B.B. King (b. Riley B. King Sep 16, 1925 - May 14, 2015) was an American singer & guitarist who began his career in juke joints & on local radio. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending & shimmering vibrato that influenced later blues electric guitar players. In the ‘50s he amassed an impressive list of R&B hits, including You Know I Love You, Woke Up This Morning, Please Love Me", When My Heart Beats like a Hammer, Whole Lotta Love, You Upset Me Baby, Every Day I Have the Blues, Sneakin' Around, Ten Long Years, Bad Luck, Sweet Little Angel, On My Word of Honor, & Please Accept My Love. In the late ‘60s he moved into a different venue, as blues-rock performers like Eric Clapton & Paul Butterfield were popularizing blues music among white audiences. King gained further visibility among rock audiences as an opening act on the Rolling Stones' ‘69 American Tour. He won a ‘70 Grammy Award for his version of song The Thrill Is Gone, which was a hit on both the Pop & R&B charts. From the 80s onward, he maintained a highly visible & active career, performing tirelessly at over 200 concerts per year into his 70s. In ‘88, he reached a new generation of fans with the single When Love Comes to Town (a collaboration with the band U2 on their Rattle and Hum album). In ‘97 he performed at the Vatican's Christmas concert & presented his trademark guitar "Lucille" to Pope John Paul II. In 2000, he & Eric Clapton recorded Riding with the King, which won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album. Concert album & video B.B. King: Live (2008) features his B.B. King Blues Band & captured his show as he performed it nightly around the world. King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in ‘80, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in ‘87, & the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014. 1 of the most influential blues musicians of all time, he is referred to as "The King of the Blues" & is considered 1 of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King & Freddie King, none blood related). B.B. King passed away at the age of 89 on May 14, 2015.

Discography

Singin' the Blues (1956)

The Blues (1958)

B.B. King Wails (1959)

King of the Blues (1960)

Sings Spirituals (1960)

The Great B.B. King (1960)

My Kind of Blues (1961)

Blues For Me (1961)

Blues in My Heart (1962)

Easy Listening Blues (1962)

B.B. King (1963)

Mr. Blues (1963)

Confessin' the Blues (1966)

Blues on Top of Blues (1968)

Lucille (1968)

Live & Well (1969)

Completely Well (1969)

Indianola Mississippi Seeds (1970)

B.B. King in London (1971)

L.A. Midnight (1972)

Guess Who (1972)

To Know You Is to Love You (1973)

Lucille Talks Back (1975)

King Size (1977)

Midnight Believer (1978)

Take It Home (1979)

There Must Be a Better World Somewhere (1981

Love Me Tender (1982)

Blues 'N' Jazz (1983)

Six Silver Strings (1985)

King of the Blues: 1989 (1988)

There Is Always One More Time (1991)

Blues Summit (1993)

Lucille & Friends (1995)

Deuces Wild (1997)

Blues on the Bayou (1998)

Let the Good Times Roll (1999)

Makin' Love Is Good for You (2000)

Riding with the King (2000, with Eric Clapton)

A Christmas Celebration of Hope (2001)

Reflections (2003)

B.B. King & Friends: 80 (2005)

One Kind Favor (2008)