Born as Riley B. King, he began broadcasting his music live on a Memphis radio station called WDIA. At first, he used the name The Peptikon Boy on air, which later was changed to The Beale Street Blues Boy, and then further shortened to just Blues Boy or B.B.
King's first hit on the R&B charts was "Three o'Clock in the Morning" in 1951. He first found success outside the blues market with the 1968 remake of the Roy Hawkins tune, "The Thrill Is Gone", which became a hit on both pop and R&B charts, a rare feat. King's mainstream success continued throughout the 1970s with songs like "To Know You Is to Love You" and "I Like to Live the Love". From 1951 to 1985, King appeared on Billboard's R&B charts seventy-four times.
King continued to record until his 80's, compilations of classic songs with other top artists, and new collaborative material with artists like Eric Clapton.
Further facts:
Early life
King was born in a cabin on a cotton plantation outside of Berclair, Mississippi, to Albert King and Nora Ella Farr on September 16, 1925. In 1930, his father left the family, and his mother married another man. King was raised by his maternal grandmother Elnora Farr in Kilmichael, Mississippi.[8]
As a kid, King sang in the gospel choir at Elkhorn Baptist Church in Kilmichael. It seems that at the age of 12, he purchased his first guitar for $15.00,[8] although another source indicates he was given his first guitar by Bukka White, his mother's first cousin (King's grandmother and White's mother were sisters).[9] In 1943, King left Kilmichael to work as a tractor driver and play guitar with the Famous St. John's Quartet of Inverness, Mississippi, performing at area churches and on WGRM in Greenwood, Mississippi.
In 1946, King followed Bukka White to Memphis, Tennessee. White took him in for the next ten months. However, King shortly returned to Mississippi, where he decided to prepare himself better for the next visit, and returned to West Memphis, Arkansas, two years later in 1948. He performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM in West Memphis, where he began to develop an audience. King's appearances led to steady engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis and later to a ten-minute spot on the Memphis radio station WDIA. King's Spot became so popular, it was expanded and became the Sepia Swing Club.
Initially he worked at WDIA as a singer and disc jockey, gaining the nickname Beale Street Blues Boy, which was later shortened to Blues Boy and finally to B.B. It was there that he first met T-Bone Walker. "Once I'd heard him for the first time, I knew I'd have to have [an electric guitar] myself. 'Had' to have one, short of stealing!", he said.
Career
1949–2005
In 1949, King began recording songs under contract with Los Angeles-based RPM Records. Many of King's early recordings were produced by Sam Phillips, who later founded Sun Records. Before his RPM contract, King had debuted on Bullet Records by issuing the single "Miss Martha King" (1949), which did not chart well. "My very first recordings [in 1949] were for a company out of Nashville called Bullet, the Bullet Record Transcription company," King recalls. "I had horns that very first session. I had Phineas Newborn on piano; his father played drums, and his brother, Calvin, played guitar with me. I had Tuff Green on bass, Ben Branch on tenor sax, his brother, Thomas Branch, on trumpet, and a lady trombone player. The Newborn family were the house band at the famous Plantation Inn in West Memphis.
Performing with his famous guitar, Lucille
King assembled his own band; the B.B. King Review, under the leadership of Millard Lee. The band initially consisted of Calvin Owens and Kenneth Sands (trumpet), Lawrence Burdin (alto saxophone), George Coleman (tenor saxophone),[17] Floyd Newman (baritone saxophone), Millard Lee (piano), George Joyner (bass) and Earl Forest and Ted Curry (drums). Onzie Horne was a trained musician elicited as an arranger to assist King with his compositions. By his own admission, he cannot play chords well[18] and always relies on improvisation. This was followed by tours across the USA with performances in major theaters in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit and St. Louis, as well as numerous gigs in small clubs and juke joints of the southern US states.
In the winter of 1949, King played at a dance hall in Twist, Arkansas. In order to heat the hall, a barrel half-filled with kerosene was lit, a fairly common practice at the time. During a performance, two men began to fight, knocking over the burning barrel and sending burning fuel across the floor. The hall burst into flames, which triggered an evacuation. Once outside, King realized that he had left his guitar inside the burning building. He entered the blaze to retrieve his beloved instrument, a Gibson hollow electric. The next day, King learned that the two men were fighting over a woman named Lucille. King named that first guitar Lucille, as well as every one he owned since that experience, as a reminder never again to do something as stupid as run into a burning building for a replaceable guitar.
King meanwhile toured the entire "Chitlin' circuit" and 1956 became a record-breaking year, with 342 concerts booked. The same year he founded his own record label, Blues Boys Kingdom, with headquarters at Beale Street in Memphis. There, among other projects, he produced artists such as Millard Lee and Levi Seabury.
In the 1950s, B.B. King became one of the most important names in R&B music, amassing an impressive list of hits including "3 O'Clock Blues",[14] "You Know I Love You," "Woke Up This Morning," "Please Love Me," "When My Heart Beats like a Hammer," "Whole Lotta Love," "You Upset Me Baby," "Every Day I Have the Blues", "Sneakin' Around," "Ten Long Years," "Bad Luck," "Sweet Little Angel", "On My Word of Honor," and "Please Accept My Love." King was extremely busy during this period and made 342 appearances and 3 recording sessions in 1956 alone. In 1962, King signed to ABC-Paramount Records, which was later absorbed into MCA Records, and this hence into his current label, Geffen Records. In November 1964, King recorded the Live at the Regal album at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois.
King 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, which was rare during that time for an R&B artist. It also gained the number 183 spot in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. He gained further visibility among rock audiences as an opening act on The Rolling Stones' 1969 American Tour. King's mainstream success continued throughout the 1970s with songs like "To Know You is to Love You" and "I Like to Live the Love".
King was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980, and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. 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."
B.B. King in concert in France 1989
From the 1980s onward he has continued to maintain a highly visible and active career, appearing on numerous television shows and performing 300 nights a year. In 1988, King reached a new generation of fans with the single "When Love Comes to Town", a collaborative effort between King and the Irish band U2 on their Rattle and Hum album. Also that year King played for the 1988 Republican National Convention at the behest of the notorious Republican operative Lee Atwater. King has remained friendly with the Bush Family ever since and in 1990 was awarded the Presidential Medal of the Arts by George H.W. Bush and the Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2008. In 2000, King teamed up with guitarist Eric Clapton to record Riding With the King. In 1998, King appeared in The Blues Brothers 2000, playing the part of the lead singer of the Louisiana Gator Boys, along with Clapton, Dr. John, Koko Taylor and Bo Diddley.
2006–present: farewell tour and later activities[edit]
On 2006, King went on a "farewell" world tour, although he has been active ever since it ended. partly supported by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore, with whom King had previously toured and recorded, including the song "Since I Met You Baby". It started in the UK, and continued with performances in the Montreux Jazz Festival and in Zürich at the Blues at Sunset. During his show in Montreux at the Stravinski Hall he jammed with Joe Sample, Randy Crawford, David Sanborn, Gladys Knight, Lella James, Andre Beeka, Earl Thomas, Stanley Clarke, John McLaughlin, Barbara Hendricks and George Duke. The European leg of the Farewell Tour ended in Luxembourg on September 19, 2006, at the D'Coque Arena (support act: Todd Sharpville). In November and December, King played six times in Brazil.
In June 2006, King was present at a memorial of his first radio broadcast at the Three Deuces Building in Greenwood, Mississippi, where an official marker of the Mississippi Blues Trail was erected. The same month, a groundbreaking was held for a new museum, dedicated to King.[21] in Indianola, Mississippi.[22] The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center opened on September 13, 2008. In late October 2006, he recorded a concert CD and DVD entitled B.B. King: Live at his B.B. King Blues Clubs in Nashville and Memphis. The four-night production featured his regular B.B. King Blues Band and captured his show as he performs it nightly around the world. It was his first live performance recording in 14 years.
B.B. King at Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Ontario (May 2007)
On 2007, King played at Eric Clapton's second Crossroads Guitar Festival (Parts of this performance were subsequently aired in a PBS broadcast and released on the Crossroads II DVD.), contributed the song "Goin' Home", to Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino (with Ivan Neville's DumpstaPhunk), and "One Shoe Blues" to Sandra Boynton's children's album Blue Moo, accompanied by a pair of sock puppets in the video.
In the summer of 2008, King played at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, the Chicago Blues Festival, and at the Monterey Blues Festival. On the winter, King was the closing act at the 51st Grammy Nomination Concert, and played at The Kennedy Center Honors Awards Show; his performance was in honor of actor Morgan Freeman. Also in 2008 he was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame alongside Liza Minnelli and Sir James Galway, and Sirius XM Radio's Bluesville channel was renamed B.B. King's Bluesville.
European Tour 2009, Vienna, July 2009
In Summer 2009, King started a European Tour with concerts in France, Germany, Belgium, Finland and Denmark.
King performed at the Mawazine festival in Rabat, Morocco, on May 27, 2010.[23] In June 2010, King performed at 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival with The Robert Cray Band, Jimmie Vaughan and Eric Clapton. In March 2010, King contributed to Cyndi Lauper's album Memphis Blues, which was released on June 22, 2010.
On 2011 King played at the Glastonbury Music Festival, and in The Royal Albert Hall, London, supported by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Ronnie Wood, Mick Hucknall and Slash.
Barack Obama and B.B. King singing "Sweet Home Chicago" on February 21, 2012
On February 21, 2012, King was among the performers of "In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues", during which Obama sang part of "Sweet Home Chicago".[24] King recorded for the debut album of rapper and producer Big K.R.I.T., who also hails from Mississippi.[25] On July 5, 2012, King performed a concert at the Byblos Festival, Lebanon.
On May 26, 2013, King appeared at New Orleans Jazz Festival[26]
Over a period of 64 years, King has played in excess of 15,000 performances.
A feature documentary about B.B. King narrated by Morgan Freeman, and directed by Jon Brewer was released on October 15, 2012.
Equipment
For more information about King's guitar, see Lucille (guitar).
B.B. King uses simple equipment. He played guitars made by different manufacturers early in his career: he played a Fender Telecaster on most of his recordings with RPM Records (USA).[29] However, he is best known for playing variants of the Gibson ES-355. In 1980 Gibson Guitar Corporation launched the B.B. King Lucille model. In 2005 Gibson made a special run of 80 Gibson Lucilles, referred to as the "80th Birthday Lucille", the first prototype of which was given as a birthday gift to King, and which he has been using ever since.
King uses Lab Series L5 2x12" combo amp and has been using this amp for a long time. The amp was made by Norlin Industries for Gibson in the 1970s and '80s. Other popular L5 users are Allan Holdsworth and Ty Tabor of King's X. The L5 has an onboard compressor, parametric EQ, and four inputs. King has also used a Fender Twin Reverb.
He uses his signature model strings "Gibson SEG-BBS B.B. King Signature Electric Guitar Strings" with gauges: 10-13-17p-32w-45w-54w and D'Andrea 351 MD SHL CX (Medium .71mm, Tortoise Shell, Celluloid) Picks.
B.B. King's Blues Club[edit]
Sign outside B.B. King's Blues Club on Beale Street, Memphis
In 1991, B.B. King's Blues Club opened on Beale Street in Memphis, and in 1994, a second club was launched at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles. A third club in New York City's Times Square opened in June 2000. Two further clubs opened at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut in January 2002 and another in Nashville in 2003. A club in West Palm Beach opened in the fall of 2009 and an additional one, based in the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, opened in the winter of 2009. In 2007, a B.B. King's Blues Club in Orlando opened on International Drive. The Memphis, Nashville, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Las Vegas clubs are all the same company.
Legacy
King is widely regarded as one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time, inspiring countless other electric blues and blues-rock guitarists.
Philanthropy
In 2001, King signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a non-profit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underprivileged public schools throughout the US. He sits on LKR's Honorary Board of Directors.
TV appearances
B.B. King has made guest appearances in numerous popular television shows, including The Cosby Show, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Sesame Street, Married... with Children, Sanford and Son, and Touched by an Angel. He has also made a cameo in the movie Spies Like Us. He voiced in the last episode of Cow and Chicken.
Personal life
King has been married twice, to Martha Lee Denton, 1946 to 1952, and to Sue Carol Hall, 1958 to 1966. Both marriages ended because of the heavy demands made on the marriage by King's 250 performances a year.It is reported that he has fathered 15 children and, as of 2004, had 50 grandchildren.He has lived with Type II diabetes for over 20 years and is a high-profile spokesman in the fight against the disease, appearing in advertisements for diabetes-management products along with American Idol season 9 contestant Crystal Bowersox.
King is an FAA licensed Private Pilot and learned to fly in 1963 at Chicago Hammond Airport in Lansing, IL (now Lansing Municipal Airport – KIGQ).He frequently flew to gigs, but under the advice of his insurance company and manager in 1995, King was asked to fly only with another licensed pilot; and as a result, King stopped flying around the age of 70.
External video
Oral History, B.B. King reflects on his greatest musical influences. interview date August 3, 2005, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library
His favorite singer is Frank Sinatra. In his autobiography King speaks about how he was, and is, a "Sinatra nut" and how he went to bed every night listening to Sinatra's classic album In the Wee Small Hours. King has credited Sinatra for opening doors to black entertainers who were not given the chance to play in "white-dominated" venues; Sinatra got B.B. King into the main clubs in Las Vegas during the 1960s.
I am
B.B. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time to rise up, it's time to wise up
Be different
You, be yourself, be true
Stop watching what they do
It's time to be who
You
(Let's get it!)
I am who I am (Okay)
I am who I
Am
(Me)
Yo, I am who I am (Me)
I am who I am
I am who I am
Yo, they look at me like I'm crazy
Like I ain't noticed lately
Like I'm in the wrong body, or somebody gave me rabies
But let me make myself clear
I'm different, unique, nowhere near
Everyone else
Now is it clear, is it clear?
Let's hit it here (Right now)
Look
I'm different, unique
Something you can't begin to be
Something you can't even comprehend
Did you even understand?
Give me a paper and a pen
'Cause it's time for me to defend
'Cause everything they been sayin'
Nowhere near self confidence (Never)
They want you to be the same
Just like them, yes just plain
But it's time to make a change
Nothing to fear but that plane
'Cause you are who you are
And I am who I am
A star to be, now let's make this revamp
Yo
I am a king
She is a queen
He stay clean
She look mean
But of course, that's only what they see
What's really going on behind those scenes?
Yo
They try to tell me that I can't do it (Do it)
It's something, but I can't pursue it (Peruse it)
Maybe because I'm different (Different)
Or just because I might loose it
But either way it go, they still talkin' on the low
Even when I walk by, I still just say hi
And of course, yes I go
You gone have your haters and your supporters
Some gone record you, but never adore you
Really just waiting on your downfall
But either way it go, still stand tall
'Cause this is yo dream
This is yo life, do as you please
Do as you like, despite
(What you mean, huh?)
Look
I am a king
I stay clean
No, I'm not mean (Never)
I'm just determined to get to where I need to
Even if it's not because of you
Even if it's not because of this
This rap stuff I do is legit
Yes, I spit
Give me the mic
I act too, you wanna fight?
Still lookin' at the way I walk
Talkin' about the way I talk
But I'm just the same as you
Unique from my point of view
But maybe I'm getting off track
Let's just take this track back
Who am I?
I am who I am, and that's really just that
Yo
I am a king
She is a queen
He stay clean
She look mean
But of course, that's only what they see
What's really going on behind those scenes?
Yo
I am who I am
I am who I am
I am who I
Am
Yo, I am who I am
I am who I am
I am who I
Am
Yo, I am who I am
I am who I am
I am who I
Am
Yo, I am who I am
I am who I am
I am who I
Am
Yo, I am who I am
I am who I am
I am who I
Am
Yo, I am who I am
I am who I am
I am who I
Am
Yo, I am who I am
In this song, B.B. King and his collaborator are speaking about the importance of embracing one's individuality and being true to oneself. They encourage listeners to stop trying to imitate others and instead be confident in their own unique qualities. They acknowledge that people may view them as different or even crazy, but they assert that this is what makes them stand out and ultimately succeed in their endeavors. The repeated refrain of "I am who I am" emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and not allowing others' judgments to define one's sense of self.
The song has a positive and motivational tone, focusing on the possibilities for success and fulfillment that open up when one embraces their individuality. It also touches on the reality of facing criticism and judgment from others, but encourages listeners to stay true to themselves regardless.
Line by Line Meaning
Look
Pay attention
It's time to rise up, it's time to wise up
It's time to take action and be smart
Be different
Don't conform to what others expect
You, be yourself, be true
Be authentic and honest with who you are
Stop watching what they do
Don't compare yourself to others
It's time to be who
Time to be true to yourself and be who you really are
You
Yourself
(Let's get it!)
Let's do it!
I am who I am (Me)
I am proud of who I am
I am who I am (Okay)
I don't need anyone else's approval
I am who I
I know who I am
Am
Period
(Me)
Myself
Yo, I am who I am (Me)
I am confident in my identity
I am who I am
I won't change for anyone else
I am who I am
I'm not pretending to be someone else
Yo, they look at me like I'm crazy
People judge me and think I'm strange
Like I ain't noticed lately
As if I'm not aware of their judgment
Like I'm in the wrong body, or somebody gave me rabies
They treat me like an outcast, but I don't deserve it
But let me make myself clear
I want to explain something
I'm different, unique, nowhere near
I'm not like anyone else, I have my own qualities
Everyone else
Others
Now is it clear, is it clear?
Have I made my point?
Let's hit it here (Right now)
Let's do it now
Look
Pay attention
I'm different, unique
I stand out from the crowd
Something you can't begin to be
You can't replicate my individuality
Something you can't even comprehend
You don't understand me
Did you even understand?
Do you really get it?
Give me a paper and a pen
I want to express myself
'Cause it's time for me to defend
I need to stand up for myself
'Cause everything they been sayin'
People have been talking about me
Nowhere near self confidence (Never)
Their opinions can't affect my self-esteem
They want you to be the same
They pressure you to conform
Just like them, yes just plain
They don't want you to be different
But it's time to make a change
It's time to break free and be yourself
Nothing to fear but that plane
The only thing you have to worry about is taking action
'Cause you are who you are
You should embrace your true identity
And I am who I am
I accept myself for who I am
A star to be, now let's make this revamp
I have potential and let's work towards that
Yo
Listen up
I am a king
I have power, strength, and self-respect
She is a queen
She has poise, dignity, and self-assurance
He stay clean
He has integrity and doesn't compromise his values
She look mean
She appears tough and unapproachable, but it's only a facade
But of course, that's only what they see
People judge others based on appearances
What's really going on behind those scenes?
What is the true story?
They try to tell me that I can't do it (Do it)
People doubt my abilities
It's something, but I can't pursue it (Peruse it)
I have something I want to do, but obstacles are in my way
Maybe because I'm different (Different)
Maybe because I don't fit in
Or just because I might loose it
Or because they think I might fail
But either way it go, they still talkin' on the low
Regardless, they gossip behind my back
Even when I walk by, I still just say hi
I maintain my positivity and treat them with respect
And of course, yes I go
Despite their negativity, I still move forward
You gone have your haters and your supporters
You'll encounter both negative and positive people
Some gone record you, but never adore you
Some will document your life, but won't truly appreciate you
Really just waiting on your downfall
They're eagerly waiting for you to fail
But either way it go, still stand tall
Regardless, I remain confident and proud
'Cause this is yo dream
This is my aspiration
This is yo life, do as you please
I have the right to live my life as I want
Do as you like, despite
I don't have to conform to society's expectations
(What you mean, huh?)
What are you trying to say?
I am a king
I am worthy and respected
I stay clean
I have good intentions and don't engage in wrongdoing
No, I'm not mean (Never)
I'm not cruel or hurtful to others
I'm just determined to get to where I need to
I have a goal and won't give up until I achieve it
Even if it's not because of you
Even if you don't support me
Even if it's not because of this
Even if things don't go as planned
This rap stuff I do is legit
My music is authentic and genuine
Yes, I spit
I can rap and express myself through my lyrics
Give me the mic
Let me perform and showcase my talent
I act too, you wanna fight?
I'm also an actor and can take on challenging roles
Still lookin' at the way I walk
People judge me even based on how I walk
Talkin' about the way I talk
People criticize the way I speak
But I'm just the same as you
I'm not fundamentally different from anyone else
Unique from my point of view
I have my own perspective and experiences
But maybe I'm getting off track
But maybe I'm losing my focus
Let's just take this track back
Let's return to the main point
Who am I?
Who is the real me?
I am who I am, and that's really just that
I accept and embrace my true self, and that's all there is to it
Yo
Listen up
I am a king
I have power, strength, and self-respect
She is a queen
She has poise, dignity, and self-assurance
He stay clean
He has integrity and doesn't compromise his values
She look mean
She appears tough and unapproachable, but it's only a facade
But of course, that's only what they see
People judge others based on appearances
What's really going on behind those scenes?
What is the true story?
Yo
Listen up
I am who I am
I accept and embrace my true self
I am who I am
I am proud of my individuality
I am who I
This is who I am
Am
Period
Yo, I am who I am
I am unique and confident
I am who I am
I won't change for anyone else
I am who I
This is my identity
Am
Period
Yo, I am who I am
I am truly myself
Lyrics © DistroKid, Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DUNN, SHAPIRO, WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
chusss Music
Blues backing tracks in 12 keys - All Extended Backing Tracks for all musicians here http://bit.ly/bbking12
Frol Timonin
chusss Music щ
Tony Betancourt
thank you.
Hans Alm
Eadgbe
Alessandro Antico
chusss Music 👍👍👍👍
Kathleen Marini
Thank you!!! I shared this with a few friends too!
Joe Desimone
Thanks so much for posting this. This track was THE defining one, that for what ever reason, finally unlocked the fret board door for me and provided the "light bulb moment" on playing pentatonic scales and linking them all over the neck. It's crazy how fast it all came together, almost like magic. I guess the rhythm and progression resonated with me deep down and I "saw the light". Now I'm flying all over the neck with confidence like a seasoned veteran. Even mixing a bit of modes with it too. Thanks again.
chusss Music
I am really happy to hear this success story. Keep rocking Joe. :)
Mike
By far one the best jam track I've found. Can't even begin to explain how much the chart of different scales/ modes helps. Many thanks! Awesome job!!!
Count Blue
This got me. I am hooked. I am a rather mediocre sologuitarist although I play for an enternity it seems. I know my pentatonics and such stuff but I just didnt practice that a lot.
Now your tracks are pure enjoyment. I can practice all day long, letting it run through the fingers without thinking or looking. Guitarists paradise, thats where you send me with that stuff. This goes for all that bluesy rock stuff from you. Marvellous.