B.B. King, born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, is celebrated as one of the greatest blues musicians of all time. Known as the "King of the Blues," he was a trailblazer whose work shaped modern music and influenced countless artists across genres.

Early Life
B.B. King grew up in a small town in Mississippi, the heart of the Delta, where the blues genre has its roots. His childhood was steeped in hardship: his parents separated when he was a small child, and he lived with his mother and grandmother. King was raised in poverty, often working on cotton plantations, but he found solace in music. He learned to play the guitar in his early teens and performed gospel music in church before discovering blues.

Musical Beginnings
In 1947, at 22 years old, King moved to Memphis, Tennessee, which was a hub for blues and rhythm and blues. He worked as a singer and DJ at a local radio station, where he earned the nickname "Beale Street Blues Boy." This nickname was later shortened to "B.B." His first recordings in the late 1940s and early 1950s gained regional popularity, and his unique style of vibrato and "bent" notes quickly set him apart.

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