Blues icon Albert King already had a string of singles and an album under his belt when he moved to Memphis in 1966. It was signing with the legendary Memphis label Stax, however, that made him a star. During a transitional time for blues with rock and soul on the rise, King stood out thanks to his stinging guitar leads and a big, burly voice that earned him the nickname “The Velvet Bulldozer.” His ‘60s Stax singles quickly became blues standards and saw cover versions by Cream and other rockers. King's later records helped him reach R&B and funk audiences without losing his bluesman's edge.