B.B. King

**Riley B. King** (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as **B.B. King**, was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that influenced many later blues electric guitar players.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and is one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of the Blues", and is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King, none of whom are blood related). King performed tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing on average at more than 200 concerts per year into his 70s. In 1956 alone, he appeared at 342 shows.

King was born on a cotton plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, and later worked at a cotton gin in Indianola, Mississippi. He was attracted to music and the guitar in church, and began his career in juke joints and local radio. He later lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago, and as his fame grew, toured the world extensively. King died at the age of 89 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 14, 2015.

## Links to Kershaw

Kershaw is a fan of the singer and he also met Trevor Dann, producer of the Old Grey Whistle Test, at a B.B. King gig after Billy Bragg gave free tickets to Kershaw to see the guitarist perform. From that gig, Trevor Dann, helped Kershaw in giving him a spot on the Old Grey Whistle Test and later on BBC Radio One.

In Ken Garner's In Session Tonight book (page 150), Kershaw explained how B.B. King did a session for his show in 1989:

> *"I'd been listening to his records since I was 13. I didn't think he was coming over that year, but then I saw an ad, and so I asked Walters if we could try and get him. "We can't get B.B. King!" he exploded, but I said, "Oh go on, just make a call." And I couldn't believe it when B.B. agreed to do it: I mean, the fact that this guy could come and record a session for a programme presented by me! But then the best things he's recorded since the mid-60s have been all to do with that kind of session, when there's no time to get precious. The tapes had a fantastic feel, and I heard that B.B. really enjoyed it. That's exactly how he should make a record!."*
>
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## Sessions

1. Recorded: 1989-03-09. First Broadcast: 30 March 1989. Repeated: 14 March 1992, 28 June 2002

* When It All Comes Down / Go On / Paying The Cost To Be The Boss / The Thrill Is Gone / Ain't Nobody's Business

## Other Shows Played

1985
* 07 November 1985: 38th Street Blues

1986
* 22 October 1986 (John Peel): Every Day (I Have The Blues) (LP - Live At The Regal) His Master's Voice

1988
* 10 March 1988: Let's Do The Boogie (LP - Across The Tracks) Ace
* 03 November 1988: The Woman I Love

1989
* 16 July 1989: You Don't Know (LP - Lucille Had A Baby) Ace

1991
* 27 October 1991: Moving On (CD - There Is Always One More Time) MCA

1992
* 14 March 1992: We Can't Make It
* 14 November 1992: Don't Get Around Much Anymore (CD - Heart & Soul (A Collection Of Blues Ballads)) Ace
* 28 November 1992: Don't Get Around Much Anymore (CD - Heart & Soul (A Collection Of Blues Ballads)) Ace

1997
* 17 November 1997: Paying The Cost To Be The Boss (CD - Deuces Wild) MCA
* 24 November 1997: Keep It Coming (CD - Deuces Wild) MCA

2005
* 09 October 2005: She's Dynamite (v/a CD - Rock 'N' Roll Roots - The Blues Influence) Smith & Co Sound & Vision

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs
* Official Website