Albert King was an influential American blues guitarist and singer, known for his smooth, soulful voice and distinctively emotive guitar style. Born in Mississippi in 1923, King's unique, left-handed "upside-down/backwards" guitar playing technique significantly influenced the blues genre. His signature song, "Born Under a Bad Sign," is recognized as a landmark of electric blues. King's imprint on blues music and its subsequent genres, like rock and roll, thus, remains profound and enduring.