B.B King. The Modern Day King of the Blues

Since I play this guitar, I am writing from the perspective of someone who not only likes music but also plays guitar myself. I also have varying interests from kiss to classical to blues. This is about one of the all time greats of blues the legendary B.B King.

B.B. King was born Riley king in 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi. He has been named to the top 100 guitar players of all time, and in many opinions he is the best blues guitarist ever. I would put him about a tie with Robert Johnson. He went to Memphis trying to make it on the blues scene (the best blues are in Mississippi so I have no idea why) initially he did not do very well, so he went home to Mississippi. He went back to Memphis two years later and worked as a disc jockey. He also began to do some recording and started to have some success. He got the nickname "Beale Street Blues boy" which got shortened to B.B

In 1969 he opened for the Rolling stones which kind of made him a crossover artist. He also made a cover of the single "The thrill is gone" which got lots of success. He enjoyed much success from the 1940's all the way up to present but has slowed down very much due to health as he has diabetes and also is getting up there in years.

In 2006 the B.B. King museum broke ground in Indianola, Mississippi. He has played on stage with the rock band Phish and also recorded and played with Eric Clapton. In June he played the 25th annual Chicago blues festival.

All of his guitars carry the name Lucille. Long story short on that is that he was playing one night when a bar fight ( I thought they only happened in the country bars like I went to in college) out between to men and a heater caught the place on fire. After king was out he realized he forgot his guitar and raced back inside to retrieve his guitar (he was in much better shape then). He realized after the fact that was pretty stupid. He learned the fight was over a woman and named the guitar and all others Lucille. I give all of my guitars female names as well.

There are way too many songs of his that I like to list. The best advice for listening is to check him out on free samples on the net to find a couple songs you like and get a CD. This is American classical music at it finest.

B.B. King: Live (DVD) 2008

Blues Boy" The Life and Music of B.B. King by Sebastian Danchin 1988 (hardcover)