Rock Musician, Songwriter. A guitarist, he was a founding member of the 1960s Psychedelic band "The Strawberry Alarm Clock." He later achieved success as part of the lineup of the American Southern Rock group "Lynyrd Skynyrd." Born Edward Calhoun King, his interest in music can be traced back to his early teens, when he took a liking to 'surf' music which was prevalent in his native Southern California. After the Beatles rise to popularity during the mid 1960s, he chose to pursue a career as a musician and learned both the guitar and bass. In 1966, he joined the group "Sixpence" which evolved into "The Strawberry Alarm Clock." They yielded the minor hit single "Tomorrow," however it would be the anthemic, psychedelic score "Incense and Peppermints" (1967) which earned them a number one chart placing and a gold record. The song identified with the turbulent late 1960s in the United States. After the group disbanded, King joined "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1971 and contributed to their first three albums. He co-wrote the hits "Sweet Home Alabama" (1974) and "Saturday Night Special" (1975). He left Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines who perished along with his sister Cassie Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant in a 1977 plane crash. King was part of a new lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 and remained with them until health issues forced him to retire in 1996. He later underwent a successful heart transplant. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2006. He died from cancer.
Rock Musician, Songwriter. A guitarist, he was a founding member of the 1960s Psychedelic band "The Strawberry Alarm Clock." He later achieved success as part of the lineup of the American Southern Rock group "Lynyrd Skynyrd." Born Edward Calhoun King, his interest in music can be traced back to his early teens, when he took a liking to 'surf' music which was prevalent in his native Southern California. After the Beatles rise to popularity during the mid 1960s, he chose to pursue a career as a musician and learned both the guitar and bass. In 1966, he joined the group "Sixpence" which evolved into "The Strawberry Alarm Clock." They yielded the minor hit single "Tomorrow," however it would be the anthemic, psychedelic score "Incense and Peppermints" (1967) which earned them a number one chart placing and a gold record. The song identified with the turbulent late 1960s in the United States. After the group disbanded, King joined "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1971 and contributed to their first three albums. He co-wrote the hits "Sweet Home Alabama" (1974) and "Saturday Night Special" (1975). He left Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines who perished along with his sister Cassie Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant in a 1977 plane crash. King was part of a new lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 and remained with them until health issues forced him to retire in 1996. He later underwent a successful heart transplant. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2006. He died from cancer.
Bio by: C.S.
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