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.

The women of blues love life.  They are liberated and, confident, smart, and sexy.  Want to embrace life with less worry and more fun?  Follow these tips of the feminine women of blues, and you’ll soon be adding a little blues flavor to your life!

1. Embrace your problems and quit stressing about all the negative in your life.  The Blues simply glamorizes the negative in a way that turns our problems around.  Recognize that your problems only make you a deeper, more thoughtful person.
2. Improvise. Blues artists are all about improvisation. This helps them to develop an in control frame of mind. Even when the unexpected happes, they know how to improvise and roll with the punches.  Trust yourself to get through any jam you may be in.
3. Dance to your own beat. The women of blues have always been ahead of their time. The earliest artists were sassy, the leaders in their relationships, they weren’t afraid to get into fights. Stay in control but don’t be afraid to stick up for yourself. Do what you feel is right, then you‘ll never need to make apologies. Always be yourself and be honest
4. Be independent. In the early days of blues, the female vocalists often made more money and had more fame than the men in their lives. If you’re in a relationship, only keep a man around if you have good times together, not because you need him for money or for a confidence boost or any other reason.