Wide Open Places by Joe King & the Diamond JK Band

Country Singer, Joe Derek King is a former professional NFL football player who played safety for the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring from the NFL with the Oakland Raiders.

He is currently based in Dallas, Texas. He has been playing, writing and recording music for over six years. He has a degree in Physical Education from Oklahoma State University and played the trumpet all thru grade school. He has been influenced by listening to old gospel quartet songs and music mainly by Sam Cooke, due to his dad being a great singer himself. When growing up he listened to blues music and the great sounds of Motown. He was introduced to country music at an early age, and began to love the stories of the songs around the age of 16. His selection of music became more country than any other genre, and artists that he has been influenced by are George Strait, Charley Pride, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, and Kenny Rogers just to name a few, but the list goes on. His favorite quote is “You have a country soulful sound but a natural sound”, by Ed Garcia bass guitar player for Ray Price.

Joe is currently working on new material while still learning and growing. He has finished his first single titled Down in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The single aired for the first time on Stillwater radio station October 17, 2009 during a college pre-game show in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He has also completed two more songs titled Wide Open Places and 365.

Joe and the band perform at venues of all sizes and still make each guest feel as though they are performing exclusively for them. Joe and the band have also performed live at trail-rides and various venues in and around North and Central Texas.