Blues Musician. Widely regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists in music history, he was influential to a bevy of artists including The Beatles and Eric Clapton. Born Riley B. King, he was raised on a Mississippi plantation. He learned to play the guitar during his youth and experienced his first taste of performing on street corners for pocket change. When he came to the realization of having a career as musician, he hitchhiked a ride to Memphis and lived with his cousin Bukka White, who was a prominent blues musician in his own right. White helped King's skills strengthen and in 1948, he had his big break with a performance on Sonny Williamson's Radio Program. This led to his own radio show called "King's Spot," which became highly-popular in the Memphis-area. A name-change took place during this period, as he used the initials of his radio name "Blues Boy King" and from that point on, he was known as B.B. King. During the course of his career, King entertained audiences accompanied with his guitar named "Lucille." He scored a Top-20 hit on the US Pop Charts with his version of "The Thrill Is Gone" (1970). King was the recipient of a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1987 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same year. He was honored by the Kennedy Center in 1995 and was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2006.
Blues Musician. Widely regarded as one of the greatest blues guitarists in music history, he was influential to a bevy of artists including The Beatles and Eric Clapton. Born Riley B. King, he was raised on a Mississippi plantation. He learned to play the guitar during his youth and experienced his first taste of performing on street corners for pocket change. When he came to the realization of having a career as musician, he hitchhiked a ride to Memphis and lived with his cousin Bukka White, who was a prominent blues musician in his own right. White helped King's skills strengthen and in 1948, he had his big break with a performance on Sonny Williamson's Radio Program. This led to his own radio show called "King's Spot," which became highly-popular in the Memphis-area. A name-change took place during this period, as he used the initials of his radio name "Blues Boy King" and from that point on, he was known as B.B. King. During the course of his career, King entertained audiences accompanied with his guitar named "Lucille." He scored a Top-20 hit on the US Pop Charts with his version of "The Thrill Is Gone" (1970). King was the recipient of a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1987 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that same year. He was honored by the Kennedy Center in 1995 and was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2006.
Bio by: C.S.
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RILEY B. KING
I don't know why
I was made to wander.
I've seen the light, Lord,
I've felt the thunder.
Some day I'll go home again
And I know they will take me in.
And take it home.
Lyrics from the song "Take It Home"
release on the 1979 album of the same name
Family Members
Half Siblings
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