B.B. King
| Birth Name | Riley B. King |
|---|---|
| Born | September 16, 1925 |
| Died | May 14, 2015 (aged 89) |
| Genres | Electric blues rhythm and blues rock and roll blues rock soul gospel |
| Instruments | Guitar vocals |
| Associated acts | Not found |
B.B. King – Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that influenced many later blues electric guitar players.
Video Playlist
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Rock Me Baby
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The Thrill is Gone (Live at Montreux)
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Why I Sing The Blue
B.B. King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and is one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname “The King of the Blues”, and is considered one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar” (along with Albert and Freddie King). King performed tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing on average at more than 200 concerts per year into his 70s. In 1956 alone, he appeared at 342 shows.
B.B. King was born on a cotton plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and later worked at a cotton gin in Indianola, Mississippi. He was attracted to music and the guitar in church and began his career in juke joints and local radio. He later lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago, and as his fame grew, toured the world extensively. King died at the age of 89 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 14, 2015.
B.B. King was born on September 16, 1925, on the Berclair cotton plantation near the town of Itta Bena, Mississippi, the son of sharecroppers Albert and Nora Ella King.[14] He considered the nearby city of Indianola, Mississippi to be his home. When King was four years old, his mother left his father for another man, so he was raised by his maternal grandmother, Elnora Farr, in Kilmichael, Mississippi.
Guitarists Through The Decades
Top 3 B.B. King Recordings
How To Play Guitar Like B.B. King
B.B. King Style Guitar Book with Video & Audio Access
B.B. King Style Guitar Book with Video & Audio Access by Jody Worrell teaches the techniques and style that helped establish B.B. King as a blues legend. You will learn the timing, note selection, bends, vibrato, and famous box position that all combine to create B.B.’s unique phrasing. After learning the lead parts, they will be demonstrated over a full band rhythm track. Each lick or phrase will then be traded back and forth.
Learn to Play Blues Guitar: An introduction to the guitar styles of the three Kings
“Learn to play the three Kings” delves into the guitar styles of Albert King, B.B. King and Freddie King. The book explores the main elements that make up each player’s guitar style and is designed to give you the tools and approaches you need to add a little of each style to your own guitar playing. Each chapter examines the rhythm and lead guitar techniques of the three Kings, which are then broken down into their signature phrases. We dissect the approaches used so you can see the origins of each idea, making them easier to integrate into your own guitar playing.
