B.B. King was an iconic American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, known for his profound influence on the genre.
Born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi, King was raised by his grandmother and developed a love for music at a young age.
King's career took off in the late 1940s on Beale Street, where he performed with other blues legends.
Biography
Early Life
Riley B. King, known professionally as B.B. King, was born on September 16, 1925, on a cotton plantation in Berclair, Mississippi. Raised by his grandmother after his mother left, King developed a passion for music early on, singing in the gospel choir and learning guitar from a local minister. His first guitar was a gift from his employer, Flake Cartledge, who bought it for him and allowed King to pay it off through his wages. By the early 1940s, King was captivated by the blues, particularly after listening to the radio show "King Biscuit Time," which inspired him to pursue a career in music.
Career
King's professional journey began in the late 1940s when he became a prominent figure on Beale Street in Memphis, performing alongside legends like Bobby Bland and Johnny Ace. He recorded his first single in 1949 and soon signed with RPM Records, where he gained recognition for his unique guitar style characterized by fluid string bending and vibrant vibrato. Over the decades, King released numerous influential albums, including "Singin’ the Blues," "The Blues," and "Completely Well," solidifying his status as a leading figure in the blues genre. His performances, often featuring his beloved guitar "Lucille," captivated audiences worldwide, and he became known for his powerful voice and emotive playing.
Personal Life
B.B. King was married twice but had no children with either wife, despite being claimed as the father of 15 children by various women. He was a dedicated performer, often playing 250 shows a year, which strained his personal relationships. King was also a licensed pilot, flying himself to gigs, showcasing his adventurous spirit. His legacy includes numerous awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking him as one of the most significant figures in American music history. King passed away on May 14, 2015, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to influence musicians today.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Take It Home1979
- 1.Better Not Look Down3:22
- 2.Same Old Story (Same Old Song)4:33
- 3.Happy Birthday Blues3:15
- 4.I've Always Been Lonely5:29
- 5.Secondhand Woman3:21
- 6.Tonight I'm Gonna Make You a Star3:27
- 7.The Beginning of the End2:22
- 8.A Story Everybody Knows2:48
- 9.Take It Home3:07
Midnight Believer1978
- 1.When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around)4:15
- 2.Midnight Believer5:03
- 3.I Just Can’t Leave Your Love Alone4:40
- 4.Hold On (I Feel Our Love Is Changing)4:12
- 5.Never Make a Move Too Soon5:35
- 6.A World Full of Strangers4:25
- 7.Let Me Make You Cry a Little Longer5:48
King Size1977
- 1.Don't You Lie to Me6:05
- 2.I Wonder Why5:08
- 3.I Just Wanna Make Love to You
- 4.Your Lovin' Turned Me On
- 5.Slow and Easy3:02
- 6.Got My Mojo Working4:35
- 7.Walking in the Sun3:50
- 8.Mother Fuyer3:05
- 9.The Same Love That Made Me Laugh3:35
- 10.It's Just a Matter of Time5:25
Friends1974
- 1.Friends4:40
- 2.I Got Them Blues4:29
- 3.Baby I'm Yours3:24
- 4.Up At 5am3:10
- 5.Philadelphia5:56
- 6.When Everything Else Is Gone3:06
- 7.My Song3:52
To Know You Is to Love You1973
- 1.I Like to Live the Love3:29
- 2.Respect Yourself5:13
- 3.Who Are You3:55
- 4.Love3:10
- 5.I Can’t Leave4:13
- 6.To Know You Is to Love You8:42
- 7.Oh to Me4:27
- 8.Thank You for Loving the Blues6:47
L.A. Midnight1972
- 1.I Got Some Help I Don’t Need5:45
- 2.Help the Poor3:30
- 3.Can’t You Hear Me Talking to You?3:20
- 4.Midnight8:19
- 5.Sweet Sixteen7:04
- 6.(I Believe) I’ve Been Blue Too Long4:50
- 7.Lucille’s Granny8:02
Guess Who1972
- 1.Summer in the City3:20
- 2.Just Can't Please You4:30
- 3.Any Other Way4:30
- 4.You Don't Know Nothin' About Love4:20
- 5.Found What I Need2:50
- 6.Neighborhood Affair3:15
- 7.It Takes a Young Girl3:23
- 8.Better Lovin' Man4:40
- 9.Guess Who4:05
- 10.Shouldn't Have Left Me4:00
- 11.Five Long Years5:19
B.B. King in London1971
- 1.Caldonia4:00
- 2.Blue Shadows5:11
- 3.Alexis' Boogie3:30
- 4.We Can't Agree4:48
- 5.Ghetto Woman5:15
- 6.Wet Hayshark2:30
- 7.Part-Time Love3:17
- 8.Power of the Blues2:24
- 9.Ain't Nobody Home3:11
Indianola Mississippi Seeds1970
- 1.Nobody Loves Me but My Mother1:29
- 2.You're Still My Woman6:07
- 3.Ask Me No Questions3:11
- 4.Until' I'm Dead and Cold4:47
- 5.King's Special5:13
- 6.Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore5:22
- 7.Chains and Things4:56
- 8.Go Underground4:05
- 9.Hummingbird4:39
Completely Well1969
- 1.So Excited5:34
- 2.No Good4:35
- 3.You're Losin' Me4:54
- 4.What Happened4:41
- 5.Confessin' the Blues4:56
- 6.Key to My Kingdom3:18
- 7.Cryin' Won't Help You Now6:30
- 8.You're Mean9:59
- 9.The Thrill Is Gone5:30
Live & Well1969
- 1.Don't Answer the Door
- 2.Just a Little Love
- 3.My Mood
- 4.Sweet Little Angel
- 5.Please Accept My Love
- 6.I Want You So Bad
- 7.Friends
- 8.Get Off My Back Woman
- 9.Let's Get Down to Business
- 10.Why I Sing the Blues
His Best – The Electric B.B. King1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Lucille1968
Tracklist not collected yet.
Blues on Top of Blues1968
- 1.Heartbreaker2:31
- 2.Losing Faith in You2:59
- 3.Dance With Me3:22
- 4.That’s Wrong Little Mama2:20
- 5.Having My Say2:40
- 6.I’m Not Wanted Anymore2:25
- 7.Worried Dream2:55
- 8.Paying the Cost to Be the Boss2:36
- 9.Until I Found You2:24
- 10.I’m Gonna Do What They Do to Me2:48
- 11.Raining in My Heart2:29
- 12.Now That You've Lost Me2:27
Blues in My Heart1963
Tracklist not collected yet.
Mr. Blues1963
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Soul of B.B. King1963
Tracklist not collected yet.
Easy Listening Blues1962
Tracklist not collected yet.
More B. B. King1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
My Kind of Blues1961
Tracklist not collected yet.
Compositions of Duke Ellington and Others1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
King of the Blues1960
Tracklist not collected yet.
B.B. King Sings Spirituals1959
Tracklist not collected yet.
The Blues1958
Tracklist not collected yet.
Singin’ the Blues1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Geffen Records
- Record label
- Federal Records
- Record label
- RPM Records
Achievements
- Award
- Blues Hall of Fame
- Award
- National Medal of Arts
- Award
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Award
- Library of Congress Living Legend
- Award
- Kennedy Center Honors
- Award
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Award
- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres
- Award
- Americana Music Association President's Award
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- Maple Blues Awards
Groups
- B.B. King and His Orchestracurrent
- Gary Burton & Friendscurrent
- The Beale Streeterscurrent
- The Louisiana Gator Boyscurrent
- Various Artists for Children’s Promisecurrent
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: B B King, B. B. King, B.B. King & Ensemble, B.B. King & Friends, B.B. King Medley, B.B. King and Friends
Riley B. King, known professionally as B. B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking that influenced many later electric guitar blues players. AllMusic recognized King as "the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th century".
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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