Joe King (guitarist)
| Joe King | |
|---|---|
|
Singing the National Anthem at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 12, 2013. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 25, 1980 |
| Origin | Rochester, N.Y. |
| Genres | Pop rock, alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, bass |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Epic, Sony |
| Associated acts | The Fray |
| Website | thefray.net |
| Notable instruments | |
| Guitar | |
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Joe King (born May 25, 1980) is the guitarist, backing vocalist, songwriter, and co-founder of Denver-based rock band The Fray.[1]
Early life
Joe King was born on May 25, 1980, in Colorado. He attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado.[2] Before his success with the Fray, King attended school while he worked as an auto damage appraiser.
He learned to play the piano at an early age, but later dropped it and started playing the guitar instead. He states that it was because "the coolest guys in my eighth grade class all played guitar. I wanted to fit in."[3]
Career
Forming The Fray
In the spring of 1999, King ran into vocalist/pianist Isaac Slade in a record store.[4] King and Slade were former schoolmates who then began regular jam sessions that led to writing songs. Before forming the Fray, King had previously been in bands of his own, which were called "Spruce" and "Fancy's Show Box".
The duo added Dave Welsh and Ben Wysocki to form the Fray.
Mainstream success
The band released Movement EP in 2002. King sang lead on two songs on the EP - It's for You and Where You Want To.
The band released Reason EP in 2003, to some local acclaim in Denver. This prompted Epic Records to sign the band in 2004.
The band's first album, How to Save a Life, released in 2005, brought the band mainstream success. Apart from playing guitar, King sang lead on the song, "Heaven Forbid", which was about his sister.[5] He also gave backing vocals on "How to Save a Life", "Look After You" and "Trust Me".
The band released their second album, The Fray, in 2009. The second single from the album, "Never Say Never", was written primarily by King from his perspective of his marriage.[6] Apart from guitar, the second album also saw King singing a lot more: he supplied lead vocals on the song "Ungodly Hour" and on the bonus track "Uncertainty", and backing vocals on "Syndicate" and "Absolute".
The band released Scars & Stories in 2012, with King singing lead on "Rainy Zurich".
Vocal characteristics and songwriting
While the Fray has been lyrically spearheaded by Slade, King co-writes almost all of the songs. In an interview, King stated that his lyrics were mainly inspired by his experiences with the band: "With success, you have a lot more drama. For me, it was extreme highs in career and extreme lows in a relationship. There were really obvious things to write about."[7]
Commenting on the lyrics on the second album, King said: "A lot of really big realizations about ourselves are on this record. We're singing about real things that we've experienced. I'm not really comfortable talking about it, but I'm a lot more comfortable singing about it. It's a different side of me."[7]
Work outside The Fray
King sang in the song "Undertow" off the Timbaland album Shock Value 2. He also co-wrote and co-produced the song, "Alright With Me", which was included on American Idol winner Kris Allen's debut album, Kris Allen. Commenting on his working with Allen, King said that there was "a good vibe in the studio".[8]
Recently, King released his single "Need a Woman by Friday", which features Trombone Shorty, under the name "King".
Personal life
King married for the first time when he was 19 years old.[9] He and his first wife had two daughters together prior to divorcing.[10]
King began dating actress Candice Accola after they met at a Super Bowl event in February 2011.[11] They became engaged in May 2013,[12] and married on October 18, 2014, in New Orleans, Louisiana.[10] In August 2015, it was announced that they were expecting their first child together.[13] They had a daughter named Florence May King, in 2016.[14]
References
- ↑ "The Fray". Top40.about.com. June 19, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ↑ Friedman, Stan (July 16, 2006). "Into the Fray". Christian Music Today. www.ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
- ↑ "The Fray | New Music And Songs | MTV". Vh1.com. February 7, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ↑ Thrills, Adrian (January 15, 2009). "The Fray's Isaac Slade reveals how Bruce Springsteen helped save his marriage". Daily Mail. London.
- ↑ "Gotta love The Fray!". Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ↑
- 1 2 http://www.sonybmg.com.au/artist/artistBiography.do?artistId=107128
- ↑ Anderson, Kyle (June 22, 2009). "Fray's Joe King Says There's 'A Good Vibe In The Studio' With Kris Allen - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ↑ Hasty, Katie (February 1, 2013). "The Fray's Joe King stepping out solo with KING: Exclusive Interview". Hitflix. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- 1 2 Corriston, Michelle (October 18, 2014). "Candice Accola Marries Joe King". People. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ↑ Chiu, Melody (June 21, 2013). "The Vampire Diaries's Candice Accola Is 'So Excited and Grateful' to Be Engaged". People. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ↑ Johnson, Zach (May 29, 2013). "Candice Accola Engaged to Joseph King: See Her Diamond Ring!". Us Weekly.
- ↑ Saad, Nardine (August 31, 2015). "Candice Accola of 'Vampire Diaries' is expecting first child with the Fray's Joe King". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
- ↑ Kimble, Lindsay (January 25, 2016). "Joe and Candice Accola Welcome Daughter Florence May". People Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2016.