Joe King (guitarist)

Joseph Adam King (born May 25, 1980) is an American musician who is the guitarist, backing vocalist, songwriter, and co-founder of Denver-based rock band The Fray.[2]

Joe King
King performing the National Anthem at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in December 2013
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Adam King[1]
Born (1980-05-25) May 25, 1980
OriginColorado, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
Years active1999–present
Labels
Associated actsThe Fray
Spouse(s)
  • Julie King
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1999; div. 2011)​
  • ​
    (m. 2014)​
Children4

Early life

Joe King was born on May 25, 1980, in Colorado. He attended Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado.[3] 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."[4]

Career

Mainstream success

The Fray 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".[7]

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."[8]

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."[8]

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".[9]

In April 2013, King released a six-song EP, Breaking, under the name "King." His single "Need a Woman by Friday" features Trombone Shorty.[10]

In September 2017, King released 5 songs in a project titled "Union Moon".

Personal life

King married for the first time when he was 19 years old.[11] He and his first wife, Julie, had two daughters, Elise and Ava, together.[12]

King began dating actress Candice Accola after they met at a Super Bowl event in February 2012.[13] They became engaged in May 2013,[14] and married on October 18, 2014, in New Orleans, Louisiana.[12] In August 2015, they announced that they were expecting their first child together.[15] They had a daughter, Florence May, born on January 15, 2016.[16] In August 2020, they announced that they were expecting their second child together.[17] Candice gave birth to their second daughter, Josephine June on December 1, 2020.[18]

References
  1. https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/892024248
  2. "The Fray". Top40.about.com. June 19, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  3. Friedman, Stan (July 16, 2006). "Into the Fray". Christian Music Today. www.ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  4. "The Fray | New Music And Songs | MTV". Vh1.com. February 7, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
  5. "Gotta love The Fray!". Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  7. Dennis, Damien (August 11, 2012). "Concert Review: It's all about the music for The Fray and Kelly Clarkson at DTE". New Haven Register. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 28, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. 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.
  10. Graham, Mark (March 5, 2013). "The Fray's Joe King is Breaking Away from the Group for His First Solo Release". VH1.
  11. Hasty, Katie (February 1, 2013). "The Fray's Joe King stepping out solo with KING: Exclusive Interview". Hitflix. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  12. "Candice Accola Marries Joe King". People. October 18, 2014.
  13. "The Vampire Diaries's Candice Accola Is 'So Excited and Grateful' to Be Engaged". People. June 21, 2013.
  14. "Candice Accola Engaged to Joseph King: See Her Diamond Ring!". Us Weekly. May 29, 2013.
  15. "Candice Accola of 'Vampire Diaries' is expecting first child with the Fray's Joe King". Los Angeles Times. August 31, 2015.
  16. "Joe and Candice Accola Welcome Daughter Florence May". People. January 25, 2016. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016.
  17. "Vampire Diaries's Candice Accola King Is Pregnant with Her Second Baby: 'I've Got a Bun in the Oven'". PEOPLE.com. August 18, 2020.
  18. "Vampire Diaries' Candice Accola King Welcomes Second Child with Husband Joe King". PEOPLE.com. December 11, 2020.
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