Earl King: The King Who Made New Orleans an R&B Empire

The King Who Made New Orleans an R&B Empire

Earl King was born Earl Silas Johnson IV on February 7, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up listening to Guitar Slim, whose wild stage performances and raw electric guitar style electrified the city's R&B scene. When Guitar Slim was unavailable for a gig, promoters would sometimes send young Earl King in his place — and audiences couldn't tell the difference. That's how good he was from the very beginning.

King became one of the most important songwriters, guitarists, and performers in New Orleans R&B. His compositions include "Trick Bag," "Big Chief," "Come On," and dozens of other songs that became staples of the New Orleans repertoire. "Trick Bag" has been covered by everyone from Robert Palmer to The Meters. "Big Chief," written with Professor Longhair, became a Mardi Gras Indian anthem and a Jazz Fest perennial.

The Songwriter's Songwriter

What made Earl King special was his writing. He was the songwriter that other songwriters in New Orleans respected most — the musician who could craft a melody, build a groove, and write lyrics that captured the humor, heartbreak, and swagger of New Orleans life. His guitar style was economical and deeply funky, influenced by Guitar Slim but refined into something more subtle and sophisticated.

King recorded for Specialty, Imperial, and Ace Records, and worked with Allen Toussaint and other New Orleans producers throughout his career. He influenced generations of guitarists — Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and Robert Palmer all acknowledged his impact.

New Orleans Royalty

Earl King died on April 17, 2003, at sixty-nine. He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and remains one of the most respected figures in the city's musical history. In a town full of kings — King Oliver, King Zulu, King Cake — Earl King earned his title through decades of songs that New Orleans still sings every day.