B.B. King - Singer-songwriter, Facts and Facts
B.B. King's Personal Details
B.B
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | September 16, 1925 |
| Died on | May 14, 2015 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | African Americans, Black Singers, Guitarists, Singers, Rhythm & Blues Singers, Singer-songwriter |
| City/State | Mississippi |
| Spouses | Martha Lee Denton, Sue Carol Hall |
| Known as | Riley B. King |
| Childrens | Claudette King, Patty King, Shirley King |
| Birth Place | Berclair, Mississippi |
| Height | 177 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Albert King |
| Mother | Nora Ella Farr |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Sun Sign | Virgo |
| Born in | Berclair, Mississippi |
| Famous as | Singer-songwriter |
| Died at Age | 89 |
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B.B. King's photo
Who is B.B. King?
B.B. King was an American singer and guitarist, counted amongst the greatest guitarists of all time. Regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, he was often called "The King of the Blues", and is credited to have made the genre of blues popular all over the world. Born to sharecroppers on a cotton plantation in Mississippi, he came from a family of very humble means. He loved music from a young age and harbored the dream of making it big as a famous musician. He fell in love with the guitar and taught himself to play the instrument. An ambitious individual, he moved to Memphis in order to make a career for himself and found his big break when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio program on KWEM out of West Memphis. The success of the show ensured that he received steady engagements and eventually he started recording. Following the success of his super-hit, ‘3 O’Clock Blues’, he started touring extensively, which made him a much popular figure and earned him a huge fan following. Over the next few years he developed his own unique style of playing the guitar, combining the elements of traditional blues, jazz, swing, and mainstream pop. For decades, he reigned as the undisputed king of blues and died in 2015 at the age of 89
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born as Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, in Mississippi to Albert and Nora Ella King. His parents were sharecroppers on a cotton plantation. His mother abandoned the family when Riley was young and thus he was raised by his maternal grandmother.
He was interested in music from a young age and received his first guitar at the age of 12. Soon he taught himself to play the instrument and started playing on street corners to earn some money.
As a young man he acquired the nickname "the Beale Street Blues Boy" which was later shortened to just “B.B.”.
Career
He moved to Memphis to embark on a musical career. He got a chance to perform on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio program on KWEM, following which he gained some popularity.
He soon started receiving offers to perform at different avenues and earned a ten-minute spot on the Memphis radio station WDIA. The spot became an instant hit and it was later expanded into the Sepia Swing Club.
In 1949, he began recording songs. Even though his initial recordings were not much successful, he got a big breakthrough with his 1952 single, ‘3 O'Clock Blues’, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues charts and effectively launched his career.
Propelled by the success of this single, he began touring extensively. By the mid-1950s he gained a reputation for performing in hundreds of shows in a year—in 1956, he along with his band played an astonishing 342 one-night stands.
He became the uncrowned king of blues and one of the most influential names in R&B music in the 1950s. Some of the super-hits he produced in the decade are ‘You Know I Love You’, ‘Woke Up This Morning’, ‘Please Love Me’, ‘When My Heart Beats like a Hammer’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’, and ‘You Upset Me Baby’.
His streak of success continued throughout the 1960s. By this time he had a new manager Sid Seidenberg who ensured that B.B. achieved popularity among the white crowd as well. He played at the Newport Folk Festival and at Bill Graham’s Fillmore West in 1968 which helped to further popularize his image.
He was as prolific as ever during the 1970s and 1980s, touring frequently and releasing albums. His notable albums from this time include ‘B.B. King in London’ (1971), ‘To Know You Is to Love You’ (1973), ‘Friends’ (1974), ‘Midnight Believer’ (1978), ‘Take It Home’ (1979), ‘Love Me Tender’ (1982), and ‘King of the Blues: 1989’ (1988).
In 1991, B.B. King's Blues Club opened on Beale Street in Memphis. A second club followed suit at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles in 1994. Over the next few years, many more such clubs were established.
Major Works
The blues album, ‘Riding with the King’, released by King in collaboration with Eric Clapton was his most commercially successful album. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard's Top Blues Albums and was certified Multi-Platinum in the United States.
Awards & Achievements
He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
B.B. King was the recipient of numerous Grammy Awards and was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.
In 1995 he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors which is given to recognize "the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of our nation's most prestigious artists”.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music awarded him the Polar Music Prize for his "significant contributions to the blues" in 2004.
In 2006, President George W. Bush awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Personal Life & legacy
B.B. King married Martha Lee Denton in 1946. This marriage did not last long and ended in 1952.
He tied the knot for the second time with Sue Carol Hall in 1958. This marriage too ended in 1966.
It is reported that he had been involved with other several women as well and had fathered 15 children.
He remained active throughout his life. He suffered from diabetes and died in his sleep on May 14, 2015 of complications from the disease.
Net Worth
B.B. King had a net worth of $10 million.
Trivia
He was an official supporter of the nonprofit organization Little Kids Rock that provides free musical instruments and instruction to underprivileged children.
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B.B. King's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
MTV Video Music Awards | ||
| 1989 | Best Video from a Film | U2 & B. B. King: When Love Comes to Town (1989) |
| 1989 | Best Video from a Film | U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) |
B.B. King biography timelines
- // 16th Sep 1925He was born as Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, in Mississippi to Albert and Nora Ella King. His parents were sharecroppers on a cotton plantation. His mother abandoned the family when Riley was young and thus he was raised by his maternal grandmother.
- // 1946 To 1952B.B. King married Martha Lee Denton in 1946. This marriage did not last long and ended in 1952.
- // 1949 To 1952In 1949, he began recording songs. Even though his initial recordings were not much successful, he got a big breakthrough with his 1952 single, ‘3 O'Clock Blues’, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues charts and effectively launched his career.
- // 1956Propelled by the success of this single, he began touring extensively. By the mid-1950s he gained a reputation for performing in hundreds of shows in a year—in 1956, he along with his band played an astonishing 342 one-night stands.
- // 1958 To 1966He tied the knot for the second time with Sue Carol Hall in 1958. This marriage too ended in 1966.
- // 1968His streak of success continued throughout the 1960s. By this time he had a new manager Sid Seidenberg who ensured that B.B. achieved popularity among the white crowd as well. He played at the Newport Folk Festival and at Bill Graham’s Fillmore West in 1968 which helped to further popularize his image.
- // 1971 To 1989He was as prolific as ever during the 1970s and 1980s, touring frequently and releasing albums. His notable albums from this time include ‘B.B. King in London’ (1971), ‘To Know You Is to Love You’ (1973), ‘Friends’ (1974), ‘Midnight Believer’ (1978), ‘Take It Home’ (1979), ‘Love Me Tender’ (1982), and ‘King of the Blues: 1989’ (1988).
- // 1984 To 1987He was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
- // 1987B.B. King was the recipient of numerous Grammy Awards and was presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.
- // 1991 To 1994In 1991, B.B. King's Blues Club opened on Beale Street in Memphis. A second club followed suit at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles in 1994. Over the next few years, many more such clubs were established.
- // 1995In 1995 he was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors which is given to recognize "the lifelong accomplishments and extraordinary talents of our nation's most prestigious artists”.
- // 2004The Royal Swedish Academy of Music awarded him the Polar Music Prize for his "significant contributions to the blues" in 2004.
- // 2006In 2006, President George W. Bush awarded King the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- // 14th May 2015He remained active throughout his life. He suffered from diabetes and died in his sleep on May 14, 2015 of complications from the disease.
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B.B. King's FAQ
What is B.B. King birthday?
B.B. King was born at 1925-09-16
When was B.B. King died?
B.B. King was died at 2015-05-14
Where was B.B. King died?
B.B. King was died in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Which age was B.B. King died?
B.B. King was died at age 89
Where is B.B. King's birth place?
B.B. King was born in Berclair, Mississippi
What is B.B. King nationalities?
B.B. King's nationalities is American
Who is B.B. King spouses?
B.B. King's spouses is Martha Lee Denton, Sue Carol Hall
Who is B.B. King childrens?
B.B. King's childrens is Claudette King, Patty King, Shirley King
How tall is B.B. King?
B.B. King's height is 177
Who is B.B. King's father?
B.B. King's father is Albert King
Who is B.B. King's mother?
B.B. King's mother is Nora Ella Farr
What is B.B. King's sun sign?
B.B. King is Virgo
How famous is B.B. King?
B.B. King is famouse as Singer-songwriter