1973  Woman Across the River

It's now the 70's Freddie is in hot demand on the road 300 days a year touring Internationally, the Filmore circuit, Blues festivals touring with Led Zeppelin,Grand Funk Railroad ( who referenced to playing poker with Freddie King all night long in their hit song " We are an American band" and Creedence Clearwater Revival and others. His touring with Eric Clapton formed a great Friendship between the two. Eric was living out a life long dream to perform side by side with one of his blues heroes. Freddie soon sign with Clapton's label RSO. Three albums were released: 

Burglar 1974 SO4803 

Freddie King Larger Than Life 1975 SO4811 

Freddie King 1934-1976 Polydor/Polygram Records 831817-2

Freddie King  was like a man on a mission. He burned the candle at both ends. He soon developed an ulcer. He continued to work a heavy tour schedule. His health continued to deteriate and on December 26 1976 he was admitted to the hospital suffering from complications of an acute ulcer and pancreatitis and on December 28 1976  he succumb to an heart attack. 

Eric Clapton-

"He taught me just about everything I needed to know....when and when not to make a stand...when and when not to show your hand ... and most important of all... how to make love to your guitar."