Fred King was born in Gilmer, Texas in 1934 to Ella Mae King and J. T. Christian. Influenced by his mother and uncle, both proficient guitar players, Fred learned to play rural country blues when he was six. His early influences were Sam Lightnin Hopkins and jump blues saxophonist, Louis Jordan.

After the success of Rock’n’Roll, many African American artists started to explore their musical heritage and look beyond blues and R&B for inspiration. The terms ‘funk’ and ‘rock’n’roll were euphemisms for sex, with the former referring to the smells of intimacy and the latter the act.

The Meters were put together in 1965 when keyboard player Arthur 'Art' Neville (1937-2019) recruited George Porter, Jr. (bass guitar), Joseph (Zigaboo) Modeliste (drums) and Leo Nocentelli (guitar, vocals).

Memphis is the capital of the Mississippi Delta and during the great migration, workers poured into the city seeking work. The workforce brought their musical heritage and music was a byword in Memphis. By 1860, Beale Street had become the Mecca for black musicians and eventually the entertainment centre of the city.

Tubby Hayes – The Life Behind The Tenor, is a brilliant, and insightful limited edition book, that takes a closer look at the life of the British Jazz icon, Tubby Hayes. It has recently been published by Mono Media Books and is limited to one hundred copies.