B.B King

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• Blues was originated in the Deep south around the 1870s by African americans, roots are from africa

it was influenced by work songs and field hollers,church music, ragtime etc.

early delta blues is based around slide guitar, sliding a flat object up and down the fretboard

Riley B. King was born was on September 16, 1925 in Mississippi on a cotton field

his mother died when he was nine and he was raised by his grandma until his father found him a few years later

he was in service for the u.s army, he began his career as a disc jokey in Memphis

he got nicknamed "the beale street blues boy" which eventually turned into b.b, he as also self taught

he recorded his first song 1949 and the next year he began a 12 year long association with kent/rpm/modern

he reached no. 1 on rhythm and blues charts, he toured the nightclubs constantly and averaged more than 300 shows over 30 years

his style of music earned him the title "king of blues"

he inspired the rolling stones,jimi Hendrix, and carlos santana

he also inspired artists like the red hot chili peppers and john mayer

he is proof that if you had a tough upbringing you can live a better life than others expected you to have

he is one of the greatest guitarists of all time

he also had a guitar named lucille