Monday, February 3, 2020

In Honor - B.B. King


B.B. King in 2009.jpg
September 16, 1925 - May 14, 2015

Musical background -
B.B. King's career began when performing in juke joints.  His name became known when living in Memphis and Chicago.  His career officially launched in the late 1940s on Beale Street - a street in downtown Memphis with history of blues music.  A further background can be found on Wikipedia.  

B.B. King's career span lasted from 1949 to 2014.  His discography spans from 1956 to 2008 - 44 studio albums.  (Wikipedia)

The forever iconic and trademark Lucille...a staple to B.B. King's performance  - a guitar named by B.B. King after hearing two men fighting over a woman named Lucille.  "Lucille" was meant to be a reminder not to fight over women.


B.B. King Honors -
Grammy Awards - 6 Nominations, 15 Wins
Country Music Association Nomination (1995)
NAACP Image Award Nomination (2002)
Honorary Doctor of Music by Yale University (1971)
Blues Hall of Fame (1980)
Honorary Doctorate of Music by Berklee College of Music (1985)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1987)
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1987)
National Medal of Arts (1990)
National Heritage Fellowship by NEA (National Endowment of the Arts, 1991)
Kennedy Center Honors (1995)
Grammy Hall of Fame Award ("The Thrill Is Gone", 1998)
Polar Music Prize by the R0yal Swedish Academy of Music (2004)
Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush (2006)
Honorary Doctorate in music by Brown University (2007)
Keys to the city of Portland, Maine (2008)
No. 3 on 10 Best Electric Guitarists (Time, 2009)

"The Thrill Is Gone"  - No. 183 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" 

"3 O'Clock Blues" - No. 1 on Billboard Rhythm and Blues (1952)


An impressive career.  Outstanding honors.  

Farewell, B.B. King


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