B.B. King

Full Name: Riley B. King
Profession: Blues Musician

Nationality:

Biography: B. B. King is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. King is known for his unique style, ability to cross genres and his long playing career.

King started recording in the 1940s and had his first national hit, "Three O'Clock Blues," in 1949. His many hits include "Let The Good Times Roll", "The Thrill is Gone", and "Rock Me Baby".

King played over 300 concerts a year until he was in his seventies. King was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" in 1987 and won 16 Grammys throughout his career, including A Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987.

He has collaborated widely, with artists that include Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Van Morrison, and Bonnie Raitt.

Born: September 16, 1925
Birthplace: near Berclair, Mississippi, USA

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Virgo

Died: May 14, 2015 (aged 89)

Married Life

1944-11-11 Blues musician B.B. King (19) marries his first wife Martha Denton
1958-06-04 American blues musician B.B. King (32) weds his second wife Sue Hall; divorce in 1966

Historical Events

1952-02-02 B.B. King's “3 O’Clock Blues” hits #1 on the US Billboard's R&B hit parade to become his first national hit
1969-08-01 3-day Atlantic City Pop Festival opens at the Atlantic City Race Course in Hamilton Township, New Jersey; performers include: Procol Harum; Joni Mitchell; Chicago; Santana; Little Richard; Booker T and the MG's; Sir Douglas Quintet; Janis Joplin; Jefferson Airplane, B.B. King; The Byrds; Creedence Clearwater Revival; Tim Buckley; Hugh Masekela; Dr. John; and The Mothers of Invention; attendance estimated at 110,000
1969-08-30 3-day Texas International Pop Festival opens in Lewisville, Texas - 125,000 attend; performers include: Chicago Transit Authority; Delaney and Bonnie and Friends; Grand Funk Railroad; Janis Joplin; B.B. King; Led Zeppelin; Nazz; Sam and Dave; Sly and the Family Stone; and Johnny Winter
1970-07-03 Atlanta International Pop Festival opens, 200,000 attend over 3 days; performers include Allman Brothers; Grand Funk Railroad, Jimi Hendrix Experience; Richie Havens; Cat Mother & the All-Night Newsboys; B.B. King; Mott the Hoople; and John Sebastian
1985-09-22 First Farm Aid benefit concert, Champaign, Illinois; organized by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp; performers included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Billy Joel, B.B. King, Hoyt Axton, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, and Emmylou Harris
1987-01-21 B.B. King donates his 7,000 record collection to the University of Mississippi
1987-01-21 Second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Coasters; Eddie Cochran; Bo Diddley; Aretha Franklin; Marvin Gaye; Bill Haley; B.B. King; Clyde McPhatter; Ricky Nelson; Roy Orbison; Carl Perkins; Smokey Robinson; Joe Turner; Muddy Waters; Jackie Wilson; Louis Jordan; T-Bone Walker; Hank Williams; Leonard Chess; Ahmet Ertegun; Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; and Jerry Wexler
2006-12-15 American blues legend B.B. King is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US President George W. Bush
2011-06-22 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: U2, Coldplay, and Beyoncé headline; other performers include B.B. King, Paul Simon, Mumford and Sons, Morrissey, and Wu-Tang Clan
2014-10-03 Blues guitarist and singer B.B. King's last live performance, at the House of Blues in Chicago, Illinois