Riley B. King, who is known to music fans as B.B. King, was born in a log cabin on a cotton plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi on September 16, 1925. His father left the family when he was a toddler and his mother left him to be raised by his grandmother when she married another man. He was a disk jockey in a West Memphis, Arkansas where he went by the name "Beale Street Blues Boy," which was shortened to "Blues Boy" and eventually to B.B. He has been ranked number six on Rolling Stones' "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time." He has married and divorced twice and is the father of 15 children and has more than 50 grandchildren. He has type II diabetes.
Recommended Resources
B.B. King's official website shares details about his life and musical accomplishments, upcoming tours, news, and his fan club. It also dedicates a section to his guitar, Lucille. Additionally, his weblog is connected to this domain.
http://www.bbking.com/
Biography.com's section on B.B. King showcases videos of him in action, his biography, photographs, and people with whom he is connected.
http://www.biography.com/people/bb-king-9364839
This is where one will find B.B. King's tour schedule, past as well as future, his biography, his music and reviews of that music, going back to 2001, and an online forum dedicated to talk discussion about him.
http://www.bluesboyking.com/
