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B. B. King (Riely B. King 1925)In a world of exploding media, B.B.King has taken the status of an international blues ikon. Possible the best known and widely recognized bluesman on the planet, where he has enjoyed a constant successful performance and recording career through more than four decades.
His influence on guitar players and singers is so wide, that it is hard to find a modern artist that does not list him as a source of inspiration.
Born the 16'th of September 1925 and raised in Mississippi, Riley B.King attracted attention as "Blues Boy B.B.King", when he worked as a disc jockey on radio WDIA in Memphis Tennessee.
King was discovered by talent scout Ike Turner (listen) and he introduced B.B.King to the Bihari brothers with whom he recorded his first hit, Lowell Fulson's (listen) "Three O'Clock Blues"(listen), which was recorded in 1951 in the black YMCA in Memphis.
Not long after B.B.King moved to Los Angeles, the home of Bihari's Modern Records and their new label RPM, where King recorded his second hit "You Upset Me Baby" recorded in 1953.
King has been able to enjoy hits in every decade since then, and has toured the planet since the 70'ties. He has recorded in many different environments, but has always stayed faithful to his blues root's.
While this is an achievement that no other performer can claim, B.B.King has never had a brake to linger on the past achievement's. And no longer ago than 1989, B.B.King worked together with some of the superstar's of rock, the U2 (listen), to create a new and refreshed kind of blues that would hit the chart's around the world, and emphasize his fame to a new generation of fans.
Today B.B.King is recognized as "The King Of The Blues" a title he deeply has earned through hard work. "Three O'Clock Blues" (listen) and "You Upset Me Baby" (listen) gives an early insight into the elaboration of a King.
To this day B.B.King is still going strong, and in the new millennium he has recorded as much as three new albums, "Let The Good Times Roll"(listen), which is a tribute to Louis Jordan (listen). "Making Love Is Good For You" (listen) with his touring band. And last but not least "Riding With The King" (listen) together with Eric Clapton. Once again he has emphasized his status as "King Of The Blues"
I have personally experienced about five concert's with B.B.King and enjoyed each one. I had the great pleasure as well to meet B.B.King in person a few times, backstage as well as in his Hotel.
Visit my photo albums from a concert in Tivoli in Copenhagen in 1990, and from a few of the times I had the pleasure of meeting B.B.King in person.
Here is a taste of BB King:
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