Biography
Ed King earned recognition as a standout guitarist in two landmark groups, Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd, which should have established him as a guitar hero on two separate occasions. A native of Glendale, California, he first felt drawn to the instrument during his youth and attempted to master Dick Dale-style surf music in the early 1960s, though without notable technique or achievement. Exposure to the Beatles in 1964 prompted more serious study, and, somewhat paradoxically, his immersion in their recordings steered him increasingly toward the bass. He soon achieved competence on both instruments and ranked among the most advanced local players. While still in his mid-teens during the mid-1960s, King earned 75 dollars weekly performing at military bases with various ensembles. He later joined the Sixpence, a band that issued several minor singles on the All-American label throughout 1966 and early 1967, enjoyed strong regional popularity, and eventually transformed into Strawberry Alarm Clock. At 18 he helped propel the number-one single “Incense and Peppermints,” a track he originated with organist Mark Weitz only to lose songwriting credit on the final release.
King appeared prominently on that hit and its accompanying album, delivering lead guitar on every track, contributing numerous compositions, and handling an array of additional instruments. For months he toured nationally in support of the success, sharing stages and billings with the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Who, and Jimi Hendrix. He remained essential to the group’s live sound and songwriting, supplying an early 1968 follow-up hit single, “Tomorrow,” again alongside Weitz. On that album and the two subsequent Strawberry Alarm Clock LPs, he performed extensively on bass as well as guitar; when Bob Pitman entered the lineup in early 1969, King shifted almost exclusively to the four-string instrument. Around the same time the band nearly disintegrated amid managerial and legal conflicts that halted touring, even as album sales declined sharply. Once matters resolved, King resumed lead guitar duties at the helm of what had become a diminished version of the original Strawberry Alarm Clock.
He sustained the group until 1971, during which period it occasionally shared bills with the emerging Southern rock outfit Lynyrd Skynyrd. Freed from his prior commitments, King accepted an invitation to become one of Skynyrd’s three lead guitarists. Over the next three years he appeared on the band’s first three albums and their supporting tours while also developing a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. He departed in 1975 and therefore missed the 1977 plane crash that claimed Van Zant and several other members. A decade later he rejoined the reconstituted Lynyrd Skynyrd and continued with the group into the 1990s. Eventually able to rely on royalties from the band’s enduring catalog, King performed on a smaller scale, sitting in with Skynyrd tribute acts and, as he recounted to Gary James, collaborating with veterans of other 1970s ensembles such as Billy Joel’s and Ted Nugent’s bands. Following a struggle with lung cancer, Ed King died in Nashville, Tennessee, in August 2018 at age 68.
King appeared prominently on that hit and its accompanying album, delivering lead guitar on every track, contributing numerous compositions, and handling an array of additional instruments. For months he toured nationally in support of the success, sharing stages and billings with the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Who, and Jimi Hendrix. He remained essential to the group’s live sound and songwriting, supplying an early 1968 follow-up hit single, “Tomorrow,” again alongside Weitz. On that album and the two subsequent Strawberry Alarm Clock LPs, he performed extensively on bass as well as guitar; when Bob Pitman entered the lineup in early 1969, King shifted almost exclusively to the four-string instrument. Around the same time the band nearly disintegrated amid managerial and legal conflicts that halted touring, even as album sales declined sharply. Once matters resolved, King resumed lead guitar duties at the helm of what had become a diminished version of the original Strawberry Alarm Clock.
He sustained the group until 1971, during which period it occasionally shared bills with the emerging Southern rock outfit Lynyrd Skynyrd. Freed from his prior commitments, King accepted an invitation to become one of Skynyrd’s three lead guitarists. Over the next three years he appeared on the band’s first three albums and their supporting tours while also developing a songwriting partnership with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. He departed in 1975 and therefore missed the 1977 plane crash that claimed Van Zant and several other members. A decade later he rejoined the reconstituted Lynyrd Skynyrd and continued with the group into the 1990s. Eventually able to rely on royalties from the band’s enduring catalog, King performed on a smaller scale, sitting in with Skynyrd tribute acts and, as he recounted to Gary James, collaborating with veterans of other 1970s ensembles such as Billy Joel’s and Ted Nugent’s bands. Following a struggle with lung cancer, Ed King died in Nashville, Tennessee, in August 2018 at age 68.
Albums
