One of the top drummers of the 1920's, King was greatly in demand for 15 years before alcoholism slowed down his career. He moved to New York in 1920 and made many recordings with the California Ramblers (1922-26). King played and recorded with the who's who of white big band dance/jazz music including Roger Wolfe Kahn, Jean Goldkette, Paul Whiteman, Bert Lown (1929-31) and the Dorsey Brothers. He also appeared on many small-group jazz records (although he never led any dates of his own). In the 1930's King became a very busy studio musician. The drummer played with an early version of the Benny Goodman Orchestra (1934), Joe Haymes, the Three T's (1936) and Bob Zurke (1939-40) among others. Unfortunately he largely faded out in the 1940's (playing a low profile job with Chauncey Grey's Band) and was mostly forgotten by the time he passed away, but Stan King can be heard on many vintage recordings where his light drumming sounds quite fresh. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
