Page 32 - Cityview_May_June_2014

There are few living musicians more iconic than
AROUnD TOWn

Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King—or simply

B.B. King

as the King of the Blues. The world mourned his

retirement during King’s 2006 farewell tour—

May 27, 2014

but retirement hasn’t stopped the tireless

Tennessee Theatre
performer. At the age of 88, he’ll be gracing the

stage of the Tennessee Theatre this spring.

by Sarah H. clark
of freedom. his additional achieve- shows throughout the united States.
ments, awards, and performances are In 1956, King played a show nearly

B.B. and lucille are one of the best- all too numerous to list.
every day for a total of 342 concerts in
known duos in American blues history. In other words, King is one of the that year alone, as well as releasing the

King was born in 1925 in the small most honored and recognized musi- album Singin’ the Blues.
town of Itta Bena, Mississippi—and lu- cians of our time. So how did a man The ’50s were King’s breakout

cille is a gibson ES-355 guitar designed born on a cotton plantation become
decade. It saw the release of some
to King’s personal specifications.
a world famous blues musician? The of his most popular and enduring

Since his performing days be-
obvious answer is raw talent—and tracks, including “3 o’Clock Blues,”
gan in Memphis, in 1948, King has undoubtedly perseverance. King “You Know I love You,” “Please love

released nearly 60 albums. The latest moved to Memphis at the age of 21
Me,” and “on My Word of honor.” It
is 2008’s One Kind Favor. he’s won 16 to join his mother’s cousin, Bukka was clear that his star was on the rise,

grammy awards, including a lifetime White. he began by performing on including to his idol frank Sinatra,
Achievement Award in 1987, and his the radio and at the Sixteenth Avenue who helped him to break into venues

1970 track, “The Thrill is gone,” is in- grill in West Memphis, earning the where African American performers
cluded in the grammy hall of fame. nickname of “Blues Boy,” or B.B. The hadn’t previously been seen.

gibson guitar and Rolling Stone both first electric guitar he ever heard was going to a B.B. King concert is
included him on their lists of the best played by T-Bone Walker, a legend in like going to see history—and it’s

guitarists of all time. he has been his own right.
definitely seeing someone
inducted into the Blues hall of fame King kept right on playing and sing- who made history. If you

and The Rock & Roll hall of fame, ing the blues—even when his first sin- only see one show in 2014,
and has received the National Medal gle, 1949’s “Miss Martha King,” didn’t this should probably be

of Arts and the Presidential Medal
do well, and he played innumerable
the one.

departments

30 cityviewmag.com may june 2014