The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is officially inducting the 2013 group tonight, (which will air on HBO in one month). This year will see the induction of influential bluesman Albert King, who takes his place among the other two kings of blues, B.B. King, and Freddie King. There are five other inductees: Rush, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, Donna Summer, and Heart. The honor comes posthumously for two inductees: Albert King, who passed away in 1992, and Summer, who passed away in May.
There were two inductees in the non-performer award, named after Atlantic Records’ founder, Ahmet Ertegun. 78 year old Lou Adler, the record producer and owner of the famous Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, and 79 year old Quincy Jones, the trumpeter, record producer, and multiple grammy award-winner will also be inducted.
Albert King was one of the founding fathers of Electric Blues, and his instantly-recognizable sound, (standard, tuned two full steps down), has been a defining influence to countless artists. Because of his last name, Albert is affectionately known as one of the “three kings” of the Blues, along with B.B. and Freddie. King enjoyed a fruitful career at Memphis-based Stax Records, where he pumped out hit after hit in the 1960s, including “Crosscut Saw”, “I’ll Play the Blues for You”, and his biggest hit, “Born Under a Bad Sign“.
In 1969, Albert King was the debut act at the legendary Fillmore West with Jimi Hendrix. Already a Blues giant, he went on to regularly play at large venues like the Fillmore, and enjoyed a long and successful career, playing with other household Blues names at countless festivals and recording regularly. His massive influence can be felt in a number of heavily Blues influenced rock groups today. Stevie Ray Vaughan, who played with King during one recorded session that was re-released last year, cited King as a major influence on his playing, as did Eric Clapton and Gary Moore, who had King guest star on his major hit album Still Got The Blues.
The induction ceremony will take place on April 18th, 2013, at the Nokia Theater, and will be broadcast 1 month later, May 18th, on HBO.
