Musician. A R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist, he was born Earl Silas Johnson IV, in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1934. In 1953 he met Guitar Slim at the Club Tijuana where the two became good friends. Also that year he signed on with the Wax Record Label and released the song, "Have You Gone Crazy" for Savoy. In 1954 on the advice of his record promoter he changed his name to Earl King, and signed with the Specialty Record Label the same year and released, "A Mother's Love." He began being produced by Johnny Vincent also in 1954 and would go onto become a main artist on Vincent's own Ace Records Label. He recorded "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" for Ace and it became a national chart hit. After leaving Ace in 1960 King signed with the Imperial Record Label and released, "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)" and in 1961 he released, "Trick Bag." In 1962 he hit the charts with the release of, "Always A First Time." During the 1960s and 1970s he recorded with the Motown Record Label and wrote songs for the likes of Lee Dorsey and Professor Longhair. He later signed with Black Top Record Label and released the albums, "Sexual Therapy" in 1990, and "Hard River To Cross" in 1993.
Musician. A R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist, he was born Earl Silas Johnson IV, in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1934. In 1953 he met Guitar Slim at the Club Tijuana where the two became good friends. Also that year he signed on with the Wax Record Label and released the song, "Have You Gone Crazy" for Savoy. In 1954 on the advice of his record promoter he changed his name to Earl King, and signed with the Specialty Record Label the same year and released, "A Mother's Love." He began being produced by Johnny Vincent also in 1954 and would go onto become a main artist on Vincent's own Ace Records Label. He recorded "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" for Ace and it became a national chart hit. After leaving Ace in 1960 King signed with the Imperial Record Label and released, "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)" and in 1961 he released, "Trick Bag." In 1962 he hit the charts with the release of, "Always A First Time." During the 1960s and 1970s he recorded with the Motown Record Label and wrote songs for the likes of Lee Dorsey and Professor Longhair. He later signed with Black Top Record Label and released the albums, "Sexual Therapy" in 1990, and "Hard River To Cross" in 1993.
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