Freddie King, also known as Freddy King, was an influential American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, recognized as one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" alongside Albert King and B. B. King. Born in Texas in 1934, he began playing guitar as a child and later moved to Chicago, where he launched his music career. King gained fame in the early 1960s with hits like "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" and the instrumental "Hide Away," which became a blues classic. His signature sound blended Texas and Chicago blues, marked by soulful vocals and powerful guitar work. King broke new ground as one of the first blues artists with a multiracial band and helped shape the sound of electric blues, influencing generations of musicians. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.