B B King - In Loving Memory

B.B. King was born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, in Itta Bena, Mississippi. He grew up in a sharecropping family and began playing guitar at a young age. He was inspired by the blues musicians he heard on the radio, and he soon began performing at local juke joints and fish fries. In 1947, King moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he began recording for the Modern Records label. He released his first single, “Miss Martha King,“ in 1949. The song was a modest success, but it helped to launch King’s career as a blues musician. Over the next few decades, King became one of the world’s most popular and influential blues musicians. He released dozens of albums and toured extensively in the United States and abroad. He was known for his signature guitar playing, soulful vocals, and engaging stage presence. King was a pioneer in the blues genre, and he helped to popularize blues music to a wider audience. He was also a Grammy Award winner and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006. King died on May 14, 2015, at the age of 89. He was a true legend of the blues, and his music will continue to be enjoyed for generations. Here are some of the most notable events in B.B. King’s life: Born Riley B. King in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in 1925. Moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1947 and began recording for the Modern Records label. Released his first single, “Miss Martha King,“ in 1949. Named his guitar “Lucille“ after a fire he accidentally started in his hotel room in 1952. The classic blues song “Everyday I Have the Blues“ was released in 1955. Released the album “Live at the Regal,“ considered one of the greatest live blues albums of all time, in 1965. Won his first Grammy Award for the album “Live and Well“ in 1970. Received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006. Died in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2015 at the age of 89.