In 1949, B. B. King (Riley B. King) began recording music under contract with RPM Records.  He assembled his own band, under the direction of Millard Lee.  The ensemble he put together, including horns; alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, piano, bass, and drums, went on the road.

B. B. King

We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you're doing so.

The Birth of a Legend

In 1949, B. B. King (Riley B. King) began recording music under contract with RPM Records.  He assembled his own band, under the direction of Millard Lee.  The ensemble he put together, including horns; alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, piano, bass, and drums, went on the road.  They toured the US, playing concert halls and smaller venues.  For years, they toured and performed, their record year being 1956 with 342 performances.

Also in 1956, King started his own record label, Blues Boys Kingdom.  He recorded for Millard Lee and Levi Seabury.  Eventually, the record company failed because B. B. King was on the road too much to make it work.

A Long, Successful Career

By the mid 1950s B. B. King was considered to be the most important name in Blues.  He was widely known among fans of all genres.  He recorded three albums in the '50s, and released 30 singles, of which three went to #1 on the R&B charts.  These singles were Three O'Clock Blues, Please Love Me, and You Upset Me Baby.  The 1960s saw 12 more albums and 54 singles.  It was during the '60s that King's singles began appearing on the pop charts as well as the R&B.  

B. B. King continued to tour, perform, and record vigorously throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s.  His albums consistently appeared on both the R&B charts and the pop charts.  His 1997 compilation album, Best of King, went platinum, and his 2000 album, Riding with the King, went double platinum.  In 1980, B. B. King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2004, he was awarded the international Polar Music Prize "in recognition of exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music."  In1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Still Going Strong

B. B. King's career has been a whirlwind of tours and performances, recordings and appearances.  He has influenced artists in the genres of jazz, blues, pop, country, and rock.  In 2006, at age 80, King launched a world tour in England, ending the tour in 2009.  This was to be his Farewell Tour. While his recording has slowed down, he is still a prolific musician and songwriter.  B. B. King has won 15 Grammy Awards, and in 2009, Time Magazine named him #3 in their list of the 10 greatest electric guitarists of all time.

King stated at one point that a Farewell Tour does not have to be his last, and he continues to perform around the world.  Over a period of 52 years, he has performed in excess of 15,000 performances.  His talent and drive have contributed to Rolling Stone Magazine naming him # 3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Did you know . . .

1. In 2001, B. B. King signed on as a chief supporter of Little Kids Rock, an organization that gives musical instruments to under privileged children.

2. B. B. King has made guest appearances on The Young and the Restless, Sanford and Son, Married with Children, The Cosby Show, Sesame Street, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire.

3. B. B. King's favorite singer is Frank Sinatra.

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