King was born in Panama, and raised in Kingston, where he attended Alpha Boys School.
During the 1930s he led his own band, Bertie King and his Rhythm Aces, described at the time as "Jamaica's Foremost Dance Orchestra".
He also worked with visiting American musicians including Benny Carter, George Shearing and Coleman Hawkins.
King returned to Jamaica in 1951, where he started his own band, known as the Casa Blanca Orchestra, playing in the mento style.
King led the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation's house band in the 1950s; his sidemen included Ernest Ranglin and Tommy Mowatt.