About the artist
B.B. King, born Riley B. King in 1925 in Mississippi and passing in 2015, was one of the most influential blues musicians in history, earning the title «King of the Blues». He began his career in Memphis in the late 1940s, initially working as a radio DJ before establishing himself as a recording artist and relentless touring performer, playing thousands of shows over a career spanning more than fifty years.
King's guitar style, built around expressive string bending, a distinctive vibrato, and vocal-like phrasing, became a foundational influence on generations of guitarists across blues, rock, and beyond, including figures like Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. He famously named every guitar he played «Lucille», a tradition rooted in a near-fatal incident early in his career that became part of his personal mythology.
Among his best-known recordings are «The Thrill Is Gone», «Rock Me Baby», and «Three O'Clock Blues», songs that helped bring blues to wider Rhythm and Blues audiences even as King rarely crossed fully into pop stardom. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, cementing his place as a cornerstone figure of American blues.
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Discography
The Absolute Masterpieces
2014
Eight Classic Albums
2014
Blues Will Never Die (Remastered)
2014
One Kind Favor
2008
Black Blues Experience
2007
The Essential BB King
2007
Bluer Than Blue
2005
B.B. King Biography
2005
80
2005
B.B. King (feat. Riley B. King)
2004
Timeless Classics
2004
Reflections
2003
A Christmas Celebration of Hope
2001
Riding with the King
2000
My Kind of Blues
2000
Makin’ Love Is Good for You
2000
Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan
1999
Let Me Love You
1999
Blues on the Bayou
1998
King Biscuit
1998
Deuces Wild
1997
How Blue Can You Get? Classic Live Performances
1996
How Blue Can You Get? : Classic Live Performances, 1964-1994
1996
The Revue Collection
1996
Kansas City 1972
1995
Everyday I Have the Blues
1994
Got My Mojo Working
1994
B. B. King Wails
1994
The King of the Blues
1993
Blues Summit
1993
Forever Gold
1993
Spotlight On Lucille
1992
There Is Always One More Time
1991
King of the Blues Guitar
1990
Live At San Quentin - B.B. King
1990
B.B. Boogie
1989
King Of The Blues 1989
1988
Introducing B.B. King
1987
The Best of B.B. King Volume 1
1986
Six Silver Strings
1985
Blues ‘n’ Jazz / Electric B.B. King
1983
Blues ‘n’ Jazz
1983
Love Me Tender
1982
There Must Be a Better World Somewhere
1981
Back in the Alley
1980
Take It Home
1979
Midnight Believer
1978
King Size
1977
Lucille Talks Back
1975
To Know You Is to Love You
1973
L.A. Midnight
1972
Guess Who
1972
B.B. King in London
1971
Live In County Jail
1971
Better Than Ever
1971
Live In Cook County Jail
1971
Indianola Mississippi Seeds
1970
King Of The Blues (1992 Box Set) - B.B. King
Completely Well
1969
Live & Well
1969
16 Greatest Hits
1968
His Best - The Electric B.B. King
1968
Lucille
1968
Blues on Top of Blues
1968
Blues Is King
1967
Sweet Sixteen
1967
Live at the Regal
1965
On Stage
1965
Mr. Blues
1963
The Soul of B.B. King
1963
Blues in My Heart
1962
Easy Listening Blues
1962
More B.B. King
1961
King of the Blues (1960)
1960
Sings Spirituals
1959
The Blues
1958
Singin’ the Blues
1957