Happy birthdays to the one and only B.B.King, who was born on September 16th

Happy birthdays to the one and only B.B.King, who was born on September 16th

One of the most influential musicians of all time, the late #BBking left a legacy that will never be forgotten.⁣
From his captivating melodies to his lyrical prowess, from his unmatched guitar virtuosity to his dynamic stage presence, he was one of a kind.⁣
He was a genius, an icon and our hero.

Introduction: Who is BB King?

Born as Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, in Indianola, Mississippi, he was the son of a sharecropper.

He was named after his grandfather who was also named Riley and his father who had the name of Bukka.

As a child he played the harmonica and mandolin before his parents bought him a guitar when he was nine.

He began performing with local musicians as "Little Boy Blue" and "Blues Boy King". He dropped out of school in eleventh grade to follow his musical career full-time.

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Early Years as a Blues Musician

Born Riley B. King in 1925, his life was shaped by the hardships of the Great Depression and the Jim Crow laws of the South. He was one of nine children born to a sharecropping family on a plantation near Berclair, Mississippi.

In his early years, he learned to play guitar from his brother Bukka White and others like him who had been influenced by African American folk music and Delta blues.

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Later Career and Influence on Blues Music

Blues is a very popular genre of music that originated from African American communities in the southern United States. The genre has evolved over the years and, as a result, it has taken on different styles and sounds. One of the most influential blues musicians in history was BB King.

King was born with albinism and experienced discrimination for his entire life because of his appearance. His guitar playing style was influenced by his lack of sight and he became one of the most respected guitarists in blues music history. King's songs are still played today by many artists such as Eric Clapton, U2, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others who have been influenced by his style.

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Lets take a look at some of his best songs, which are really worth listening to.

- The Thrill Is Gone

 Key To The Highway

Why I Sing The Blues

Every Day I Have The Blues

Rock Me Baby

 Sweet Little Angel

 You Upset Me Baby 

 Please Accept My Love

Death 

The last eight shows of King's 2014 tour were cancelled because of health problems caused by complications from high blood pressure and diabetes. On May 14, 2015, at the age of 89, he died in his sleep from vascular dementia caused by a series of small strokes as a consequence of his type 2 diabetes.Two of his daughters alleged that King was deliberately poisoned by two associates trying to induce diabetic shock; an autopsy showed no evidence of poisoning.^[

King's body was flown to Memphis on May 27, 2015. A funeral procession went down Beale Street, with a brass band marching in front of the hearse while playing "When the Saints Go Marching In". Thousands lined the streets to pay their last respects. His body was then driven down Route 61 to his hometown of Indianola, Mississippi. He was laid in repose at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, in Indianola, for people to view his open casket. The funeral took place at the Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Indianola, on May 30. He was buried at the B.B. King Museum.

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