Saunders King

Saunders Samuel King (March 13, 1909 – August 31, 2000) was an American R&B and blues guitarist and singer. His parents, Bishop Judge L. King and Sarah Anasilistine King built a church in Louisiana before moving the family to Texas and then to Oroville, California. After building a church there, the family moved to Oakland, California and started Christ Holy Sanctified Church on 7th Street. As a youngster he learned to play piano, banjo and ukulele and sang in the church, but did not pick up guitar until 1938. At the end of the 1930s he sang with the Southern Harmony Four Gospel Quartet on NBC radio, and began playing the guitar in 1938. King released the tune "S.K. Blues" (originally titled "Saunders Blues") in 1942, which became a major nationwide hit. The tune featured electric blues guitar, one of the earliest recordings to do so. King was known for his smooth, velvety voice and flawless performances, whether with a sextet or trio. King's guitar of choice was a modified Gibson ES-300.

The track was later recorded by both Jimmy Witherspoon and Big Joe Turner. He retired from active performance in 1961, devoting himself to his family and playing his guitar Sundays in the family church. In 1973, his daughter Deborah King married Carlos Santana, and, in 1979, King recorded with his son-in-law on the album Oneness.

King suffered a stroke in 1989. He and his wife Jo Frances lived in San Rafael and he died in August 2000 at age 91.