Joe King (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Joe King is the guitarist
, backing vocalist
, songwriter
and co-founder of Denver-based piano rock
band The Fray
.
, and is of Spanish
descent. He attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado
.
Before his success with The Fray, King attended school while he worked as an auto damage appraiser for Hanks Auto Body West.
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."
King stated in an interview that Nirvana's
"Smells Like Teen Spirit
" was the song that first inspired him and drew him towards music.
in a record store. 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 the band. Both had been former band-mates of Slade. The newly formed band was named "The Fray".
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. 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. Apart from guitar, the second album also saw King singing a lot more: he gave lead vocals on the song "Ungodly Hour" and on the bonus track "Uncertainty", and backing vocals on "Syndicate
" and "Absolute".
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."
King has used falsetto
on all the songs he has performed to date.
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".
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and co-founder of Denver-based piano rock
Piano rock
Piano rock, sometimes referred to as piano pop, is a style of popular music that is based around the piano—and sometimes piano-related instruments such as keyboards–with piano typically replacing rhythm guitar as the rhythm instrument...
band The Fray
The Fray (band)
The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005, which was certified double platinum by the RIAA and platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand...
.
Early life
Joe King was born on May 25, 1980 in ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and is of Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
descent. He attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado
Arvada, Colorado
The City of Arvada is a Home Rule Municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties in the Denver metropolitan area of the U.S. State of Colorado. Olde Town Arvada is located northwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver...
.
Before his success with The Fray, King attended school while he worked as an auto damage appraiser for Hanks Auto Body West.
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."
King stated in an interview that Nirvana's
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
"Smells Like Teen Spirit
Smells Like Teen Spirit
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a song by the American grunge band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band's second album, Nevermind , released on DGC Records...
" was the song that first inspired him and drew him towards music.
Forming The Fray
In the spring of 2002, King ran into vocalist/pianist Isaac SladeIsaac Slade
Isaac Edward Slade is the lead vocalist, main songwriter, pianist, and co-founder of Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.-Early years:...
in a record store. 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
Dave Welsh
David "Dave" Welsh is the lead guitarist for the Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.-Early life:Welsh was born in Tucson, Arizona and attended D'Evelyn High School in Denver, Colorado but later transferred to Ralston Valley High School in Arvada, Colorado...
and Ben Wysocki
Ben Wysocki
Benjamin Wysocki is the drummer for Denver-based piano rock band The Fray.-Early life:Wysocki was born in Denver, Colorado, in a conservative household. After struggling with piano lessons , he began to learn how to play drums in the sixth grade...
to the band. Both had been former band-mates of Slade. The newly formed band was named "The Fray".
Mainstream success
The band released Movement EPMovement EP
Movement EP is the first EP from Denver-based piano rock band The Fray. It is very rare. The songs "Where You Want To" and "It's For You" feature Joe King on lead vocals and not the band's lead vocalist Isaac Slade. The album was recorded before Dave Welsh and Ben Wysocki joined the band and...
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
Reason EP
Reason EP is the second EP from Denver-based piano rock band The Fray, released in 2003 by an independent record label. In October 2007, the EP was re-released by Epic Records.-Track listing:...
in 2003, to some local acclaim in Denver. This prompted Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
to sign the band in 2004.
The band's first album, How to Save a Life
How to Save a Life
How to Save a Life is the debut album by The Fray. Released on September 13, 2005 through Epic Records, the record charted in the top 15 on the Billboard 200 and was a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK...
, 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. He also gave backing vocals on "How to Save a Life
How to Save a Life (song)
"How to Save a Life" is a song by American rock band The Fray. It is the title track from their debut album and was released as the second single from it. The song is one of their most popular airplay songs and peaked in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States...
", "Look After You
Look After You
"Look After You" is a song by the Denver-based piano rock band The Fray from their debut album How to Save a Life. It was released as the album's third single in January 2007 following the widespread success of their previous single "How to Save a Life"...
" and "Trust Me".
The band released their second album, The Fray
The Fray (album)
The Fray is the second studio album by The Fray. Released on February 3, 2009, through Epic Records, the album debuted at number-one on the Billboard 200 chart, and became a top 5 hit in Australia and Canada. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010...
, in 2009. The second single from the album, "Never Say Never
Never Say Never (The Fray song)
"Never Say Never" or "Never Say Never " is a song by Denver-based piano rock band The Fray that was included on their second studio album, The Fray...
", was written primarily by King from his perspective of his marriage. Apart from guitar, the second album also saw King singing a lot more: he gave lead vocals on the song "Ungodly Hour" and on the bonus track "Uncertainty", and backing vocals on "Syndicate
Syndicate (song)
Syndicate is a song by Denver-based piano rock band The Fray. It is the opening track and the third single from their eponymous second studio album. It was released on January 12, 2010 for radio airplay, while the music video was released on 9 February 2010...
" and "Absolute".
Vocal characteristics and songwriting
While The Fray's have been lyrically spearheaded by Slade, King co-writes almost all of the songs (only "Hundred", "Say When" and "Happiness" have been written entirely by Slade). 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."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."
King has used falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
on all the songs he has performed to date.
Work outside The Fray
King sang in the song "Undertow" off the TimbalandTimbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
album Shock Value 2. He also co-wrote and co-produced the song, "Alright With Me", which was included on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
winner Kris Allen
Kris Allen
Kristopher Neil "Kris" Allen is an American musician and singer-songwriter from Conway, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of American Idol...
's debut album, Kris Allen
Kris Allen (album)
Kris Allen is the major-label album debut from the American Idol season 8 winner Kris Allen. The album was released on November 17, 2009 in the US...
. Commenting on his working with Allen, King said that there was "a good vibe in the studio".