I actually met and talked with Freddie King when he was the opening act for Leon Russell in the winter of ’71. We got tickets because of Russell; I had seen the ‘Mad Dogs & Englishmen’ movie, but I only knew vaguely of Freddie King.

I knew that he wrote “Have You Ever Loved a Woman’, only because EC covered it on ‘Layla’. The concert was at the Xavier University field house in Cincinnati.

Also, I had just turned 21yrs and hadn’t started playing guitar yet, and was totally un-prepared for the mind-blowing set that Freddie King played. I can still remember all the passion he played with, and the biting yet powerful tone that came out of his fingers and his passionate singing.

After his set, I stepped outside to have a ‘smoke’, and saw Freddie and a couple members of band standing by the tour bus. I went over and introduced myself, and spent the next hour talking to King. This is where I learned about Sam "Lightnin’" Hopkins and Jimmie Rogers, both were King’s mentors on playing guitar.

In fact, I really didn’t see Russell’s set, and my young wife, and friend we rode with, didn’t know where I had disappeared to, she was P.O.’d but it was worth it.

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Tony Houston

Nice - I like Freddie King...

Cool story Tony - thanks for sharing!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I had never heard his music, but when I was just in London. my friend Les, who has around 10,000 albums, played some for me and then loaded 10 albums into my iTunes library...I've been listening to them and the other 6,000 songs he loaded on.

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Current Gear: Ron Kirn Barnbuster Tele,
Marshall: 1971 SuperLead 100>1997 1960-TV, bunch of pedals
and a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera coupe named Veronica

He hung out here in Tulsa back in the early 70's. (With Leon) Saw him just walk into the Stables Lounge and jam a few times. Great talent..........

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Freddy is one of my faves for sure.

Awesome! Nothing like a little Freddie King. Great choice for today!

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Although I sold 3000 vinyl record collection, I did keep all my Hendrix albums, and blues albums, including this one

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Tony Houston

Tony since you brought up the show here in Cincy I thought I'd mention that Freddie recorded at King Records in the Evanston neighborhood. Matter of fact, Hideway was recorded here! James Brown was another big name who was part of the King label, they not only recorded there but also printed the LP's in the same building. Pretty cool history.

Yeah, I know, I visited the old building back in the '80s. Lonnie Mack also recorded there. There is an excellent boxset 'King R&B' http://www.amazon.com/King-R-B-Box-Set/dp/B0000017BT/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313605392&sr=8-3 that really a must have for R 'n B fans.

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Tony Houston