B.B. King

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Itta Bena MS, United States (1925 – present)

Riley B. King aka B. B. King (born September 16th, 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi) is a well known American guitarist and songwriter. He is among the most respected electric guitarists; Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

One of King’s trademarks is naming his guitar (Gibson ES335) “Lucille”. In the 1950s in a bar in Twist, Arkansas two men got into a fight, accidentally knocking over a bucket of burning kerosene (used for heating) and setting the establishment on fire. Risking his life, B.B. King ran back into the collapsing building to retrieve his guitar. King later found out that the two men had been fighting over a woman named Lucille. He named his guitar after her to remind himself never to do something so stupid again.

King began broadcasting his music live on a Memphis radio station called WDIA. At first, he used the name The Peptikon Boy on air, which later was changed to The Beale Street Blues Boy, and then further shortened to just Blues Boy or B.B.

His first hit on the r&b charts was “Three O’Clock in the Morning” in 1951. King became one of the most influential electric guitarists in history, one example being a young Eric Clapton citing B.B. as his biggest influence. He has been the primary international goodwill ambassador for the blues decade after decade.
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Top Albums

  • Singin' The Blues
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  • The Blues
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  • King of the Blues Guitar
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  • Anthology (disc 1)
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Top Tracks

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  • Kathyjwt

    Saw him live last year, wow!

    last week
  • al0915

    been 2 lebanon with the marines bb can keep it

    last week
  • FerdinandaUK

    Always, The King!

    13 days ago
  • po66

    BB is coming to LEBANON!!! Wouhouuu

    15 days ago
  • DeucesAreWild

    one of what, 3 originals still alive? BB,, Buddy Guy and James Cotton are pretty much the only ones left of that era

    last month
  • wichobabas

    The King

    last month
  • EricValeev

    Blues Boys Tune

    last month
  • ROYAL42069

    Sunday evening....blue moon, tequila, BB King...don't bother me, i'm chillin!

    last month
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