Blues Dues

Blues guitarist Eddie King, who comes to B.B. King’s this Sunday night, has paid his dues and then some. He telephoned The Times from a gas station somewhere in Michigan, where his band’s bus had broken down and he was waiting for a replacement.

During most of his career of 40-plus years, King has been a sideman for other blues singers. But in 1997 he saw the release of his first solo CD, “Another Cow’s Dead,” on Roesch Records. The CD has been nominated for a W.C. Handy Award as the best comeback album of the year.

Born and raised in rural Alabama, King arrived on the Chicago blues scene in the mid-1950s, where he got a chance to sit in with the likes of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. He later became part of a younger generation of Chicago bluesmen that included Luther Allison, who has since died, Freddy King and Magic Sam.

After recording some 45s in the late ‘50s, King did not record again until the 1980s. Instead, he settled into a role as a sideman for Koko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson, Willie Dixon and others, waiting for his big break.

His ship came in last year with the release of “Another Cow’s Dead.” The CD peaked at No. 2 on the Living Blues Radio Charts, and King has been on the road promoting it ever since.

King said he did not have the words to describe his feelings about his “sudden” success.

“It just warms my heart,” King said.

“I wasn’t ready when I was 28,” he said. “When I was a kid, I was too flaky; I needed to settle down. I think this is the right time for me.”

Unlike most electric blues guitarists, King plays with a finger-picking style, using his thumb and index finger instead of a flat pick.

“I started that when I saw Freddy King,” he said. “Freddy told me that it would sound better with finger picks.”

Eddie King said he tried using flat picks, but he just didn’t like them.

“I tried, but I can’t feel nothing,” he said. “When you play with your finger and your thumb, you can feel the music better.”

The Handy Award winners will be announced in April in Memphis, Tenn. Regardless of the outcome, King figures he can’t lose.

“If I get it, God bless,” King said. If I don’t get it, I’ll just thank God.”

* Eddie King will play Sunday night at B.B. King’s, Universal CityWalk, (818) 622-5464. $8.

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Circle Game: Singer-songwriter Cindy Pearson, who’ll be performing Saturday night at the Palmdale Playhouse, has taken a rather circuitous musical route.

At 7, Pearson began singing in church choirs. A little later, she started playing guitar. But then she drifted away from music and worked as a delivery-room nurse for more than 18 years. About five years ago, completing the circle, she started playing and performing again.

For a while, she continued to work part time as a nurse, but eventually her musical activities took over her life.

“I think I needed to close a door,” she said, so she went back to music full time.

She released her first album, “Pieces of Love,” in 1994, and her second, “Do You Live in Your Dreams,” in late 1995. She now tours constantly, promoting her CDs.

“Last year I was home about a month,” Pearson said. “I’m such a showoff.”

From her house in Astoria, Ore., Pearson works the telephone, booking her own gigs in the Western U.S. from Alaska to Arizona.

She restricts her performances to concert halls, festivals, colleges and universities.

“I don’t play bars, ‘cause I don’t want anyone to ask me to play ‘Achy Breaky Heart,’ ” she said.

She performs all originals. Her influences are vast and varied and include Rosemary Clooney, Patsy Cline, Donovan, The Doors, Carly Simon, Carole King and others. Stylistically, her music has elements of folk, R&B;, country and reggae.

“Some people say I’m still lost in the 1960s,” she said. But she does not consider that an insult. “It was a thoughtful time and I’m a thoughtful artist.”

Sometimes she performs solo, with just her 12-string guitar. On other dates, such as the one in Palmdale, she performs with her band. And she makes enough money to pay her bills.

“I feel very complete,” Pearson said. “While I was working as a nurse, I would wonder, ‘What am I doing here?’ But the music makes everything you do go better, because you feel better.”

* Cindy Pearson will perform at 8 p.m. Friday at the Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. E., Palmdale. (805) 267-5684. $8-$12.