Bnois King
Bnois King | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 21, 1943 Delhi, Louisiana |
| Genres | Jazz, Blues, Texas blues |
| Occupation(s) | blues guitarist, vocalist, composer |
| Instrument | rhythm guitar |
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Labels | Rounder Records, Blind Pig, Delta Groove Music, Alligator Records |
Bnois King (born 01/21/1943) is a Texas Blues and Jazz guitar player, vocalist, and composer. He most often played rhythm guitar and acted as the main vocalist for the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band, and toured with equal billing with Kubek after 2001.
Early life
King was born January 21, 1943, in Delhi, Louisiana. He started playing guitar at the early age of eight.[1] Trying to break into the music scene and making a career from music, at a early age King traveled to Colorado and Oklahoma, and finally settled in Texas.[1][2] Struggling at first in the industry, sometimes playing at carnival side shows,[2] he was performing regularly in Dallas and Fort Worth by the late 70s,[1] usually playing with jazz bands.[2] It was here that King eventually met, and thereafter periodically teamed up with, electric blues guitarist Smokin' Joe Kubek.[1]
Career work with Kubek
While the rock-influenced Kubek played in an aggressive style, King is heavily jazz-influenced and embraced a more relaxed playing style. They got along well, however, and two partnered up after 1989.[2][3] Building a repertoire from old, neglected blues genre songs, King found a ready audience for his laid-back vocalizations and rhythm guitar. Audiences enjoyed the blending of the two's playing styles.[1] The two released their first collaborative album in 1991, a Texas blues album, Steppin' Out Texas Style.[2]
Album discography
Solo efforts and contributions
The Smokin' Joe Kubek Band, featuring Bnois King
- Steppin' Out Texas Style (1991), Rounder Select
- Chain Smokin' Texas Style (1992),
- Texas Cadillac (1994), Bullseye Blues/Rounder
- Cryin' for the Moon (1995), Bullseye Blues/Rounder
- Got My Mind Back (1996), Rounder Select
- Lone Star Blues (October 1997), EasyDisc/Rounder
- Take Your Best Shot (1998), Rounder Select
- Bite Me! (2000), Bullseye Blues/Rounder
- Served Up Texas Style: The Best of the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band (2005), Bullseye Blues/Rounder
Compilations with Kubek
- Texas Blues Guitar (June 1997), EasyDisc/Rounder
- Blues Guitar Duels (August 1998), EasyDisc/Rounder
- New Blues Classics (2010), Bullseye Blues/Rounder
Duo albums with Smokin' Joe Kubek
- Axe Man (December 1991), Double Trouble Records
- Roadhouse Research (2003), Blind Pig
- Show Me The Money (2004), Blind Pig
- My Heart's In Texas (2006), Blind Pig; (live recording, from J&J Blues Bar, Ft. Worth, Texas)[2]
- Blood Brothers (2008), Alligator Records
- Have Blues, Will Travel (2010), Alligator Records
- Close to the Bone: Unplugged (2011), Delta Groove Music / Delta Groove Productions / Jazzhaus
- Road Dog's Life (2013), Delta Groove Music / Delta Groove Productions / Jazzhaus
- Fat Man's Shine Parlor (2015), Blind Pig
References
- ^ a b c d e Artist Biography; Bnois King at All Music online; retrieved October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King; Blind Pig Records website; accessed October 2015.
- ^ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 133. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
External links
- Bluesmen Smokin' Joe Kubek and Bnois King Are Soulmates; September 13, 2012 Dallas Observer interview with King and Kubek
- Bnois King; MetroLyrics.com overview
- Credits; compiled at All Music
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