The great American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer B.B. King was born Riley B. King. The “B” in his stage name stands for Blues. His birth certificate, however, lists his first name as Riley and his middle initial as B., with no period after the B.
King was born on a cotton plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, to sharecroppers Albert and Nora Ella King. He began singing and playing the guitar in his early teens. In 1943, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked as a disc jockey on WDIA, one of the first radio stations in the country to cater to a black audience. It was there that he took the name B.B., which stands for Blues Boy or Beale Street Blues Boy, a reference to the city’s historic music district.
King’s guitar playing was influenced by such Delta blues musicians as Robert Johnson and T-Bone Walker. His distinctive style—a mixture of delicacy and power, often achieved with a economy of notes— earned him the nickname “The Beale Street Blues Boy,” which was later shortened to “B.B.”
King recorded his first single, “Miss Martha King,” in 1949. The following year, he had his first hit with “Three O’Clock Blues.” Over the next few years, he released a string of successful singles, including “You Know I Love You,” “Sweet Little Angel,” and “Please Accept My Love.” In 1955, he had his first No. 1 hit with “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.”
King toured incessantly throughout the 1950s and 1960s, playing an estimated 342 shows a year. His live performances were legendary, and he was known for his ability to connect with his audiences. In the 1970s, he began to scale back his touring schedule, although he continued to perform dozens of concerts a year into his 80s.
King appeared in films and television shows throughout his career, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and an episode of Miami Vice (1985). He was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
King died on May 14, 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 89 years old.
Tribute to BB King tickets are on sale now at Yadara! We have the best selection of Tribute to BB King tickets at the best prices. So what are you waiting for? Buy your Tribute to BB King tickets today at Yadara!
