Known for
Biography
American guitarist and singer B. B. King was born on 16 September 1925 in Berclair. He passed away on 14 May 2015 at the age of 89. The recorded cause of death is listed as diabetes and stroke. He was known for Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) and Amazon Women on the Moon (1987).
Career
In all, 54 albums and 5 singles are listed under his name between 1949 and 2012. From Miss Martha King (1949) to Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2011 (2012), the list follows his releases year by year. His recordings are classed as blues and rhythm and blues. The records note guitar as his instrument. His recordings came out on Geffen Records.
Dan Aykroyd appears in two of his listed titles, including Spies Like Us (1985). John Landis directed two of his titles on record.
Recognition
B. B. King received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987. Further recognition came with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2006) and the Kennedy Center Honors. Altogether, 12 wins are listed.
Personal life
Marriages on record are to Martha Lee Denton (1946 to 1952, divorced) and Sue Carol Hall (1958 to 1966, divorced).
Discography
59 releases| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2011 | Album |
| 2008 | One Kind Favor | Album |
| 2007 | The Best of the Early Years | Album |
| 2005 | B.B. King & Friends: 80 | Album |
| 2005 | The Ultimate Collection | Album |
| 2003 | Reflections | Album |
| 2001 | A Christmas Celebration of Hope | Album |
| 2000 | Makin' Love Is Good for You | Album |
| 2000 | Riding with the King | Album |
| 1999 | His Definitive Greatest Hits | Album |
| 1999 | Let the Good Times Roll | Album |
| 1999 | Live in Japan | Album |
| 1998 | Blues on the Bayou | Album |
| 1997 | Deuces Wild | Album |
| 1995 | Lucille & Friends | Album |
Show all 59 releases
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Heart to Heart | Album |
| 1993 | Blues Summit | Album |
| 1992 | King of the Blues | Album |
| 1991 | Live at the Apollo | Album |
| 1991 | There Is Always One More Time | Album |
| 1990 | Live at San Quentin | Album |
| 1989 | When Love Comes to Town | Single |
| 1985 | Six Silver Strings | Album |
| 1983 | Blues 'N' Jazz | Album |
| 1983 | Why I Sing the Blues | Album |
| 1981 | There Must Be a Better World Somewhere | Album |
| 1979 | Take It Home | Album |
| 1978 | Midnight Believer | Album |
| 1977 | King Size | Album |
| 1975 | Lucille Talks Back | Album |
| 1973 | To Know You Is to Love You | Album |
| 1972 | Guess Who | Album |
| 1972 | L.A. Midnight | Album |
| 1971 | B.B. King in London | Album |
| 1971 | Live in Cook County Jail | Album |
| 1970 | Indianola Mississippi Seeds | Album |
| 1969 | Completely Well | Album |
| 1969 | Live & Well | Album |
| 1969 | The Thrill Is Gone | Single |
| 1968 | Blues on Top of Blues | Album |
| 1968 | Lucille | Album |
| 1965 | Live at the Regal | Album |
| 1964 | How Blue Can You Get | Single |
| 1961 | My Kind of Blues | Album |
| 1960 | Sings Spirituals | Album |
| 1960 | The Great B. B. King | Album |
| 1959 | B. B. King Wails | Album |
| 1958 | The Blues | Album |
| 1956 | Rock Me Baby | Single |
| 1956 | Singin' the Blues | Album |
| 1949 | Miss Martha King | Single |
| Blues in My Heart | Album | |
| Blues Is King | Album | |
| His Best – The Electric B. B. King | Album | |
| Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. B.B. King | Album | |
| Love Me Tender | Album | |
| More B.B. King | Album | |
| Now Appearing at Ole Miss | Album | |
| The Best of B.B. King | Album |
Awards and nominations
12 won, 0 nominated| Year | Award | For | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Americana Music Association President's Award | Won | |
| 2006 | Presidential Medal of Freedom | Won | |
| 1994 | Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | Won | |
| 1987 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | |
| 1987 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Won | |
| Blues Hall of Fame | Won | ||
| Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences | Won | ||
| Kennedy Center Honors | Won | ||
| Library of Congress Living Legend | Won | ||
| Maple Blues Awards | Won | ||
| National Medal of Arts | Won | ||
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won |
Filmography
12 credits| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Soundbreaking | Film | |
| 2013 | B.B. King: The Life of Riley | Film | |
| 2004 | The Road to Memphis | Film | |
| 2001 | American Roots Music | Film | |
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Film | |
| 1996 | When We Were Kings | Film | |
| 1993 | Heart and Souls | Film | |
| 1987 | Amazon Women on the Moon | Film | |
| 1985 | B.B. King "Into the Night" | Film | |
| 1985 | Spies Like Us | Film | |
| 1974 | Sing Sing Thanksgiving | Film | |
| Na plovarne | TV series |
B. B. King on Social Media
B. B. King Photos
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Photo: Robbie Drexhage · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Werner100359 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Piedmontstyle (Uploads) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Alan Light · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Roland Godefroy · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Marco Tambara / Lightversus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: Eugene F. Tourangeau · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons -
Photo: University of Michigan · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Frequently asked questions
How old was B. B. King at the time of death?
B. B. King died on 14 May 2015 at the age of 89. He was born on 16 September 1925.
What was B. B. King’s cause of death?
According to Wikidata, B. B. King died on 14 May 2015; the recorded cause of death is listed as diabetes and stroke.
What is B. B. King known for?
B. B. King was known for Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) and Amazon Women on the Moon (1987).
What is B. B. King’s nationality?
B. B. King was American, born in Berclair.
Who was B. B. King married to?
B. B. King’s marriages on record are to Sue Carol Hall (1958 to 1966) and Martha Lee Denton (1946 to 1952).
Has B. B. King won any awards?
Yes. 12 awards are on record, including Americana Music Association President's Award (2015).
Sources
- Wikidata (Q188969), accessed October 2026
- Photo: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Last checked by the Wiki of Celebs editorial team
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