B.B. King: The King of the Blues

B.B. King: The King of the Blues

Introduction

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. His distinctive style, characterized by fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking, profoundly influenced generations of electric guitar blues players. Recognized by AllMusic 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. He earned the moniker “The King of the Blues” and is often cited as one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar,” alongside Albert King and Freddie King. Throughout his extensive career, King was renowned for his tireless touring schedule, often performing over 200 concerts annually well into his 70s, and an astonishing 342 shows in 1956 alone.

Childhood

Born on a cotton plantation in Berclair, Leflore County, near Itta Bena, Mississippi, Riley B. King was the son of sharecroppers Albert and Nora Ella King. At the tender age of four, his mother left his father, and he was subsequently raised by his maternal grandmother, Elnora Farr, in Kilmichael, Mississippi, and later in Lexington. During his teenage years, he moved to Indianola, which he considered his hometown, and found work at a cotton gin.

King’s early musical exposure came from singing in the gospel choir at Elkhorn Baptist Church in Kilmichael. He was particularly drawn to the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ due to its vibrant music. The local minister, who played a Sears Roebuck Silvertone guitar during services, taught King his first three chords. His employer in Kilmichael, Flake Cartledge, purchased King his first guitar for 15 dollars, deducting the amount from his salary over the next two months.

Youth

In November 1941, King began listening to King Biscuit Time, a radio show broadcasting Mississippi Delta blues on KFFA in Helena, Arkansas, while on break at the plantation. This experience ignited his desire to become a radio musician. In 1943, he left Kilmichael to work as a tractor driver and perform with the Famous St. John’s Gospel Singers of Inverness, Mississippi, playing at local churches and on WGRM in Greenwood. He briefly served in the U.S. Army during World War II but was released due to his essential role as a tractor driver in the war economy.

In 1946, King moved to Memphis, Tennessee, to live with his cousin, the prominent blues musician Bukka White, for ten months. After a brief return to Mississippi to further hone his skills, he returned to West Memphis, Arkansas, two years later. There, he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio program on KWEM, gradually building an audience. His radio appearances led to consistent engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis and eventually a ten-minute spot on Memphis radio station WDIA. This radio segment proved so popular that it was expanded and became the Sepia Swing Club.

While working at WDIA as a singer and disc jockey, he was given the nickname “Beale Street Blues Boy,” which was later shortened to “Blues Boy” and finally to “B.B.” It was during this period that he first encountered T-Bone Walker, an experience that profoundly influenced him. King famously stated, “Once I’d heard him for the first time, I knew I’d have to have [an electric guitar] myself. ‘Had’ to have one, short of stealing!”

Adulthood

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, B.B. King became an integral part of the vibrant blues scene on Beale Street in Memphis. He often remarked, “Beale Street was where it all started for me.” During this time, he performed with notable musicians like Bobby Bland, Johnny Ace, and Earl Forest as part of a group known as the Beale Streeters. His talent caught the attention of Joe Bihari, one of the founders of Modern Records, who was introduced to King by Ike Turner, then a talent scout. In 1949, King began recording for RPM Records, a subsidiary of Modern, with many of his early sessions produced by Sam Phillips, who would later establish Sun Records.

King formed his own band, the B.B. King Review, led by Millard Lee. The band featured a robust horn section and rhythm players, and King also enlisted Onzie Horne, a trained musician, as an arranger to assist with his compositions. King, by his own admission, was not proficient with chords and relied heavily on improvisation, a characteristic that would become a hallmark of his unique guitar style.

To support his recordings, King embarked on extensive tours across the United States, playing in major theaters in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, and St. Louis, as well as countless small clubs and juke joints throughout the South. It was during one such performance in Twist, Arkansas, that a fire broke out due to a brawl. After evacuating, King bravely re-entered the burning building to retrieve his guitar. He later learned that the fight was over a woman named Lucille. To commemorate the incident and as a reminder not to fight over women or run into burning buildings, he named his beloved guitar “Lucille.”

His career truly took off after his first Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart-topping hit, “3 O’Clock Blues,” in February 1952. This success solidified his position as a leading figure in R&B music throughout the 1950s, yielding a string of hits including “You Know I Love You” and “Woke Up This Morning.” King maintained an relentless touring schedule, often performing over 300 shows annually for more than three decades, earning him the well-deserved title “King of the Blues.”

In 1962, King signed with ABC Records, releasing the acclaimed Live at the Regal in 1965. His biggest hit single, “The Thrill is Gone,” followed in 1969. By the late 1960s, King began to gain widespread mainstream recognition, particularly as rock and roll musicians like Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy openly acknowledged his profound influence. He became the first bluesman to tour the Soviet Union in 1979 and made regular appearances in Las Vegas and on network television, including the “Tonight Show” in 1969 and the Ed Sullivan Show in 1971.

King’s musical collaborations were extensive and commercially successful, working with artists such as Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Van Morrison, and Bonnie Raitt. His contributions to music were recognized with numerous accolades, including his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, multiple Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Arts in 1990, and the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 1995. In 2006, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush. The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, dedicated to his music and the history of the Delta region, opened in Indianola, Mississippi, in 2008. His album One Kind Favor, released in 2008, earned him his 15th Grammy Award. In February 2012, King performed at the White House with Buddy Guy and others, with President Barack Obama joining them on “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Major Compositions

B.B. King’s extensive discography includes a multitude of influential and commercially successful compositions that have become staples of the blues genre. Among his most significant works are:

•”Three O’Clock Blues” (1951): This song marked King’s first number one hit on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart in February 1952, solidifying his reputation and launching his national touring career.

•”You Know I Love You” (1952): Another early hit that contributed to his rising prominence in the R&B scene.

•”Woke Up This Morning” (1953): A powerful blues track that further showcased his vocal and guitar prowess.

•”Every Day I Have the Blues” (1955): While not an original composition, King’s rendition became one of his signature songs, widely associated with his live performances.

•”Sweet Sixteen” (1960): A popular track that demonstrated his ability to blend blues with a more soulful sound.

•”Don’t Answer the Door” (1966): A Top Ten R&B entry that highlighted his continued success in the mid-1960s.

•”The Thrill Is Gone” (1969): This iconic song became King’s biggest hit single and is arguably his most famous composition. It crossed over into the pop mainstream, introducing his music to a wider audience and earning him a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

•”Paying the Cost to Be the Boss” (1968): Another Top Ten R&B hit that showcased his socially conscious lyrics.

•”Rock Me Baby” (1964): A classic blues track that remained a fan favorite throughout his career.

•”When Love Comes to Town” (1988): A notable collaboration with the Irish rock band U2, which introduced King to a new generation of fans and further expanded his reach.

These compositions, among many others, demonstrate B.B. King’s profound impact on the blues and popular music, showcasing his unique guitar style and emotive vocals.

Death

B.B. King continued to perform well into his 80s, though his touring schedule became more limited due to declining health. In April 2014, a shaky concert performance in St. Louis led to public concern about his health, with some fans speculating about Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. King issued a public apology for his erratic performance. In October 2014, at the age of 89, he fell onstage during a performance in Chicago and subsequently canceled several upcoming gigs. A statement released on his website attributed the incident to dehydration and exhaustion.

On May 14, 2015, B.B. King passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 89. The official cause of death was vascular dementia, caused by a series of small strokes, a consequence of his type 2 diabetes. Following his death, two of his daughters, Karen Williams and Patty King, made allegations of poisoning against his manager and personal assistant. However, an autopsy conducted by the Clark County coroner concluded that King died of natural causes, and the allegations were deemed baseless and unfounded by a lawyer for King’s estate.

Thousands of fans gathered on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 27, 2015, for a funeral procession in honor of the blues legend. B.B. King was laid to rest in Indianola, Mississippi, his hometown, on May 30.

Conclusion

B.B. King’s life was a testament to his unwavering dedication to the blues and his profound impact on the world of music. From his humble beginnings as a sharecropper in Mississippi to his global recognition as “The King of the Blues,” King transcended racial and musical boundaries, bringing the raw emotion and power of the blues to audiences worldwide. His distinctive guitar playing, characterized by the soulful cries of his beloved “Lucille,” and his heartfelt vocals left an indelible mark on countless musicians across various genres, from rock and pop to country.

Beyond his musical prowess, King was a tireless ambassador for the blues, performing relentlessly and advocating for the genre throughout his life. His legacy extends beyond his numerous awards and accolades, encompassing the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, which stands as a tribute to his contributions and the rich history of the Mississippi Delta. B.B. King’s influence continues to resonate, ensuring that the blues, and his unique interpretation of it, will live on for generations to come.