BB King Tickets Information

Riley B. King, better known as B. B. King or "The King of Blues" - born September 16, 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, widely considered one of the best and most respected blues musicians of all time. "Lucille", his trademark, is the name he has given to his guitars since the 1950s after an incident with a woman named Lucille.

B.B King began recording songs under contract with Los Angeles based RPM Records in 1947. Sam Phillips managed many of the early recordings, who later founded Sun Records. King was also a disc jockey in Memphis, where he gained the nickname "Beale Street Blues Boy", later shortened to B.B.

In the 1950s, B.B King became one of the most important names in R&B music, with a remarkable list of hits under his name including songs like "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". In 1962, B.B signed to ABC-Paramount Records. In November 1964, King recorded the legendary Live at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

King first found success with the 1969 remake of the Roy Hawkins tune, "The Thrill Is Gone", which became a huge hit on both pop and R&B charts, which was rare for an R&B artist. It also gained the number 193 spot in the Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs Of All Time. He gained further popularity as an opening act on The Rolling Stones much-ballyhooed 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." From 1951 to 1985, King appeared on Billboard's R&B charts 74 times!!

In the 80s, 90s and 2000s king's recordings rather lessened, but he still maintained an active career appearing on frequent television shows, major motion BOB performing 300 nights a year. In 1988, he reached a new generation of fans via the single "When Love Comes To Town", together with the Irish band U2 on their Rattle and Hum album. In 2000, King teamed up with guitarist Eric Clapton to record Riding With the King. In 1998 B.B. King appeared in "The Blues Brothers 2000" as a lead singer. In 2003, King performed with the rock band Phish in New Jersey, rocking the crowd for over 30 minutes.

In June 2006, King was given a memorial ceremony for his first radio broadcast at the Three Deuces Building in Greenwood, Mississippi, where an official marker of the Mississippi Blues Trail was erected. King also made an appearance at the Crossroads Guitar Festival put on by Eric Clapton. On the DVD he plays "Rock Me Baby" with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan. Radio and TV channels across the globe have broadcasted more than a 100 concerts by king. In June 2006, a groundbreaking was held for a new B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, Mississippi. The museum is scheduled to open May 1, 2008.

At 80, on March 29 2006, King played at the Sheffield's Hallam Arena during his UK and European farewell tour. He was supported by ex-shredder/rocker turned bluesman Gary Moore, with whom King has previously toured and recorded, including the song "Since I Met You Baby". The UK leg of the tour ended on the April 4 with a final concert at Wembley Arena.

In July, B.B. went back to Europe bidding farwell to Switzerland after playing twice in the 40th edition of the world famous Montreux Jazz Festival and also in Zurich at the Blues at Sunset on July 14th. In his show at the Stravinski Hall (Montreux) he jammed with Joe Sample, Randy Crawford, David Sanborn, Gladys Knight, Lella James, Earl Thomas, Stanley Clarke, John McLaughlin, Barbara Hendrix and George Duke. The European leg of the Farewell tour ended at D'Coque arena (Luxembourg) on the Sep 19th 2006.

B.B. King has been a licensed pilot, a known gambler and is also a vegetarian, non-drinker and non-smoker. He is diabetic and a spokesperson in the fight against diabetes, appearing in advertisements for diabetes-management products.

During his tour, , King was hospitalized in Galveston (Texas) on Jan 26, 2007, due to a fever after a recovery from influenza. He was released on January 27, after an overnight stay. He resumed his tour with his next performance on January 30 and gave another thirty performances in the US. King is scheduled to tour Canada in May 2007.

King is a promoter of music education for children. In 2002, he signed on as an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and lessons to children in public schools throughout the US and also a member of the organization's board of directors.