B.B. King
American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter (1925–2015) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking that influenced many later blues electric guitar players.[5][6] AllMusic recognized King as "the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th century".[6]
B.B. King | |
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.jpg) King in a 1980s publicity photo | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Riley B. King |
| Born | (1925-09-16)September 16, 1925 Berclair, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2015(2015-05-14) (aged 89) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 1942–2014 |
| Labels | |
| Website | bbking |
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and is one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of the Blues", and is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King, none of whom are related).[7][8][9] King performed tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing on average at more than 200 concerts per year into his 70s.[10] In 1956 alone, he appeared at 342 shows.[11]
King was born on a cotton plantation of Berclair near the city of Itta Bena, Mississippi, and later worked at a cotton gin in Indianola, Mississippi. He was attracted to music and taught himself to play guitar and began his career in juke joints and local radio. He later lived in Memphis and Chicago; then, as his fame grew, he toured the world extensively. King died at 89 in Las Vegas on May 14, 2015.
| External video | |
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 Oral History, B.B. King reflects on his greatest musical influences. Interview date August 3, 2005, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library |