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Riley King Biography

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Biography
Riley king, better known as BB king, as born on September the 16th 1925 and died on May 14, 2015 at age 89. He was a blues singer, electric guitarist, song writer, and produced records. He was one of the most influential blues artists that earned him the name he king of the blues. He was born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi, called Berclair. He had a rough upbringing, with his mother leaving his father for another man when he was 8. So he was raised with his maternal grandmother. [1] King first found his roots of music talent singing at gospel choir church, the minister of the church tout king his first three cords on the guitar. King bought his first guitar for $15 when he was 12 or other sources say that his first guitar …show more content…

Before this he did produce songs, like Miss Martha King but they did not chart well. After agreeing to the contract, RPM records his career took a leap onto the main boards. After this stint with recording records and handing them over to RPM records king decided to make his own brand; the B.B king Review. This was under leadership of Millard lee. Kings band consisted of many other musicians, and these musicians king relied on heavily as he could not play cords well and heavily relied on improvisation. This made his music very unique and different, promoting his name amongst the blues …show more content…

King became one of the most important names in R&B music in the 1950s, amassing an impressive list of hits including You Know I Love You, Woke Up This Morning. [3]
1960
From 1960, king signed up a new manager, Sid Seidenberg. He pushed King into a different type of venue as other blues-rock performers were popularizing an appreciation of blues music among white audiences. King gained further visibility among rock audiences as an opening act on the Rolling Stones' 1969 American Tour. He won a 1970 Grammy Award for the song. The Thrill Is Gone, his version became a hit on both the pop and R&B charts. It also gained the number 183 spot in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[3][4]
This was a major point of his career as he was now gaining attention and popularity amongst white and black audiences which later made him be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2004, he was awarded the international Polar Music Prize, given to artists in recognition of exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music.

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