Citizendia
Your Ad Here

B. B. King

Background information
Birth name Riley B. King
Also known as B. B. King
Born September 16, 1925 (1925-09-16) (age 82)
Origin Itta Bena, Mississippi, USA
Genre(s) Memphis blues, soul-blues, rhythm and blues
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 1947 – present
Label(s) Geffen
Website www.bbking.com
Notable instrument(s)
Lucille

B. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Itta Bena is a city in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other The Memphis blues is a style of Blues music that was created in the 1920s and 1930s by Memphis-area musicians like Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Soul blues is a style of Blues music developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s that combines elements of Soul music and urban contemporary music A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Geffen Records is an American Record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label Lucille is the name given to B B King 's guitars They are usually black Gibson guitars similar to the ES-355. B. King (born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925) is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics Widely considered one of the greatest and most respected blues guitarists of all time, King is possibly the most recognizable name in the blues genre. Rolling Stone magazine named him the third-greatest guitarist of "the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published "[1]

Contents

Career

B. B. King arrived in Memphis for the first time in 1946 to work as a musician, but after a few months of hardship he left, going back to Mississippi. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. There he decided to prepare himself better for the next visit and returned to Memphis two years later. Initially he worked at the local R&B radio channel WDIA as a singer. In 1949, he began recording songs under contract with Los Angeles-based RPM Records. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West RPM Records was a Record label launched in the early fifties. Many of King's early recordings were produced by Sam Phillips, who later founded Sun Records. Samuel Cornelius Phillips ( January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003) better known as Sam Phillips, was an American Sun Records was a Record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27 1952. King was also a disc jockey in Memphis, where he gained the nickname "Beale Street Blues Boy", later shortened to "B. B. " Before his RPM contract, B. B. had debuted on Bullet Records by issuing the single "Miss Martha King" (1949), which got a bad review in Billboard magazine and did not chart well. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry

In the 1950s, B. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive B. King became one of the most important names in R&B music, amassing an impressive list of hits including "You Know I Love You," "Woke Up This Morning," "Please Love Me," "When My Heart Beats like a Hammer," "Whole Lotta Love," "You Upset Me Baby," "Every Day I Have the Blues," "Sneakin' Around," "Ten Long Years," "Bad Luck," "Sweet Little Angel," "On My Word of Honor," and "Please Accept My Love. " In 1962,B. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. B. King signed to ABC-Paramount Records, which was later absorbed into MCA Records, and then his current label, Geffen Records. ABC Records started in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records the record label of Am-Par Record Corporation (a subsidiary of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres MCA Records was an American -based record company owned by MCA Inc Geffen Records is an American Record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label

In November 1964, King recorded the Live at the Regal album at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Live at the Regal is a 1965 live album by Blues guitarist B B Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

B. B. King in concert in France (1989)
B. B. King in concert in France (1989)

King's first success outside the blues market was his 1969 remake of Roy Hawkins' tune "The Thrill Is Gone. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Roy Hawkins (born ? — died 1973 ? was an American Pianist, Songwriter and Blues Musician. "The Thrill is Gone" is a Blues song written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins in 1951 and popularized by B " King's version became a hit on both pop and R&B charts, which was rare for an R&B artist. It also gained the number 193 spot in Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. He gained further rock visibility as an opening act on The Rolling Stones much-ballyhooed 1969 American Tour. The Rolling Stones ' 1969 American Tour was a much publicised written about recorded and filmed concert tour of the United States. King's mainstream success continued throughout the 1970s with songs like "To Know You Is to Love You" and "I Like to Live the Love. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. "

The 1980s, 1990s and 2000s saw King recording less and less. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 Yet throughout this time he maintained a highly visible and active career, appearing on numerous television shows and performing 300 nights a year. In 1988 King reached a new generation of fans with the single “When Love Comes To Town”, a collaborative effort between King and the Irish band U2 (on their Rattle and Hum album). " When Love Comes to Town " is the 12th song on U2 's 1988 album Rattle and Hum. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Rattle and Hum is the name of both an album and its companion motion picture recorded by Irish rock band U2, released in 1988 In 2000, King teamed up with guitarist Eric Clapton to record Riding With the King. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Riding with the King is a Blues Album by Eric Clapton and In 1998 B. B. King appeared in "The Blues Brothers 2000" playing the part of the lead singer of the Louisiana Gator Boys, along with Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Koko Taylor, and Bo Diddley. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer Dr John (also Dr John Creaux) is the Stage name of Malcolm John Rebennack Jr Koko Taylor sometimes spelled 'KoKo Taylor' (born Cora Walton 28 September 1928, in Shelby County Tennessee) is an American Blues Bo Diddley ( December 30 1928 &ndash June 2 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates) was an original and influential American

In 2003, King shared the stage with the rock band Phish in New Jersey, performing three of his classics and jamming with the band for over 45 minutes. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Phish is an American Jam band noted for their Musical improvisation, extended Jam sessions and cult following New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States.

In June 2006, King was present at a memorialization of his first radio broadcast at the Three Deuces Building in Greenwood, Mississippi, where an official marker of the Mississippi Blues Trail was erected. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Greenwood is the County seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately The Mississippi Blues Trail, created by the Mississippi Blues Commission is a project to place interpretive markers at the most notable historical sites related to the growth of the

B. B. King also made an appearance at the Crossroads Guitar Festival put on by Eric Clapton. On the DVD, he plays "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss" and "Rock Me Baby" with Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, and Hubert Sumlin.

In June 2006, a groundbreaking was held for a new B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi. Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The museum is scheduled to open September 13, 2008.

B. B. King was also the final performer at the 25th annual Chicago Blues Festival on June 8, 2008.

Farewell tour

Aged 80 at the time, on March 29, 2006, King played at the Sheffield's Hallam Arena. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Sheffield ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England This was the first date of his UK and European farewell tour. He played this tour supported by ex-shredder/rocker turned bluesman Gary Moore, with whom King has previously toured and recorded, including the song "Since I Met You Baby". Gary Moore (born Robert William Gary Moore, 4 April 1952, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish Guitarist. "Since I Met You Baby" is an American Rhythm and blues song written and recorded by pianist Ivory Joe Hunter. The British leg of the tour ended on April 4 with a final UK concert at Wembley Arena. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Wembley Arena is a famous Entertainment venue located in Wembley, London, UK.

In July King went back to Europe, playing twice (July 2nd and 3rd) in the 40th edition of the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival and also in Zürich at the Blues at Sunset on July 14th. The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music Festival in Switzerland, Europe's most prestigious Zürich (, Zürich German: Züri, Zurich, Zurigo; in English generally Zurich) is the largest city in Switzerland and capital of the During his show in Montreux at the Stravinski Hall he jammed with Joe Sample, Randy Crawford, David Sanborn, Gladys Knight, Lella James, Earl Thomas, Stanley Clarke, John McLaughlin, Barbara Hendricks and George Duke. Joseph Leslie "Joe" Sample (born February 1, 1939 in Houston Texas) is an American Pianist, Keyboard player Randy Crawford (born Veronica Crawford February 18 1952, in Macon Georgia) is an American Jazz and R&B Singer. David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto Saxophonist. Gladys Maria Knight, "The Empress of Soul" (born May 28, 1944) is a seven-time Grammy Award -winning American Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American Jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on Double John McLaughlin (born January 4 1942 also Mahavishnu John McLaughlin is a Jazz fusion Guitarist and Composer from Doncaster, Barbara Hendricks (born 20 November 1948) is an American-born operatic Soprano and concert singer George Duke (born 12 January, 1946 in San Rafael California) is a piano and Synthesizer pioneer and singer The European leg of the Farewell tour ended in Luxembourg on the 19th of September 2006 at the D'Coque Arena (support act: Todd Sharpville). Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by The National Sporting and Cultural Centre (Centre National Sportif et Culturel better known as d'Coque, is an Indoor arena in Kirchberg, a quarter Todd Sharpville is a British recording artist / Singer-songwriter.

Live at Montreux, July 2006
Live at Montreux, July 2006

In November and December, King played six times in Brazil.

During a press conference on November 29th in São Paulo, a journalist asked King if that would be the actual farewell tour. São Paulo ( is the largest city in Brazil, with its metropolitan area ranking among the largest urban areas in the world He answered: "One of my favorite actors is a man from Scotland named Sean Connery. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25 1930) is an Academy Award - Golden Globe - and BAFTA Award -winning Scottish Most of you know him as James Bond, 007. James Bond 007 is a Fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve Novels and two Short story He made a movie called "Never Say Never Again. Never Say Never Again, released in 1983, is the second screen adaptation of Ian Fleming 's novel Thunderball and a non- EON Productions "

On July 28, 2007, B. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. B. King Played at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival with 20 other guitarists to raise money for the Crossroads Center, Antigua for addictive disorders. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer The Crossroads Guitar Festival was a Music festival and Benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 This page is about a shopping mall in Minnesota For other malls named Crossroads see Crossroads Mall. Antigua (ænˈtiːgə an-TEE-gah) is an Island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region the main The term " addiction " is used in many contexts to describe an obsession compulsion or excessive Physical dependence or psychological dependence such as

Legacy

Over 52 years B. B. King played at least 15,000 performances. [2]

He has made guest appearances in numerous popular television shows, including The Cosby Show,[3] The Young and the Restless,[3] General Hospital,[4] The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,[3] Sesame Street,[5] Married With Children[3] and Sanford and Son. The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 The Young and the Restless is a 39 time Emmy Award winning American Television Soap opera, first broadcast on CBS on March 26 General Hospital (commonly abbreviated GH) is an American Soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network during the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an award winning American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10 1990 to May 20 1996 Sesame Street is an American educational Children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard combining Sanford and Son is an American Sitcom that premiered on the NBC Television network on January 14 1972, and was broadcast for [3]

King is the subject of a biography, B. B. King: There is Always One More Time, by the noted New York-based music writer David McGee.

In the Beatles' song "Dig It" from the Let It Be sessions, John Lennon states "Like the FBI. . . and the CIA. . . and the BBC. . . BB King. . . and Doris Day. . . Matt Busby. . . Dig it. . . "

Personal life

B.B. King at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada
B. B. King at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada

The son of of Alfred King and Nora Ella King, B. B. King has had two wives to date: Martha Lee Denton, 1946 to 1952, and Sue Carol Hall, 1958 to 1966. Both marriages ended because of the heavy demands made on the marriage by King’s 250 performances a year. It is reported that he has fathered 15 children by different women. [6]

King is a licensed pilot, a known gambler, a vegetarian, non-drinker, and non-smoker. Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes Meat (including game and slaughter by-products Fish (including Shellfish and other sea [7] King has lived with Type II Diabetes for over twenty years and is a visible spokesman in the fight against the disease, appearing in advertisements for diabetes-management products. Diabetes mellitus type 2 or Type 2 Diabetes (formerly called non - Insulin -dependent Diabetes mellitus (NIDDM or adult-onset diabetes is a metabolic

On January 26, 2007, while on tour, King was hospitalized in Galveston, Texas due to a low-grade (100. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. "Galveston" redirects here For the town in the US state of Indiana see Galveston Indiana. 4°F) fever after a recent bout of influenza. He was released on January 27, after an overnight stay. [8] He resumed his touring on January 30 in Texas and gave another 30 performances in the US. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State.

His favorite singer is Frank Sinatra. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor In his autobiography King speaks about how he was, and is, a "Sinatra nut" and how he went to bed every night listening to Sinatra's classic album In the Wee Small Hours. In the Wee Small Hours is an album by Frank Sinatra with arrangements by Nelson Riddle, released in 1955 King has credited Sinatra for opening doors to black entertainers who weren't given the chance to play in "white dominated" venues. Sinatra got B. B. King into the main showrooms in Vegas during the 1960s. [9]

Each year, during the first week in June, a B. B. King homecoming festival is held in Indianola, Mississippi. Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. [10]

Famed Delta Blues artist Bukka White is King's first cousin. Bukka White ( November 12 1909 – February 26 1977) was a Delta blues Guitarist and Singer.

Boxer Sonny Liston was King's uncle. Charles L "Sonny" Liston (May 8 1932?–January 5 1971 was a professional boxer who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd [11]

By his own admission, he cannot play chords very well[12] and always relies on improvisation, never thinking what to play beforehand.

Lucille

One of his trademarks is "Lucille", his black custom Gibson guitar. Lucille is the name given to B B King 's guitars They are usually black Gibson guitars similar to the ES-355. During a show in Arkansas in 1949, two men at a performance of B. B. 's got into a fight and knocked over a kerosene stove that set the hall on fire. King, like everyone else ran out of the hall to save himself. King realized he had left his guitar inside, and ran back to get it, barely escaping with his life. When he found out the fight was over a woman named Lucille, he decided to name his guitar after the woman as a reminder to never again do something as stupid as run into a burning building, and every guitar he has owned and played since then has borne the name.

Discography

Main article: B. B. King discography

Videography

  1. The Electric B. B B King's discography lists the recordings of B B King. Albums Singles B. King - His Best (1960)
  2. Great Moments with B. B. King (1981)
  3. The King of the Blues: 1989 (1988)
  4. Got My Mojo Working (1989)
  5. King of the Blues (Box Set, 1992)
  6. Why I Sing the Blues (1992)
  7. Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: B. " Got My Mojo Working " is a 1956 song written by Preston Foster and first recorded by Ann Cole, but popularized by Muddy Waters in 1957 King of the Blues is a Box set Compilation album by B B King. B. King; (2003)
  8. Ultimate Collection (2005)
  9. B. B. King: Live (2008)

Honors and awards

A commemorative guitar pick honoring "B.B. King Day" in Portland, Maine.
A commemorative guitar pick honoring "B. A guitar pick is a type of Plectrum designed for use on a Guitar. B. King Day" in Portland, Maine. Portland is the largest city in the US state of Maine and the County seat of Cumberland County.

Quotes

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ "Delta Diary" by Charlie Sawyer
  3. ^ a b c d e IMDB. "B.B. King". Retrieved on 2007-02-06. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio  
  4. ^ YouTube. YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload view and share Video clips YouTube was created in February 2005 by three former PayPal employees "BB King Performs At Luke's - February 3, 1995". Retrieved on 2007-06-08. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable  
  5. ^ Sesame Workshop. Sesame Workshop, formerly known as the Children's Television Workshop (or CTW) is a non-profit organization behind the production of several educational children's "Sesame Street Beat Newsletter Archive". Retrieved on 2007-06-08. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable  
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ http://www.guitarworld.com/allaccess/interviews/bb-king.html
  8. ^ Associated Press. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio "B.B. King released from Texas hospital", Houston Chronicle, January 27, 2007. The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily Newspaper in Texas, USA. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 2007-01-28. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted  
  9. ^ Blue All Around Me, 1999, BB King and Daniel Ritz. BB King also practiced late night with Don W. of truck 411.
  10. ^ "The Blues Heritage" Indianola, Mississippi Chamber of Commerce
  11. ^ The Devil and Sonny Liston by Nick Tosches, 2000, ISBN 0316897752
  12. ^ U2 Rattle and Hum DVD, 1988
  13. ^ Brown University to Confer Nine Honorary Degrees May 27
  14. ^ List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients on US Senate website
  15. ^ Polar Music Prize Winners
  16. ^ List of National Medal of Arts Recipients on NEA website
  17. ^ "B.B. King" Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
  18. ^ Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
  19. ^ Grammy Database
  20. ^ Kennedy Center Records
  21. ^ [3]
  22. ^ "King of Portland" - Portland Press Herald, May 19, 2008

External links

The Portland Press Herald (and Maine Sunday Telegram; collectively known as The Portland Newspapers) publish Daily newspapers every MusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an Open content Music database
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic