Al King born 8 August 1923

  

Alvin K. Smith (August 8, 1923 – January 21, 1999), who performed and recorded as Al King, was an American blues singer and songwriter. He released singles with regular intervals from 1951 until 1970. 

King was born in Monroe, Louisiana, by 1947 he was in Los Angeles after doing his bit for uncle Sam in WWII. He was swept up in the post war R&B boom and first recorded for DJ John Dolphins label in 1951 after which he recorded as Alvin Smith and Al Smith in 1954 and 1955 on the Music City and Combo labels. From 1957 to 1965 he moved from label to label including Irma (1957), Christ (1958) Gejdenson’s (1961), Phillips VCP, Push & Art-Tone (1962) then Triad (1964). After moving to Los Angeles he recorded for the the Shirley record label and delivered superb West Coast blues illuminated by the guitar of Johnny Heartsman as "Reconsider baby" and "Lingerin' love". 

                                  

He also wrote songs under his real name, Smith, as in "On My Way", the B-side of his first single covering "Reconsider Baby" in 1964. In 1965 after trying to create his own label Flag , he then continued within the Sahara label with "My money ain't long enough", "Everybody ain't your friend", "Playing on me", "Get lost". He had a number 36 US Billboard R&B chart hit in 1966 with "Think Twice Before You Speak". 

After the beautiful productions for the Shirley and Sahara labels, Al King worked for the Bihari brothers and their Kent and Modern labels between 1968 and 1969. His superb voice is well surrounded with excellent sidemen like Arthur Adams, Big Jay Mac Neely and Maxwell Davis (who arranges the sessions). His only Flag single was re-issues on the Sue label in the UK in 1968 and is now sought after by record collectors. 

His last two singles were “I Can’t Understand” and “Nosey Neighbors” for Ronn Records in 1970. Being fed up with the record industry, the man who was regarded as the “Father of the West Coast Blues” vowed never to record again, and for many years played in neighborhood clubs in Oakland, California. But the blues had stayed with Al, as he continued to write and perform and finally released his own album “It’s Rough Out Here” in 1998, consisting of 10 new blues tracks, backed up by a group of young musicians known as the Sugarbees. Sadly King suddenly died in Oakland, California in January 1999 at the age of 75. 

(Edited from Wikipedia, Blues Sessions & Ace liner notes)