Fillin’ in for Slim

New Orleans blues and R&B great Earl King performs a version of the classic song “The Things I Used to Do” originated by Guitar Slim who died in 1959.

Earl King was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father, a local piano player, died while he was still a baby leaving him to be brought up by his mother with whom he began attending church at an early age. In his youth he sang gospel music, but at the advice of a friend switched to blues in order to make a better living.

He picked up guitar at age fifteen and soon started entering talent contests at local clubs including the Dew Drop Inn. It was at one of those clubs where he met his idol Guitar Slim. King started imitating Slim, and his presence gave a big impact on his musical directions. In 1954, when Slim was injured in an automobile accident around the time Slim scored a #1 R&B hit with “The Things That I Used To Do” King was deputized to continue Slim’s band tour, representing himself as Slim. After succeeding in this role, King became a regular at the Dew Drop Inn.

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