Readers' Advisory

Farewell B. B. King

Musician

1925-2015

 

King was known for his hits My Lucille, Sweet Little Angel and Rock Me Baby.  He was born in Mississippi in 1925 and began performing in the 1940s.

His awards included:
Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal, for The Thrill Is Gone, 1971; and for Best Traditional Blues Recording, for Blues 'n' Jazz, 1984, for My Guitar Sings the Blues, 1986, and for Live at San Quentin, 1991. Humanitarian Award, B'nai B'rith Music and Performance Lodge of New York, 1973; NAACP Image Award, 1975. Inducted into Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, 1987; Lifetime Achievement Awards from National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (special Grammy), 1988; from Songwriters Hall of Fame, 1990; and from Gibson guitar company, 1991. Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1990; Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1990; National Heritage Fellowship from National Endowment for the Arts, 1991; Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Blues Album, for Blues Summit, 1993; Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album, for Blues on the Bayou, 1999; Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album, for Riding with the King, 2000; Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?, 2000; Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album, for Christmas Celebration of Hope, 2002; Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, for Auld Lang Syne, 2002; Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album, 80, 2005; Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album, for One Kind Favor, 2008.

Source:

"B. B. King." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale, 1994. Biography in Context. Web. 15 May 2015.

 

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