Claude King

Shreveport, Louisiana country music singer Claude King passed away this morning around 5:30. He was 90.

As far back as I can remember, my dad owned a fish bait store and also had his own delivery route.  I called it the cricket route. When I was about 4 years old, I started going with him on the route. We traveled around Alabama selling fish bait to stores. We went to Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Wetumpka, Tallassee and other towns around the state.

King was born in Keithville, Louisiana, near the city of Shreveport. At a young age, he was interested in music but his primary interest was athletics. He purchased a guitar at age 12 and although he learned to play, most of his time was devoted to sports...