Freddie King’s 1971 recording of “Going Down” has been recognized as one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded, landing at No. 54 on Rolling Stone’s 2026 list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time. The song helped showcase the powerful guitar style of the blues legend known as the “Texas Cannonball.”
Rolling Stone’s list covers guitar solos from different eras and genres. The magazine also considered whether the solo helped make the song and whether it went beyond simply repeating the song’s melody.
For King, the recognition puts a spotlight on a recording that became one of the defining moments of his later career.
“Going Down” appeared on King’s 1971 album Getting Ready…, recorded with pianist and musician Leon Russell. The song was written by Don Nix, although King’s version became the recording most closely associated with the song.
Photo of Freddie King on stage in 1970.Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
King had already built a strong name in blues before recording “Going Down.” Born in Gilmer, Texas, in 1934, he learned guitar as a child from his mother and uncle. He later moved to Chicago, where he became part of the city’s blues scene while developing a sound that brought together Texas and Chicago blues.
His early recordings included the instrumental “Hide Away,” which became a blues standard and reached No. 5 on the R&B chart in 1961. His guitar playing later became an important influence on musicians including Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame says King’s forceful playing and stage presence earned him the nickname “Texas Cannonball.”
That reputation carried into the 1970s, when King began reaching audiences beyond the traditional blues world.
His appearance at the 1969 Texas Pop Festival, alongside major rock acts including Led Zeppelin, helped lead to his signing with Shelter Records, the label established by Leon Russell and producer Denny Cordell. King then recorded Getting Ready…, which included “Going Down.”
The song’s guitar work is what Rolling Stone highlighted in its 2026 ranking. The magazine described King’s performance as the “essence of pure blues swagger.” It also noted that the song later became the theme for the television series Eastbound & Down and that it was a favorite of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.
Bonham’s son, Jason Bonham, once recalled how often his father played the track: “My father would always play Freddie King, ‘Going Down,’” he said. “If I’ve heard that song once, I’ve heard it a million times.”
The song’s history also has an interesting twist. Although King’s recording is often treated as the signature version, “Going Down” was originally written by Don Nix. The song had already been recorded by the band Moloch in 1969 before King released his version.
King’s recording, however, helped give the song its lasting place in blues and rock.
Freddie King’s influence reached well beyond “Going Down.” His style combined the open-string sound of Texas blues with the harder, more intense guitar approach associated with Chicago’s West Side blues scene.
That combination made his playing stand out during the blues revival of the 1960s and 1970s. His music also reached a younger generation of British guitar players, including Eric Clapton.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted King in 2012 in its Musical Influence category, with ZZ Top as the inducting artist. The Hall of Fame credits his guitar style with influencing later players and continues to identify him with the “Texas Cannonball” nickname.
King died in 1976 at age 42, but his recordings have continued to introduce his guitar playing to new listeners. His recognition by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame came decades after his death.
Related: Frank Sinatra paid for a 10-week world tour out of his own pocket in 1962, performing from Tokyo to Israel; the concerts raised more than $1 million for children’s charities
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