King George grew up in Virginia in the American South. In the sixties, he moved up to New York and started singing in Harlem clubs. In 1965 he performed at the legendary Apollo Theather together with Don Covay, writer of hits like "Have Mercy" and "Chain Of Fools" After leaving Don Covay And The Goodtimers King George started his solo career by recording "Drive On James" for RCA Victor with parts of the Ray Charles Band such as the drummer Bernard Purdie and J.J. Johnson on trombone. The single went up on the English charts very soon after the release.
King George was also going around clubs like Small's Paradise in Harlem, jamming with among others, The King Curtis Band and Curtis Knight. His band featured Jimi Hendrix at the time. This is when Jimi and George really became friends. They worked together before, for example during the recording of "Have Mercy" but did not really get together in the studio. At this time they all lived in the same building on upper west side in New York and hung around the clubs in the Village. By the time Jimi Hendrix had not yet became famous.
One night when King George performed at a club, a Scandinavian agent heard him sing, and offered him a contract to tour in Europe with a black R&B band by the name of Harlem Kiddies. This was the first black rhytm'n'bluesband that came to Europe from the States. Meanwhile Jimi Hendrix was brought to Europe by Chas Chandler, and George and Jimi's friendship continued there. The Harlem Kiddies warmed up for The Jimi Hendrix Experience in Copenhagen, and they met several times, both in England and in Scandinavia. Last time George saw Jimi Hendrix was one week before he died at a concert at Gröna Lund in Stockholm.
King George has worked as a solo artist with a great number of musicians and groups, both in Europe and in The States, but meanwhile he has always had an own group. After Harlem Kiddies broke up he formed King George Discovery and later The King George Bluesology, also known as The KGB. During the years he has made several records and tours. The CD,"Live In Europe" was recorded at CPM, the well-known jazz and blues club in Geneva, Switzerland during one of the many European tours the KGB did together. Also here in Europé he has had the possibility to work with some of the greatest bluesplayers, like Luther Allison, Louisiana Red, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland and many more. King Georges music has a modern sound, but the true blues roots always shine through. Blues is one of the music styles that is hardest to define, as many traditional bluesmusicians also do experimental music, but blues is a feeling you have in the body and it can be performed in many different ways. Luther Alliso often got sad by people's comments that he ain't playing he blues. One year later he recieved the WC Hand award, - One of the most respectable prices in the bluesworld. (from official website)
King George was also going around clubs like Small's Paradise in Harlem, jamming with among others, The King Curtis Band and Curtis Knight. His band featured Jimi Hendrix at the time. This is when Jimi and George really became friends. They worked together before, for example during the recording of "Have Mercy" but did not really get together in the studio. At this time they all lived in the same building on upper west side in New York and hung around the clubs in the Village. By the time Jimi Hendrix had not yet became famous.
One night when King George performed at a club, a Scandinavian agent heard him sing, and offered him a contract to tour in Europe with a black R&B band by the name of Harlem Kiddies. This was the first black rhytm'n'bluesband that came to Europe from the States. Meanwhile Jimi Hendrix was brought to Europe by Chas Chandler, and George and Jimi's friendship continued there. The Harlem Kiddies warmed up for The Jimi Hendrix Experience in Copenhagen, and they met several times, both in England and in Scandinavia. Last time George saw Jimi Hendrix was one week before he died at a concert at Gröna Lund in Stockholm.
King George has worked as a solo artist with a great number of musicians and groups, both in Europe and in The States, but meanwhile he has always had an own group. After Harlem Kiddies broke up he formed King George Discovery and later The King George Bluesology, also known as The KGB. During the years he has made several records and tours. The CD,"Live In Europe" was recorded at CPM, the well-known jazz and blues club in Geneva, Switzerland during one of the many European tours the KGB did together. Also here in Europé he has had the possibility to work with some of the greatest bluesplayers, like Luther Allison, Louisiana Red, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland and many more. King Georges music has a modern sound, but the true blues roots always shine through. Blues is one of the music styles that is hardest to define, as many traditional bluesmusicians also do experimental music, but blues is a feeling you have in the body and it can be performed in many different ways. Luther Alliso often got sad by people's comments that he ain't playing he blues. One year later he recieved the WC Hand award, - One of the most respectable prices in the bluesworld. (from official website)
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