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BB King
Early Life:
1925, September 16, "Delta" area of Mississippi saw the birth of a Blues genius to a sharecropping farmer couple Albert and Nora Ella King. Riley B. King was named after his uncle though he never knew him. If Albert King's father left his mother when he was young, B.B. King's mother left his father when he was only 4 years old. Away from his father Riley lived mostly with his maternal grandmother and with both his mother and grandmother being religious he regularly attended services. For prodigies you never know from where the door opens. The preacher, Archie Fair, who was also a relative of Riley used music as a tool to bring the congregation together. Fascinated by the preacher's guitar Riley learnt the E,A and B Chords from him.
The death of his mother in 1995 brought more problems into Riley's life. Though his father asked him to come to Mississipi, Riley's love for Kilmicheal and his gospel singing group didn't let him go. It was when his grandmother died in 1940, he was in deep trouble. He farmed on an acre of land, but barely could make enough money. So he decided to stay with his father. But again in 1942, Kilmicheal beckoned him back and he joined Elkhorn school and his gospel group. The family he stayed with was too kind to him that he got his first guitar while living with them. By 1943 Riley and his cousin Birkett moved to Indianola, Mississipi.
A career in Music:
In Indianola he found work as a sharecropper and a tractor driver and even found a new singing group and a girlfriend. While singing for the group he also played blues on street corners and soon realised that by playing in other Delta towns he was multiplying his money. He was also exposed to other bluesmen and started turning away from gospel spirituals. He even got a deferment from the Military draft on his employer's request and married Martha Denton. It was after the release that he made a major decision in his life of making a career in music. As destiny has it he was forced to leave his tractor driver job and one night headed to Memphis searching for his cousin Bukka White who was also a bluesman. After a few days he found him and stayed with him for ten months learning the art of blues. It was at this time that he met several blues musicians and learnt the tricks of the trade. But he returned back to Indianola to be with his wife and remained there for a while making good money from his tractor job. His love for a career in music made him return back to Memphis in late 1948.
His second visit to Memphis was a remarkable one. He met Sonny Boy who had a blues music radio show on station KWEM and played a gig on his show. Soon he ended up playing in Miss Annie's saloon in West Memphis and when a new radio station WDIA went on air he approached them and wished to perform. His first major recognition was when he played for health tonic pepticon and he was even known after that as the Pepticon boy. His popularity rose and he ran a show called the "Sepia Swing Club." He played recordings by black artists, played his guitar and also sang requests from listeners. As he was a DJ, Riley needed a catchy name. He started out as the "Beale Street Blues Boy," later he changed it to "Blues Boy King," and finally shortened it to the now famous "B.B. King." In 1949, B. B. King began recording songs under contract with Los Angeles based RPM Records which lasted for 10 years.
The Success story:
During the last six months of 1949, RPM released six B.B. King singles. He became a local celebrity but was far from national recognition. Soon he found his manager in a Beale Street pool hall owner, Robert Henry. It was not until 1951 that B.B. released his seventh single, "Three O'Clock Blues," a Lowell Fulson tune, hit Billboard's R&B record chart. By early 1952, the song reached the number one position and stayed there for 15 weeks. B.B. had finally received national recognition as a blues musician and won a contract with Universal Artists in New York. He played in three major black theatres, took a leave of absence from his job at WDIA and left Memphis for Washington to start on his first national tour.
Success gives as many problems as joy. B.B.King wasn't an exception. Tours forced him to stay away from his wife and brought new female friends. The tension builtup and Martha filed for a divorce. This inspired him to write the song "Woke Up This Morning," which was his first big hit after "Three O'Clock Blues." In 1952, after 8 years of marriage, B.B. and Martha King were divorced.
In the 1950s, B. B. King became one of the most important names in R&B music, amassing an impressive list of hits under his belt 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, King signed to ABC-Paramount Records, which was later absorbed into MCA Records, and then his current label, Geffen Records.
In November 1964, King recorded the legendary Live at the Regal album at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
He gained rock visibility when his remake of Roy Hawkins' tune "The Thrill Is Gone." King's version became a hit on both pop and R&B charts. He was also an opening act on The Rolling Stones 1969 American Tour. 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." Between 1951 and 1985 King appeared on Billboard's R&B charts 74 times.
Going mainstream:
Though in 1980s, 1990s and 2000s King recorded less and less, he performed 300 nights a year and maintained an active career appearing on telivision shows. In 1988 King his single “When Love Comes To Town,” found him a new generation of fans and also teamed up with Eric Clapton in 2000.
After several short appearances and shows he started his farewell tour on March 29, 2006 aged 80. The British leg of the tour ended on April 4 with a final UK concert at Wembley Arena.In July King went back to Europe. He bid a fond farewell to Switzerland, 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. 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. The European leg of the Farewell tour ended in Luxembourg on the 19th of September 2006 at the D'Coque Arena.
On July 28th 2007, B. 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.It is frankly reported by King himself that he has fathered 15 children by 15 women over the course of his life: "About 15 times, a lady has said: 'It's either me or Lucille.' That's why I've had 15 children by 15 women."
Honors and awards:
On May 27, 2007, King was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by Brown University.
On December 15, 2006, President George W. Bush awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2004, he was awarded an honorary Ph.D from the University of Mississippi and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music awarded him the Polar Music Prize, for his "significant contributions to the blues".
King was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1990.
He was officially inducted 1987 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming one of the first artists to be honored by the museum.
Grammy Awards: King was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. As of 2006, he has won 14 Grammy Awards, of which nine have been the Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album: in 2006 (for B.B. King & Friends: 80), 2003 (for A Christmas Celebration of Hope), 2001 (for Riding with the King), 2000 (for Blues on the Bayou), 1994 (for Blues Summit), 1992 (for Live at the Apollo), 1991 (for Live at San Quentin), 1986 (for My Guitar Sings the Blues) and 1984 (for Blues 'N' Jazz). In 1982, he won the Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording (for There Must Be a Better World Somewhere). The Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk was last given in 1986; the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album was first given in 1983. In 1997, he won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (with other artists, for "SRV Shuffle"). In 1971, he won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (for "The Thrill is Gone"). A Grammy Hall of Fame Award was given to "The Thrill is Gone" in 1998, an award given to recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance."
King was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. This is given to recognize "the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of our Nation's most prestigious artists.
1925, September 16, "Delta" area of Mississippi saw the birth of a Blues genius to a sharecropping farmer couple Albert and Nora Ella King. Riley B. King was named after his uncle though he never knew him. If Albert King's father left his mother when he was young, B.B. King's mother left his father when he was only 4 years old. Away from his father Riley lived mostly with his maternal grandmother and with both his mother and grandmother being religious he regularly attended services. For prodigies you never know from where the door opens. The preacher, Archie Fair, who was also a relative of Riley used music as a tool to bring the congregation together. Fascinated by the preacher's guitar Riley learnt the E,A and B Chords from him.
The death of his mother in 1995 brought more problems into Riley's life. Though his father asked him to come to Mississipi, Riley's love for Kilmicheal and his gospel singing group didn't let him go. It was when his grandmother died in 1940, he was in deep trouble. He farmed on an acre of land, but barely could make enough money. So he decided to stay with his father. But again in 1942, Kilmicheal beckoned him back and he joined Elkhorn school and his gospel group. The family he stayed with was too kind to him that he got his first guitar while living with them. By 1943 Riley and his cousin Birkett moved to Indianola, Mississipi.
A career in Music:
In Indianola he found work as a sharecropper and a tractor driver and even found a new singing group and a girlfriend. While singing for the group he also played blues on street corners and soon realised that by playing in other Delta towns he was multiplying his money. He was also exposed to other bluesmen and started turning away from gospel spirituals. He even got a deferment from the Military draft on his employer's request and married Martha Denton. It was after the release that he made a major decision in his life of making a career in music. As destiny has it he was forced to leave his tractor driver job and one night headed to Memphis searching for his cousin Bukka White who was also a bluesman. After a few days he found him and stayed with him for ten months learning the art of blues. It was at this time that he met several blues musicians and learnt the tricks of the trade. But he returned back to Indianola to be with his wife and remained there for a while making good money from his tractor job. His love for a career in music made him return back to Memphis in late 1948.
His second visit to Memphis was a remarkable one. He met Sonny Boy who had a blues music radio show on station KWEM and played a gig on his show. Soon he ended up playing in Miss Annie's saloon in West Memphis and when a new radio station WDIA went on air he approached them and wished to perform. His first major recognition was when he played for health tonic pepticon and he was even known after that as the Pepticon boy. His popularity rose and he ran a show called the "Sepia Swing Club." He played recordings by black artists, played his guitar and also sang requests from listeners. As he was a DJ, Riley needed a catchy name. He started out as the "Beale Street Blues Boy," later he changed it to "Blues Boy King," and finally shortened it to the now famous "B.B. King." In 1949, B. B. King began recording songs under contract with Los Angeles based RPM Records which lasted for 10 years.
The Success story:
During the last six months of 1949, RPM released six B.B. King singles. He became a local celebrity but was far from national recognition. Soon he found his manager in a Beale Street pool hall owner, Robert Henry. It was not until 1951 that B.B. released his seventh single, "Three O'Clock Blues," a Lowell Fulson tune, hit Billboard's R&B record chart. By early 1952, the song reached the number one position and stayed there for 15 weeks. B.B. had finally received national recognition as a blues musician and won a contract with Universal Artists in New York. He played in three major black theatres, took a leave of absence from his job at WDIA and left Memphis for Washington to start on his first national tour.
Success gives as many problems as joy. B.B.King wasn't an exception. Tours forced him to stay away from his wife and brought new female friends. The tension builtup and Martha filed for a divorce. This inspired him to write the song "Woke Up This Morning," which was his first big hit after "Three O'Clock Blues." In 1952, after 8 years of marriage, B.B. and Martha King were divorced.
In the 1950s, B. B. King became one of the most important names in R&B music, amassing an impressive list of hits under his belt 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, King signed to ABC-Paramount Records, which was later absorbed into MCA Records, and then his current label, Geffen Records.
In November 1964, King recorded the legendary Live at the Regal album at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
He gained rock visibility when his remake of Roy Hawkins' tune "The Thrill Is Gone." King's version became a hit on both pop and R&B charts. He was also an opening act on The Rolling Stones 1969 American Tour. 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." Between 1951 and 1985 King appeared on Billboard's R&B charts 74 times.
Going mainstream:
Though in 1980s, 1990s and 2000s King recorded less and less, he performed 300 nights a year and maintained an active career appearing on telivision shows. In 1988 King his single “When Love Comes To Town,” found him a new generation of fans and also teamed up with Eric Clapton in 2000.
After several short appearances and shows he started his farewell tour on March 29, 2006 aged 80. The British leg of the tour ended on April 4 with a final UK concert at Wembley Arena.In July King went back to Europe. He bid a fond farewell to Switzerland, 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. 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. The European leg of the Farewell tour ended in Luxembourg on the 19th of September 2006 at the D'Coque Arena.
On July 28th 2007, B. 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.It is frankly reported by King himself that he has fathered 15 children by 15 women over the course of his life: "About 15 times, a lady has said: 'It's either me or Lucille.' That's why I've had 15 children by 15 women."
Honors and awards:
On May 27, 2007, King was awarded an honorary doctorate in music by Brown University.
On December 15, 2006, President George W. Bush awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2004, he was awarded an honorary Ph.D from the University of Mississippi and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music awarded him the Polar Music Prize, for his "significant contributions to the blues".
King was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1990.
He was officially inducted 1987 into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming one of the first artists to be honored by the museum.
Grammy Awards: King was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. As of 2006, he has won 14 Grammy Awards, of which nine have been the Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album: in 2006 (for B.B. King & Friends: 80), 2003 (for A Christmas Celebration of Hope), 2001 (for Riding with the King), 2000 (for Blues on the Bayou), 1994 (for Blues Summit), 1992 (for Live at the Apollo), 1991 (for Live at San Quentin), 1986 (for My Guitar Sings the Blues) and 1984 (for Blues 'N' Jazz). In 1982, he won the Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording (for There Must Be a Better World Somewhere). The Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk was last given in 1986; the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album was first given in 1983. In 1997, he won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (with other artists, for "SRV Shuffle"). In 1971, he won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (for "The Thrill is Gone"). A Grammy Hall of Fame Award was given to "The Thrill is Gone" in 1998, an award given to recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance."
King was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. This is given to recognize "the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of our Nation's most prestigious artists.
