The King of the Blues
When we think of the blues, we can’t help but bring to mind one of the most beloved blues artists of our time, B.B. King. As a matter of fact he is considered “The King of the Blues” and he has been performing and recording in the 1940s. Originally a gospel music guitarist as a teenager, B.B. grew up sharecropping in Mississippi, not unlike the history of many blues artists.
His career began to take off when he moved to Memphis in the late 40s and turned to playing his blues. He was extremely popular in clubs and on radio. His recording of “Three O’Clock Blues” in 1951 kicked off his recording career. It instantly became a top hit on the R&B charts.
In the 50s, King and his band toured the United States non-stop. They performed hundreds of shows a year and began building their audience. Mainstream success came in the late 60s when white audiences began to discover and love his talent. Guitarists like Eric Clapton and Keith Richards began to sing his praises. Soon he began to make crossover hits and performed in jazz and rock clubs.
B.B. King has recorded more than 50 albums, won 13 Grammys and received countless awards and honors over the years, and he continues to perform four or five nights a week. At age 76 he continues to be light on his feet and plays with all the passion that he ever had.
King owns nightclubs in Memphis, Los Angeles and New York City. His name B.B. originated from him calling himself the Beale Street Blues Boy. He then shortened that to Blues Boy, and eventually just B.B.
