To call Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy a Colorado institution might be a bit of an understatement. Daniels has been a fixture in the local music scene since 1984, fronting the most prolific rhythm and blues horn-driven band in the region without missing a step — even when he battled Leukemia back in 2011. After clearing that tough hurdle, Daniels was back on stage, getting audiences on their feet and securing a place in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2018. We caught up with Chris to talk about his upcoming 40th anniversary with the Kings, what it’s like playing the Colorado scene and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way.