University City in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Albert King
Born April 25, 1923
By Devry Jones, October 7, 2018
1. Albert King Marker
Born Albert Nelson, he was a farm laborer who became a premier blues guitarist. Self-taught, first on a one-string "Diddley-Bow" and then on a guitar he made from a cigar box, King played left-handed and upside down. In 1956 he moved to Lovejoy, Illinois, across the river from St. Louis. King perfected his searing guitar sound in the historic 1950s and 60s St. Louis Blues and R&B scene. In 1966 he signed with the Stax label, where he recorded such classics as "Crosscut Saw" and "Born Under a Bad Sign." After a legendary 1968 Fillmore West concert series and recordings, Albert King was called "the most-imitated blues guitarist in the world."Erected 1993 by St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Marker series. This marker is included in the St. Louis Walk of Fame marker series.
Location. 38° 39.347′ N, 90° 18.235′ W. Marker is in University City, Missouri, in St. Louis County. Marker is on Delmar Boulevard east of Westgate Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6370 Delmar Boulevard, Saint Louis MO 63130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Susan Blow (a few steps from this marker); Phyllis Diller (a few steps from this marker); Arthur Holly Compton (a few steps from this marker); Tina Turner (a few steps from this marker); Masters & Johnson (a few steps from this marker); Redd Foxx (a few steps from this marker); Gyo Obata (a few steps from this marker); William Burroughs (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in University City.
Also see . . . Audio of "Born Under a Bad Sign". (Submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Categories. • African Americans • Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment •
More. Search the internet for Albert King.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2019. This page originally submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 36 times since then and 18 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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