Eddie King (born Edward Lewis Davis
Milton, April 21, 1938) is an American Chicago blues guitarist, singer and
songwriter. Living Blues stated 'King is a potent singer and player with a
raw, gospel-tinged voice and an aggressive, thick-toned guitar sound'. He
was noted as creating a 'straightforward style, after
Freddie King and
Little Milton'.
Life and career
King was born in Talladega, Alabama, United States. His parents were both
musical, with his father playing guitar and his mother a gospel singer. King
learned basic guitar riffs from watching from outside the window of local
blues clubs, and was inspired by the playing of
Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and
Little Walter. He grew up playing
alongside Luther Allison,
Magic Sam, Junior
Wells, Eddie C. Campbell, and
Freddie King.
He relocated to Chicago, Illinois, in 1954, and his diminutive stature and
the influence of B.B. King led to him being referred to as 'Little Eddie
King'. Given a break by Little Mack
Simmons, he first recorded under the tutelage of Willie Dixon and, in
1960, played on several tracks recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson II. He also
recorded with Detroit Junior. Also in 1960, King had a single released by
J.O.B. Records, 'Shakin' Inside' / 'Love You Baby'. He then became the
guitarist backing Koko Taylor, a role he undertook for two decades.
Separately forming Eddie King & the Kingsmen in 1969, King moved to Peoria,
Illinois, in the early 1980s. Since the early 1990s, King's backing ensemble
have been known as the Swamp Bees, and his output has incorporated Chicago
blues, country blues, blues shouter, and soul.
His debut album, The Blues Has Got Me (1987), was issued by the Netherlands
based record label, Black Magic, and later re-released by Double Trouble. It
featured one of his sisters, Mae Bee May, on vocals.
In 1997, King recorded Another Cow's Dead, which got a Blues Music Award for
'Best Comeback Blues Album'. It was arranged by Lou Marini.
His songwriting credits include 'Kitty Kat', described by one journalist as
'hilarious'.
