Kingfish

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Kingfish" is used as the vernacular name of a variety of fish:

• King mackerel Scomberomorus cavalla (several)
• Kingcroakers Menticirrhus spp. (several)
• Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson (Australia)
• White croaker Genyonemus lineatus (United Kingdom)
• Cobia Rachycentron canadum (Papua New Guinea)
• Wahoo Acanthocybium solandri (Barbados)
• Crevalle jack Caranx hippos (Mauritania)
• Japanese meagre Argyrosomus japonicus (Australia)
• Yellowtail amberjack Seriola lalandi (Australia, New Zealand)
• Opah Lampris guttatus (United Kingdom)
• Silver gemfish Rexea solandri (Australia)
• Trevally (sometimes Travelli) Caranx ignobilis (South Africa)

Because of the potential for confusion "kingfish" is not used as an official common name by either the AFS or the FAO.

In addition many additional common names of various species add adjectives to the basic "kingfish" name, most are vernacular, but a few are sanctioned by AFS or FAO.

When we move beyond the world of nature and into that of human society we encounter the word "Kingfish" in the field of American show business, specifically that of old-time radio and television comedy.

• "Kingfish" George Stevens was a character in the famous radio and television series Amos 'n Andy.

• Freeman Gosden, the radio actor who created and portrayed Kingfish on the Amos 'n' Andy radio show, from 1928 to 1960.

• Tim Moore (comedian), the popular actor who portrayed Kingfish on the Amos 'n' Andy television show, 1951–1953.

• "Kingfish" was also the nickname of Louisiana governor Huey Long, immortalized by Randy Newman in the biographical song "Kingfish". Long appropriated the name from the character "Kingfish" of the Amos 'n' Andy radio show.

• Baton Rouge Kingfish was the name of a minor league ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was named after the nickname of former Louisiana governor Huey Long.

• Kingfish (band) was a San Francisco Bay Area rock band that included Bob Weir, Matt Kelly and Dave Torbert.

• Kingfish (album), the first album released by the band Kingfish.

• Kingfish is also the NATO reporting name of an air-fired Soviet anti-ship and strike missile, the Raduga KSR-5 (referred to as AS-6 by NATO).