B.B. King was born on a plantation in Bena, Mississippi on September 16, 1925. His earliest exposure to the blues came when he was working as a farmhand on a cotton plantation and heard the workers sing. He was forbidden to sing the blues by his father and stepmother who considered it the music of the devil. King sang gospel music in church and performed professionally with gospel singing groups. King's farm boss loaned him money to buy a guitar and sign up for music lessons. It wasn't long before he began earning more money playing his guitar on Saturdays on street corners than he earned in a week's farm work.
In 1948, King moved to Memphis, both to escape the racial violence of Indianola, Mississippi and to answer the siren call of the excitement and musical atmosphere of Memphis. He found work almost immediately: singing commercials at an African American radio station and performing at local clubs. His free time was spent on Beale Street, the local clubs street. It was during this time that he acquired his nickname, it started as Beale Street Blues Boy, then shortened to Blues Boy, and finally B.B.
King spent the 1950s on the road playing wherever blues fans gathered. His first record, "3 O'Clock Blues," was recorded in 1951 by Sun Records and held the number one spot on the Billboard R&B chart for several weeks. By 1952, his reputation was such that he was performing at an elite circuit of clubs, including the Apollo Theater. Blues popularity waned at the end of the 1950s as rock and roll gained popularity. In 1969, King seemed to come into his own with the release of an album which contained one of his greatest hits, "The Thrill is Gone" which won a Grammy Award in 1971. His career continued unabated through the 1970s as he gained popularity and favor among young people and fellow musicians. He became a favorite entertainer on college campuses and even toured for ten days with the Rolling Stones.
King's popularity has continues today. He was named one of the winners of the 2004 Polar Music Prize for his contributions to the blues. In 2006, he won a Grammy Award for best traditional blues album. This is in addition to his Grammy Awards in 1970, 1981, 1892, 1987 (Lifetime Achievement), 1990-91, and 1993. His other awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Kennedy Center Honors, are too numerous to list. He holds honorary doctorates from four universities including Yale University.
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