Willie King

What this episode covers

Willie’s first recording was a local production with Alabama bluesman “Birmingham” George Conner, titled Walkin’ the Walk, Talkin’ the Talk. This CD created an unexpected amount of interest, and promoted reviewer Gordon Baxter to state, “No label, no catalog number, and definitely no doubt about it, Walkin’ The Walk Talkin’ The Talk will feature in my top 10 albums of 2000.” I Am the Blues, Willie’s next CD, was a solo project, produced by Willie King in collaboration with the Alabama Blues Project. Again, despite being independently produced and initially only locally distribute, this album gained a lot of critical acclaim. This CD was a “Top 10 Album of 2000” for Niles Frantz, host to Chicago Public Radio’s Comin’ Home program. He described it as “Howlin’ Wolf meets B.B. King in the Alabama backwoods. The real deal . . . brilliant.” Jim O’Neal eventually caught up with Willie King to record Freedom Creek, Willie King’s debut album on Rooster Blues Records. With international distribution, this was King’s powerful introduction into the wider music and blues world. Not only was the album acclaimed by critics worldwide, it also received awards from Living Blues Magazine for Best Male Blues Artist (2001), Best Blues Album (2000) and Best Contemporary Blues Album (2000). http://www.willie-king.com/

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