B. King: B.

: His first national hit, "3 O'Clock Blues" (1951), spent 15 weeks on the R&B charts and launched a relentless touring career. The Legend of Lucille

: Born on a cotton plantation in Berclair, Mississippi, King grew up in poverty and began playing guitar in juke joints and local radio. b. b. king

King was inseparable from his trademark black Gibson guitars, all named . : His first national hit, "3 O'Clock Blues"

B.B. King : The King of the Blues Riley B. King (1925–2015), better known as , was a towering figure in American music who brought the blues from the rural South to a global audience. His sophisticated soloing style, characterized by fluid string bending and a shimmering vibrato, redefined the electric guitar and influenced generations of rock and blues musicians. Early Life and "Blues Boy" Origins His sophisticated soloing style

: After moving to Memphis in 1947, he became a disc jockey on WDIA radio. His on-air name, "Beale Street Blues Boy," was eventually shortened to "Blues Boy" and finally to B.B. .