About Al King
Lived 1926 – 1999 (aged 72–73). Al King was an American musician.
Alvin K. Smith (August 8, 1923 – January 21, 1999),
King was born in Monroe, Louisiana. After moving to Los Angeles he recorded for the Shirley and Sahara labels in the 1950s and 1960s, and had a number 36 US Billboard R&B chart hit in 1966 with "Think Twice Before You Speak". Many of his records featured guitarist and bandleader Johnny Heartsman. He also wrote songs under his real name, Smith, as in "On My Way", the B-side of his first single covering "Reconsider Baby" in 1964.
King died in Oakland, California in January 1999 at the age of 75.
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Important facts
People in Al King's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Al King's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Al King?
American musician
When was Al King born?
Al King was born in 1926 in Monroe.
When did Al King die?
Al King died on 21 January 1999.
What was Al King's occupation?
Al King was a musician.
What nationality was Al King?
Al King was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Al King. https://biography.guide/al-king/
MLA: "Al King." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/al-king/.
Chicago: "Al King." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/al-king/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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