Profile of the Day: B.B. King

B.B. King

Today we honor blues legend B.B. King, who passed away at the age of 89.

Riley B. King was born on September 16, 1925 on a cotton plantation near the town of Itta Bena, Mississippi. He was exposed to music at a young age as a member of his church’s gospel choir. He was first introduced to the blues by his great aunt at the age of 7 and by 12, he had purchased his first guitar. His mother’s first cousin, Bukka White, was a blues guitarist and singer and helped mentor King in the early days of his career.

After enlisting in the army during World War II, he was able to find work as a disc jockey, and gained the nickname “Beale Street Blues Boy,” which was shortened to “Blues Boy” and finally to “B.B.” King made his first recording in 1949, and soon signed a recording contract. For the next several years, his career soared. King released a series of highly successful hits, including “Three O’Clock Blues,” “Please Love Me,” and “The Thrill is Gone.”

Dubbed “The King of the Blues,” King will be remembered as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time.

RIP B.B. King.

View B.B. King’s Geni Profile

Image: Tom Beetz, Wikimedia Commons