King, Albert

Albert King is probably the most influential electric blues guitarist of the post-T-Bone Walker generation. An imposing figure who played his signature upside-down-strung flying V left-handed, King had a stinging and passionate style that visibly shaped the sounds of his disciples, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Rush, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Robert Cray.

After working with the likes of Jimmy Reed and Willie Dixon and cutting sides for Parrot, Bobbin, King, Chess, and other labels, the guitarist inked a deal in the mid '60s with Memphis soul powerhouse Stax Records, where he had his greatest success.