A day with King George Clemons (2009)

Before blues singer and guitarist "King" George Clemons moved to Sweden, for what was supposed to be three months, he lived in New York. While trying to make it in the music business he almost got caught up in the street life. King George grew up in Virginia in the American South. In the sixties, he moved up to New York and started singing in Harlem Clubs. In 1965, he worked with Don Covay, writer of hits like "Have mercy" and "Chain of fools" and he performed at the legendary Apollo Theater. After leaving Don Covay and the Goodtimers George started his solo career by recording "Drive on James" for RCA Victor with parts of the Ray Charles Band such as the drummer Bernard Purdie and J. J Johnson on trombone. The single went up on the English charts very soon after the release. King George was going around clubs like Small's Paradise in Harlem, jamming with among others, The King Curtis Band and Curtis Knigth. His band featured Jimi Hendrix at the time. That's when Jimi and George really became friends even if they worked together before, for example during the recording on "Have Mercy". A Scandinavian agent heard King George, and offered him a contract to sing in Europe with a black R&B band by the name of Harlem Kiddies. Meanwhile Jimi Hendrix was brought to Europe by Chas Chandler, and George and Jimi's continued there. The Harlem Kiddies warmed up for Jimi Hendrix Experience and they met several times both in England and Scandinavia.