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Jazz guitarist
Jackie King was born in Texas; the son of a musician, he learned to play the mandolin at age eight, switching to six-string a year later. Initially inspired by country music, he later absorbed the jazz influences of guitar greats like
Django Reinhardt and
Charlie Christian, and at age 12, began performing professionally. Befriended by the likes of
Willie Nelson and
Doug Sahm,
King also backed visiting acts including
Big Joe Turner,
George Jones, and
Roger Miller before touring the nation as a member of the
Billy Gray Band. During the late '60s, he relocated to San Francisco, teaming with saxophonist
Martin Fierro to form the jazz-fusion band Shades of Joy. The group recorded two LPs before disbanding, with
King subsequently backing jazz acts including
Sonny Stitt and
Chet Baker; he also became a session player at Mercury, appearing on albums from
Merl Saunders and others. He made his solo debut with the 1977 album Skylight, later teaching at Los Angeles' Guitar Institute of Technology; the experience inspired
King to open his own Southwest Guitar Conservatory in San Antonio, running the operation for seven years. Angel Eyes, a collection of duets with
Willie Nelson, appeared in 1984, followed by the solo Nightbird. In subsequent years,
King worked with the "Tejano jazz" band the
West Side Horns and also hosted the syndicated radio series Jazz from the Wine Country. His album Moon Magic was released in 1999; Gypsy followed in spring 2001. ~ Jason Ankeny