B. B. King
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B. B. King is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. His reign as King of the Blues has been as long as that of any monarch on earth. Yet B.B. King continues to wear his crown well. He has produced many songs including the number one hit, "Three O'Clock Blues".
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[edit] About
B. B. King or "Riley B. King" in real life was born on September 16, 1925 on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, near Indianola. The proud parents of the newborn baby boy were "Albert and Nora Ella King", hardworking sharecropping farmers who had lived in Mississippi all of their lives. The boy was named after his uncle, the only known living kin of "Albert King". In his youth, he played on street corners for dimes, and would sometimes play in as many as four towns a night. Three years later, B. B. moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he finely tuned his guitar technique with the help of his cousin, country blues guitarist Bukka White. He spent much of his childhood sharing time living with his mother and his grandmother and working as a sharecropper.
In 1942 when he was 16 years old, he moved back to Kilmicheal to attend the Elkhorn school and continue singing with his gospel group. The Flake Cartledge family, white cash tenants for Edwayne Henderson, took B.B. in and he worked to earn his keep. In 1948, his first break came when when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM out of West Memphis. On the air, B. B. started out using the name "The Pepticon Boy, which later became the "Beale Street Blues Boy". The name was then shortened to just 'Blues Boy" and, eventually, simply "B.B".
B. B. signed a recording contract under RPM Records in 1949. His recordings were produced by "Sam Phillips", who would eventually founded the legendary Sun Records. In the 50's, he became one of the most important names in R&B music, collecting an impressive list of hit songs like "You Know I Love You", "Please Love Me", "Whole Lotta' Love", "You Upset Me Baby", "Every Day I Have the Blues", "Sneakin' Around", "Ten Long Years", "Sweet Little Angel", "On My Word of Honor", and "Please Accept My Love". Soon after his number one hit, "Three O'Clock Blues," B.B. began touring nationally. In 1956, B.B. and his band played an astonishing 342 one-night stands.
He signed a recording contract under Paramount Records in 1962. In November of 1964, B. B. recorded the legendary Live at the Regal album at the Regal Theater in Chicago. His first break outside of the blues market is the 1969 remake of the "Roy Hawkins" tune, "The Thrill Is Gone", which became a hit on both pop and R&B charts. Over the years, the Grammy Award-winner has had two #1 R&B hits, 1951's "Three O'Clock Blues," and 1952's "You Don't Know Me," and three #2 R&B hits, 1953's "Please Love Me," 1954's "You Upset Me Baby", and 1960's "Sweet Sixteen, Part I". B. B. appeared on Billboard's R&B charts an amazing 74 times from 1951 - 1985.
The 1980s, 1990s and 2000s saw King recording less and less, but maintaining a highly visible and active career appearing on numerous television shows, major motion pictures and performing 300 nights a year. He reached a new generation of fans with his hit single, "When Loves Comes To Town" which he collaborates with U2 in 1988. He also teamed up with Eric Clapton in the song, "Riding With The King".
In 1984, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1987, he received NARAS' Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. He has also received honorary doctorates from Tougaloo College in 1973; Yale University in 1977; andd Berklee College of Music in 1982 and University of Mississippi in 2004. 1996, his autobiography, "Blues All Around Me" was published. At age 82, he is still light on his feet, singing and playing the blues with relentless passion.
[edit] Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Grammy Awards | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "The Thrill is Gone" |
| 1981 | Grammy Awards | Best Ethnic Or Traditional Recording for "There Must Be A Better World Somewhere" |
| 1983 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Recording for "Blues 'N' Jazz" |
| 1985 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Recording for "My Guitar Sings The Blues" |
| 1987 | Grammy Awards | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 1990 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Recording for "Live At San Quentin" |
| 1991 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for "Live At The Apollo" |
| 1993 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for "Blues Summit" |
| 1996 | Grammy Awards | Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "SRV Shuffle" |
| 1999 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for "Blues On The Bayou" |
| 2000 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for "Riding With The King" |
| 2000 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Pop Collaboration for "Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (My Baby)" |
| 2002 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for "A Christmas Celebration Of Hope" |
| 2002 | Grammy Awards | Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Auld Lang Syne" |
| 2005 | Grammy Awards | Best Traditional Blues Album for "80" |
[edit] Chart Toppers
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for B. B. King.
[edit] Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Blues Come Over Me | MCA |
| 1992 | Thrill is Gone | MCA |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
| Date | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Singin' The Blues | Crown |
| 1958 | The Blues | Crown |
| 1960 | The Great B.B. King (B. B. King and his Orchestra) | Crown |
| 1961 | King of The Blues | Crown |
| 1962 | I Love You So | Crown |
| 1965 | Live at The Regal | MCA |
| 1965 | Live! B.B. King on Stage | United |
| 1966 | Greatest Hits, Vol.1 | United |
| 1968 | B. B. King Story | Blue Horizon |
| 1968 | His Best: The Electric B.B. King | MCA |
| 1969 | The Anthology of The Blues: B.B. King | Kent |
| 1969 | B.B. King Story 2 | Blue Horizon |
| 1971 | Live in Cook County Jail | MCA |
| 1973 | The Best of B.B. King | MCA |
| 1974 | Together For The First Time...Live | BGO |
| 1974 | Greatest Hits | ABC |
| 1976 | B.B. King Anthology | ABC |
| 1981 | Great Moments with B.B. King | MCA |
| 1981 | The Best of B.B. King | Ace |
| 1982 | Memphis Masters | Ace |
| 1985 | King of the Blues Guitar | Ace |
| 1985 | The Best of Memphis Masters | Ace |
| 1985 | The Collection: 20 Blues Greats | Dejavu |
| 1987 | Greatest Hits: B.B. King | Lotus |
| 1987 | The Best of B.B. King, Vol.2 | Ace |
| 1988 | B.B. King Story, Vol.1 | Joker |
| 1988 | B.B. King Story, Vol.2 | Joker |
| 1988 | Do The Boogie: B.B. Kings's Early 50's Classics | Flair |
| 1988 | Greatest Hits | Music Power |
| 1989 | Do The Boogie | Ace |
| 1990 | 16 Original Hits | Fantasy |
| 1991 | A Classic Revisited | MCA |
| 1991 | Spotlight on Lucille | Flair |
| 1991 | The Fabulous B. B. King | Flair |
| 1994 | How Blue: Best of B.B. King | Alex |
| 1994 | How Blue Can You Get | Quality Special Products |
| 1995 | Greatest Hits (1951-1960) | Alex |
| 1995 | Catfish Blues | Drive |
| 1995 | Early Blues Boy Years, Vol. 1:1949-1951 | Opal |
| 1995 | Early Blues Boy Years, Vol. 2:1952-1954 | Opal |
| 1995 | King of The Blues | Pickwick |
| 1996 | A Blues Night | King |
| 1996 | Collection | Boxsets |
| 1996 | Classics | Intercontinental |
| 1996 | Classic Live Performances | MCA |
| 1997 | Treasures From The Vault | Jewel |
| 1997 | The Very Best of B.B. King, Vol.1 | Leader Music |
| 1997 | Super Stars | Super |
| 1997 | Original Blues Masters | Boxsets |
| 1997 | Blues Collection | Galaxy |
| 1997 | Revue Collection | Revue |
| 1998 | Everyday I Have The Blues | Planet Entertainment |
| 1998 | Best Blues Masters, Vol.2 | BMG |
| 1998 | Greatest Hits | MCA |
| 1998 | B.B.'s Boogie | Mastertone |
| 1998 | Back 2 Back | Intercontinental |
| 1998 | Twin Best | MCA |
| 1998 | King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Live... | King Biscuit |
| 1999 | Best | Digimode Entertainment |
| 1997 | His RPM Hits: 1951-1957 | Ace |
| 1999 | Best of B.B. King: 20th Century Masters | MCA |
| 1999 | Forever Gold | St. Claire |
| 1999 | Why I Sing The Blues | Delta |
| 1999 | His Definitive Greatest Hits | Polygram International |
| 1999 | B.B. in The Land of Jordan | MCA |
| 1999 | Live in Japan | MCA |
| 2000 | B.B. King | Legacy Entertainment |
| 2000 | He's Dynamite | Ace |
| 2000 | Play Me The Blues | Delta |
| 2000 | Universals Masters Collection | Universal |
| 2000 | Golden Legends | Direct Source |
| 2000 | High Profile | Direct Source |
| 2000 | The Best of Kent Singles: 1958-1971 | Ace |
| 2000 | Millenium Edition | MCA |
| 2000 | Back 2 Back | Edeltone |
| 2000 | 20 Golden Classics | Cleopatra |
| 2000 | Platinum Series | D-3 |
| 2000 | Forever Gold | St. Claire |
| 2000 | Anthology | MCA |
| 2000 | Bluesboss | Mastersong |
| 2001 | Great B.B. King | ZYX |
| 2001 | Signature Series | Direct Source |
| 2001 | Gold Collection | Fine Tune |
| 2001 | Blues Giant: Best,Selection Vol.1 | BMG |
| 2001 | Here and There: The Uncollected B.B. King | Hip-O |
| 2001 | Inspiration | Laserlight |
| 2001 | A Night in Cannes | Purple Pyramid |
| 2001 | Sweet Little Angel Live | Blue Moon |
| 2002 | Got My Mojo Working | Delta |
| 2002 | Best of B.B. King with Special Guest | Blues Forever |
| 2002 | B.B. Boogie | Magnum |
| 2002 | Classic Masters | Capitol |
| 2002 | Best Recordings | Quintessential |
| 2002 | The Modern Recordings, 1951-1952 | Ace |
| 2002 | Blues Twinpack | Dressed To Kill |
| 2002 | Blue on Blues | Fuel 2000 |
| 2002 | The Early Blues Boy Years | Past Perfect |
| 2002 | The Vintage Years | Ace |
| 2002 | Together Again...Live | Beat Goes On |
| 2003 | 1949-1952 | Classics |
| 2003 | Blues Kingspin | Virgin |
| 2003 | Blues You Can See | Wesgram |
| 2003 | Classic American Voices | Direct Source |
| 2003 | The Guitar Player | Pack |
| 2003 | Best of B.B. King:20th Century Masters/The Christmas Collection | MCA |
| 2003 | Greatest Hits Live | King Biscuit Flower Hour |
| 2004 | Blues Cafe Presents B.B. King | Galaxy |
| 2004 | The Platinum Collection | Direct Source |
| 2004 | Timeless Classics | St. Claire |
| 2004 | Giant of The Blues | Super Gold |
| 2004 | The Story of The Blues | Blues Alliance |
| 2004 | Essential Collection | Universal |
| 2004 | Golden Legends Live | St. Claire |
| 2005 | The Birth of A King | Saga Jazz |
| 2005 | Blues Boy | Kala |
| 2005 | Shake it Up and Go | Prism |
| 2005 | The Ultimate Collection | Geffen |
| 2005 | King's Shuffle | Joker |
| 2005 | Live in Kansas City | DFP |
| 2005 | Night of Blistiring Blues | MPG |
| 2005 | Chronicles:Live at The Regal | MCA |
| 2005 | Classic B.B. King | Universal |
| 2005 | Legends B.B. King | Direct Source |
| 2005 | Move To The Groove | Blaricum |
| 2005 | Original Greatest Hits | Virgin |
| 2005 | 1952-1954 | Classic R&B |
| 2005 | Golden Legends:B.B. King Live | Madacy |
| 2006 | Blues Biography | United Multi Consign |
| 2006 | The Giant of Blues | Creative Sound |
| 2006 | Gold | Geffen |
| 2006 | Bits and Pieces about B.B. King | Delta Musi |
| 2006 | BD Blues | Nocturne |
| 2006 | Jamming | Synergie |
| 2007 | Flyleaf | JVC Victor |
| 2007 | The Best of The Early Years | Ace |
| 2007 | Millenium Collection:20th Century Masters | Geffen |
| 2007 | 18 Greatest | Direct Source |
| 2007 | Colour Collection | Spectrum |
| 2007 | Anthology | Deja Vu |
| 2007 | Live in Europe | Music Avenue |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Contemporaries
[edit] Influences
[edit] Trivia
- On May 27, 2007, King was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by Brown University.
- On December 15, 2006, President George W. Bush awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- He was officially inducted 1987 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming one of the first artists to be honored by the museum.
- He was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. This is given to recognize "the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of our Nation's most prestigious artists.
