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B. B. King

B. B. King

September 16, 1925 –May 14, 2015

Guitarist, Singer, Singer-songwriter, Composer, Pianist, Record producer

Lived 89 years

Born in
Berclair
Passed away in
Las Vegas

Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B. B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking that influenced many later electric guitar blues players. AllMusic recognized King as "the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th century".

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and is one of the most influential blues musicians in history, earning the nickname "The King of the Blues", and is referred to as one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King, none of whom are related). King performed tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing on average at more than 200 concerts a year into his 70s. In 1956 alone, he appeared at 342 shows.

Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, King was attracted to music and taught himself to play guitar, beginning his career in juke joints and on local radio. King later lived and performed in Memphis and Chicago. As his fame grew, he toured the world extensively.

Awards: Blues Hall of Fame, National Medal of Arts, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Library of Congress Living Legend, Kennedy Center Honors, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres‎, Americana Music Association President's Award

Source: Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._King