Hippies, spike-haired youths, business-types and appreciative musicians are packed in front of the stage, all grooving to the same upbeat music. It's another full house for a King Brothers' gig, whose unique passion and visceral interpretation of the blues attract fans from all walks of life.

Rather than relying solely on tried and true blues stylings - which the Kings inherited naturally from second-cousins and blues legends Freddy and Albert King - Sam and Lee King are establishing a new standard . "It's danceable , it's rock-flavored, funk-flavored, gospel-flavored," explains Lee of the King Brothers' music. "I don't know a damn thing about picking cotton; I don't drink whiskey; I don't dip snuff; I don't fit any of those blues-man stereotypes. We just dig it for the art form, and we're taking it where it needs to go."
Where it needs to go is on Turnin' Up the Heat, the highly anticipated first album from the King Brothers. The 13 songs on Turnin' Up the Heat for the Vent Records label are all original, and range from "Bout to Lose my Mind" to Treat Her Like a Lady" to "White Boys." "We've been influenced by all those legends, living and dead, but I wouldn't be true to the art form to stop there," explains Lee of his writing and playing. "It's like I wouldn't have done myself any good if I'd stopped at the third grade. I do blues the way I see it."
The King Brothers history is rich, and it shows in the on Turnin' Up the Heat. Raised in the San Francisco Bay area, the brothers have been playing together for 30 years. Lee began playing guitar at the age 4, noting about music, 

"You don't choose it, it chooses you." For his part, Sam began pounding on pots and pans prior to getting his first set of drums and joining his brother, winning elementary school talent shows. Later, Lee played with Ike Turner, Big Joe Turner , Freddie King and Albert King, while Sam toured with Albert King, recording the landmark Blues at Sunrise album.

Sam was also featured in the movie "Crossroads," and as the King Brothers, they appeared on the top-rated TV show "Life Goes On," performing their original song, "Last Train," which is also featured on the Turnin' Up the Heat CD. The band also won over 1,000 entries to earn a Budweiser endorsement, and between their more than 150 shows a year, find time to be the house band for LA radio station KLSX-FM, and perform live on the air for deejay Fraser Smith's comedy shows at the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store.

And an even bigger honor occurred in 1992, when, shortly before his death, Albert King presented "adopted cousin" Lee King with his prize guitar, "Lucy." Lee was greatly moved. "I feel a big responsibility because he passed the torch. It's a very special instrument: the finest guitar I've ever played in my life," he says of the Flying V guitar that was commissioned for Albert by ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons. While Lee knows enough about the blues to write a book, there's one chapter that's still unfinished and looking mighty promising- the continuing contribution of the King Brothers and Turnin' Up the Heat.
The King Brothers-Lee and Sam have been making music together for over 30 years. Based in southern California, they play some of the tightest blues west of Chicago. Their famous cousin Freddy King, as well as Albert King, were early inspirations. But their music is all their own. Original lyrics and taut instrumental arrangements are the hallmarks of their critically acclaimed debut album, "Turnin' Up the Heat". The Kings feel that the blues must grow and change in order to survive, so rather than imitate older artists, they've ceded them respect and gone forward with their own unique approach to the music.
Both Kings were born in Oakland, CA and continued to play in northern California throughout the greater part of the 1960's. Toward the latter part of the 60's, Sam recalls, they "were part of the hippie scene" They were part of the Funk Machine and Lee landed a part in the cast of "Hair". It was at this point that the band first parted ways.
At this time Sam was offered to play with Albert King's band and can be heard on the Albert King album "Blues at Sunrise" During this time Lee was doing television and studio work in L.A. and playing with Big Joe Turner and Ike Turner; and gigging as The Lee King Blues Band. After Sam left Albert King's band, Lee sporadically played with Albert over seas on a tour in Japan. During the late 70's and early 80's, highlights for the King's included Sam's appearance in the movie "Crossroads" and the brothers' performance of their original song "Last Train" on the network TV show "Life Goes On". But they hadn't been performing much blues. 

"The blues scene in L.A....it really wasn't happenin'", recalls Lee. In 1989, however, Sam and Lee decided the time was right for a new incarnation of the King Brothers Band. They built their own recording studio and put out a single.

 "It's probably the last 45 ever pressed !", Sam adds. Despite the format, the A side of the King Brothers 45, Sweet Apple became a hit in New Orleans. The King Brothers were again formed and after an endorsement from Budweiser, the owners of Hard Attack Records-Adam Mitchell and Alex and Nicky Lampone- came to a show and offered the group a recording contract. They have recently returned home from a European tour and continue playing all over California. The King Brothers have definitely taken blues to a new dimension yet still remain true to the art form ! Lee and Sam agree, "What we are endeavoring to do with it is be true blues men and just take the art form and push it to the 90's and beyond. And be original... "

The name King is very synonymous with the blues, and the King Brothers definitely live up to that name carrying the tradition on and taking it where it needs to go !!