Bb King Biography

Son House aka Edward James House, Jr. was a famous American blues singer and guitarist. He was born March 21, 1902 in Lyon, Mississippi on the Mississippi River Delta on a plantation where he lived for a while. He died October 19, 1988 in Detroit, Michigan at age 86 from Alzheimer’s disease. He was known for his “highly emotional style of singing and slide guitar playing” (BBC 1). He did not start out as a singer and guitarist. He started out as a church pastor and then when he was twenty-five years old he turned to performing blues. It was not easy for Son house to sell records at first. This is because it was around the time of The Great Depression, which plagued many

Elvis Presley was one of the most influential rock and roll singers in the American history. Presley’s work revolutionized the music and brought about significant changes in the entertainment industry. He grew up in an environment where racial segregation between the whites and African Americans was highly pronounced. In fact, Presley schooled in Memphis where he graduated from a whites-only high school. However, he upheld the Black’s music and made it possible for their music to be accessed by the White American youths. Presley’s tracks broke past the racial barrier as many teenagers loved his amazing voice. Through his music, he confronted racism and challenged both social and moral values. Elvis Presley changed the manner in which the Black minority were treated in the U.S. through his music, and this initiated the fights against racial discrimination leading to the civil rights movement.

Elvis Presley is one of the biggest names in rock and roll. Singer, musician and actor he was an American icon. He is best known as the King of Rock and Roll. His musical influence included the country and pop music of the time, the gospel music he sang in church and the black R&B music he listened to as a teenager (Comprehensive History of Elvis Presley’s Dynamic Life). Elvis has influenced American culture not only while he was living but also in today’s 21st century. It wasn’t easy for him to be accepted; in fact many adults and the older generations of his time were appalled by his performances and his music. In time though, people were able to accept him and he became well-known all over the world. Even after his death Americans are

As a young boy living on cotton plantations, Robert witnessed the harsh treatment of fellow black African Americans. The cruel treatment of the plantation owners continued into daily life where Johnson was received as inferior by the white general public. He received unjust segregated treatment as a result of his black skin. As a small child he watched in amazement to the powerful music of the bluesmen. In beautiful song they captured the pain of injustice which Robert, as well as most other African Americans of the time, had been forced to endure all their lives. Young Robert was intrigued by these men, and dreamed of one day singing the blues himself.

Shortly after all that Chuck Berry was very quick to follow with a bundle of other unique singles that seemed to continue to mold out what appeared to be the new genre of rock 'n ' roll. These single included "Roll Over, Beethoven," "Too Much Monkey Business" and "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man," these are just a few songs among many others. Chuck Berry had managed to “achieve crossover appeal with white youths without alienating his black fans by mixing blues and R&B sounds with storytelling that spoke to the universal themes of youth” (Encyclopedia of World Biography). In the late 1950s, songs like "Johnny B. Goode," "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Carol" had all made the Top 10 chart of pop music by accomplishing the equal popularity with youths on both sides of the racial divide (Biography.com. A&E Networks Television). "I made records for people who would buy them," Berry said. "No color, no ethnic, no political I don 't want that, never did. ' ' (Rolling Stone)

Elvis Presley was best known for his integration of R&B and country music. The public was scared that not only Presley would integrate music but also the white and black community. Which was something he did actually achieve according to Little Richard “He was an integrator. Elvis was a blessing. They wouldn’t let black music through. He opened the door for black music” (Elvis After 198). Parents were afraid of his music, considering it was said that he had a voice of a black man. He caused controversy, a white man singing black music on the radio.This controversy grew as Presley grew in

The Blues also became a hit in the 1920s after Mamie Smith recorded “Crazy Blues” and it grew into a huge part of the Jazz Industry. African Americans were given credit for the creation of the Blues industry of music as well. Bessie Smith was known as the “most famous of the 1920s Blues singers.”

The blues have deep roots embedded within American history—particularly that of African American history. The history of the blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th century and was created by slaves, ex-slaves, and descendants of slaves. They were created by individuals who endured great hardship while performing endless hours of arduous labor and blues served as a form of escapism. To these individuals, songs provided them with the strength to persevere through their struggles. Blues songs depicted individuals who persevered in the face of adversity. They were symbols of hope to those squandering in the depths of oppression. In relations to the blues, every song has a story behind it and within every story, there is something to be said. Blues artists, through their struggles, detail how they overcame hardship and laughed at the face of oppression. They defied the rules and in doing so, showed African Americans that they too are beacons of hope for the hopeless. The best blues is instinctive, cathartic, and intensely emotional. From irrepressible bliss to deep sadness, no form of music communicates more genuine emotion than that of the blues. Like many bluesmen of his day, Robert Johnson applied his craft as a lonely traveling musician on street corners and in juke joints. He was a lonely man whose songs romanticized that existence. With Johnson’s unique vocal style, haunting lyrics, and creative guitar techniques, Johnson’s innovation embodied the essence of

Elvis Aaron Presley, otherwise known as “The King” was born on January 8th, 1935. He came from simple beginnings; being born into a lower-class family in Tupelo, Mississippi. In 1948, at the age of 13 Elvis Presley and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Soon he launched his incredibly successful music career with Sun Records at the age of 19 in 1954. His music was influenced by both African American and White artists causing his unique blend of country, pop, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. Presley was heavily influenced by artists such as Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Buddy Holly. Though Presley was widely known for his “provocative” dances moves and his popularization of Rock n’ Roll Presley impacted American culture in a much larger aspect. His influence on Americans and American culture aided desegregation and civil rights during his period of influence and helped create “youth culture”.

Blues began in the south and slowly made its way into the great cities of the North. As

Elvis Presley was a legend in rock and roll in life. He still is the king of rock and roll even in death. He was born on January 8 1935 in Mississippi in 1948 his family moved to Memphis Tennessee, where he graduated high school from Humes High School. He was attracted to music at a young age and began his music career in 1954 with Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955 his recording contract was bought by RCA Victor. By 1956 he was an international sensation. He starred in 33 films and did hundreds of shows and specials. This success would eventually lead him to an early death.

Kings Jr. Speech overall is very influential and King accomplishes to get his message across. His words throughout the speech are those of hope. The more you read the speech the more inspired you become with his words of wisdom. This speech is one of the most inspiring speech’s there is out

King’s celebrated music career emerged from very modest beginnings. At the age of 18, King started to perform his renditions of traditional Delta blues music at churches around local areas in Mississippi; but his talents saw him gradually travel further up north over the years, as many blues musicians, and many other African-Americans

For more than half a century, Riley B. King -better known as B.B. King- has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. Since he started recording in the 1940s, he has released over fifty albums (many of them classics). B.B. was born September 16, 1925, on a plantation in Itta Bena,

In “Inflation Blues”, his guitar solo sounded different form his others, more like a tonal change. Besides, King’s guitar playing, the pianist kept to the normal “skat” sound and the trumpeter and saxophonist were mainly in charge of the harmonies since King did not have any back up singers. Actually, one of the best harmonies between the two was in “There Must Be A Better World Somewhere” with the trumpet being just a key higher than the saxophone. Two songs that stood out from his others, was his rendition of “Love Me Tender” which was more of a ballad than a blues song and “Better Not Look Down”. “Love Me Tender” had a slow tempo and due to its style was one of the softest played songs which was different, on the other hand “Better Not Look Down” had a very upbeat feel, a crescendo after the third verse(third story), and a great bass solo. During the performance, one could tell that King really got into his performances. From his “ugly” singing to his interaction with the crowd, he was consistent in keeping the audience engaged and the audience seemed to be really enjoying