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The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center | B.B. King | News

BBK — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:23:00 GMT

B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
Grand Opening Announced for September 13, 2008

He started life as Riley B. King in one of America’s most
impoverished places, the Mississippi Delta. He had little
but the dream in his heart and a destiny that would take
him around the world. Now he’s an international music
icon, and music lovers everywhere want to know more
about the man who became B.B. King.

From the flat Delta landscape, a tribute to the past and
a celebration of the future is emerging. The B.B. King
Museum and Delta Interpretive Center will tell the story of
King’s life, his career, and stories of the Delta—its history
and music, social mores and race relations, literature and
legends, adversities and successes.

Mark your calendars now for SEPTEMBER 13, 2008, and
join us for the grand opening of the B.B. King Museum
and Delta Interpretive Center.

You’ll find the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive
Center in B.B.’s hometown. Indianola sits squarely in the
middle of the Mississippi Delta, the land that gave birth
to American music.

For More Details, Visit The Museum's website http://www.bbkingmuseum.org/

NEW LIVE! CD and DVD from Blues great B.B. King | B.B. King | News

BBK — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:10:00 GMT

It has been estimated that blues great B.B. King has played more than 10,000 shows in a career spanning nearly 60 years. Whenever the King of the Blues has carried his venerable guitar Lucille onto any stage at any time, the performance has become an unforgettable classic--and on occasion has been immortalized on some of the greatest live albums ever issued. Yet in 2006, he marked a first when he recorded a live album at two of his own clubs, B.B. King's Blues Club in Nashville, Tennessee on October 26/27 and in Memphis on October 29/30. The best of these memorable concerts are now presented in both the DVD and CD formats as LIVE! (Geffen/UMe), released February 19, 2008.

For the two-hour-plus DVD, the concerts were taped in high definition video and mixed in 5.1 Surround. Bonus material includes a behind-the-scenes “making of” feature and a special message from King to his fans. To fit on a single CD, the audio disc features 12 of the DVD’s 18 songs.

On LIVE!, backed by his remarkable touring band, B.B. lays down quintessential performances from his signature tune “The Thrill Is Gone” to “When Love Comes To Town,” the song that introduced him to a new generation in the late 1980s, to Big Bill Broonzy’s “Key To The Highway,” for which he teamed with disciple Eric Clapton in 2000. He also performs a pair of songs he has never before recorded--the standards “You Are My Sunshine” and “When The Saints Go Marching In.”

B.B.’s band opens the show on the DVD sans King with “Manhattan Blues” and “Two I Shoot.” During the concert, the musical icon revives his ‘50s and ‘60s R&B hits “Rock Me Baby,” “Don’t Answer The Door” and “Why I Sing The Blues” plus other B.B. gems from that era such as “A Whole Lot Of Lovin’,” “Ain’t That Just Like A Woman,” “Bad Case Of Love,” “I Need You So,” “Darling, You Know I Love You” and “All Over Again.” Along with the early ‘70s hit “Guess Who” is “Blues Man” from the late ‘90s.

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, becoming one of the first artists so honored. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked him #3 among the “100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time.” In 2006, he was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest honor awarded to a civilian; his 1964 album Live At The Regal was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; and he won his 14th Grammy Award, for Best Traditional Blues Album for B.B. King & Friends: 80, which celebrated his 80th birthday the previous year. He has won eight previous Grammys in that category and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. “The Thrill Is Gone” is also in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Whether live at the Regal, San Quentin, the Apollo, or a B.B. King’s Blues Club, B.B. King rules over the blues.

SPECIAL COMBO DEAL AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE B.B. KING BLUES STORE!

ORDER your new CD and DVD today from the B.B. King Blues Store.

» www.bbkingstore.com

B.B. King Talks With Greta Van Susteren | B.B. King | News

BBK — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:02:00 GMT

Greta Van Susteren from FOX news interviewed B.B. King. Below is a transcript of the interview.
You can see the video at this link

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, HOST: Who doesn't know this man, the king of blues, B.B. King? But now you will really get to know him.

He is 82 years old and has been performing for more than 50 years, with 15 Grammys under his belt. And tonight you will get an inside look at him.

B.B. King is releasing a new CD entitled "Live," and you get to join him in my home town and Appleton, Wisconsin behind the scenes of his concert, and even inside his tour bus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VAN SUSTEREN: How many concerts a year do you do?

B.B. KING, MUSICIAN: Now we have cut down quite a bit. I'm 82 years old now, so I've stopped doing — we used to average, until last year, I believe, about 250 concerts per year. This year I'll probably do about 100.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is it work for you, or is it fun?

RelatedColumn Archive
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Show Info
Airs Weekdays at 10 p.m. ET
E-mail the Show: ontherecord@foxnews.com Greta Van Susteren's Bio Read the GretaWire Interview Archive Greta's Pod Cast KING: Both. It's both.

VAN SUSTEREN: Who gave you your first guitar?

KING: No one.

VAN SUSTEREN: Where did you get it?

KING: Bought it from a guy that lived not too far from Mike Boston, the man I worked for. And he had this little red Stella guitar, and he said he would sell it because I went nuts when I saw it. I was making $15 a month then.

VAN SUSTEREN: Doing what?

KING: Being what they call a house boy — everything; anything that needed to be done around the house. Chores was picking up chips to make fire and milking cows. I milked 20 cows a day. As I said, I was making $15 a month then, I asked my boss would he buy it for me and take out half of it the first month and half the next. So he did, and that is how I got my first guitar.

VAN SUSTEREN: So you picked it up, and were you just a natural?

KING: I would sit on the street corners in my hometown of Indianola, Mississippi, and I would play. And, generally, I would start playing gospel songs. People would come by on the street — you live in time square, you know how they do it — they would bunch up. And they would always compliment me on gospel tunes, but they would tip me when I played blues.

Now you know why I'm a blues singer.

VAN SUSTEREN: Well, everyone knows who Lucille, your guitar. Why is your guitar named "Lucille"?

KING: I used to play — when I first started trying to be professional, I disk jockey from 1949 to 1955 in Memphis, Tennessee, and I was quite popular there as a disk jockey.

And I could go over at a place called Twist, Arkansas — it's still there — and a guy had a nightclub over there. I would do, as they say in Las Vegas today, forward. In other words, you go play and he doesn't guarantee you anything, but if you're lucky and you have quite a few people come in, you get most of the money that comes in through the doors. So you may make yourself 50 dollars, 60 dollars, 100 dollars, maybe.

And it would get quite cold there in Twist, Arkansas, so they would take a something like a big garbage pail — picture a big pail — set it in the middle of the dance floor and half fill it with kerosene. They would light that kerosene, and that's what we used for heat.

Today, if somebody did that, I would start running out of here. But when you're young, like you guys, you are daring and do anything.

So this particular night, two guys start to fight. One knocked the other one over on this container. And when they did it spilled on the floor. It was already burning so it looked like a river of fire. Everyone started to run for the front door to get out, including B.B. King.

But when I got out, I realized that I left my guitar. It wasn't the same little red guitar; this was another one. And I went back for it.

And when I went back to get my guitar — the building was a wooden building burning rapidly, so it started to fall in around me and I almost lost my life trying to save it.

The next morning we found that these two guys that were fighting were fighting about a lady that worked in the little nightclub. I never did meet her, but I learned that her name was Lucille. I named the guitar Lucille to remind me not to do a thing like that again. That's how it came about.

VAN SUSTEREN: Is there an original Lucille and there have been subsequent Lucilles?

KING: The original Lucille, I would pay $100,000 to get it back.

VAN SUSTEREN: Where is the original Lucille?

KING: If I knew I would get it.

VAN SUSTEREN: When was the last time you saw the original Lucille?

KING: In Brooklyn. I went up to visit a friend one night and left it in the trunk of my car. That year most of General Motors' cars, the trunk key would fit, but I didn't know it until that night.

Somebody went down and went in my trunk — I had an Oldsmobile, and they went into the Oldsmobile trunk of the car — took my guitar, the amplifier, and the battery out. That's the last time I have seen her.

And I would give $100000 for that original if I could get it back. I put out—I offered rewards: $5000, $10000 and so on.

I guess whoever got it never knew what they was getting because my name wasn't on that one. Nobody has ever came up with it.

VAN SUSTEREN: How many CDs or albums have you done?

KING: I have to be honest with you, I really don't know. But the last time I tried to count, I think it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 90 CDs and LPs combined; but singles, it's over 500.

VAN SUSTEREN: You have a new one that just came out.

KING: Yes.

VAN SUSTEREN: That's what I want people to know about. And that's a live concert?

KING: It is live. I was trying my best to show the people that don't know me or know how I perform what I do on stage, I was trying to give them a little bit of a lesson of what I do and how I do it when I'm playing concerts.

And I think I did pretty good. Maybe I talk too much on it, but I think it's pretty good.

VAN SUSTEREN: Which song do you think the audience wants to hear every night?

KING: "The Thrill is Gone."

VAN SUSTEREN: Do you enjoy playing that as much as everyone wants to hear it?

KING: I will tell you a little secret and you better not tell it.

VAN SUSTEREN: We won't tell anybody, don't worry. It's just between us.

KING: OK, it's just between us: I play it every night as I feel it every night, not as I recorded it when I first recorded it. I play it every night as I feel it then, so it's fresh, it's always fresh.

So no, I never get tired of playing it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Live At The BBC CD | B.B. King | News

BBK — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:02:00 GMT

B.B. King is universally recognized as the leading exponent of modern blues. A fourteen-time Grammy winner, he has received virtually every music award, including the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement in 1987. He is one of the greatest, most influential blues guitar stylists, composers and singers of the 20th century and is without a doubt the single most important electric guitarist of the last half century, ranked 3rd in Rolling Stones Magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

This wonderful collection compiles the best of B.B. King’s recordings onto one CD for the very first time and includes some of his biggest hits such as Paying the Cost to Be the Boss and The Thrill Is Gone as well as When Love Comes To Town, the duet with U2 that took him to the top of the UK charts and gave him his first MTV exposure.

Featuring highlights from his 3 finest UK performances alongside a session recording made in the BBC’s studios, this CD offers an incredible snapshot of an artist at the peak of his career performing some of his greatest material.

Track List:

1. Caldonia   14/10/78
2. I Like The Life 14/10/78
3. When The Evening Sun Goes Down 14/10/78
4. When It All Comes Down  14/10/78
5. The Thrill Is Gone   14/10/78
6. I’m Gonna Move Out of My Neighbourhood  4/7/91
7. When Love Comes To Town 4/7/91
8. Let The Good Times Roll 4/7/91
9. Stormy Monday Blues  4/7/91
10. Ain’t Nobody Home  4/7/91
11. Mistreated  4/7/91
12. How Blue Can You Get  4/7/91
13. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss  30/3/89
14. The Thrill Is Gone  30/3/89

Official UK Release date is Feb 25 2008. Preorder your copy today!

B.B. King to play at Bonnaroo 2008 | B.B. King | News

BBK — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:02:00 GMT

Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment are proud to announce the initial lineup for the 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. The seventh annual four-day camping and music festival will be held on June 12-15 on the same beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville. A full list of confirmed acts follows, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. The final Bonnaroo 2008 lineup will total over 100 bands and over 20 comedians performing on 13 stages over four days.

Tickets go on sale exclusively through www.bonnaroo.com on Saturday, February 16 at 12:00 PM EDT.

2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Confirmed Artists:

Pearl Jam
Metallica
Jack Johnson
Kanye West
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Featuring T Bone Burnett
Phil Lesh & Friends
My Morning Jacket
The Allman Brothers Band
The Raconteurs
Willie Nelson
Death Cab for Cutie
B.B. King
Sigur Ros
Levon Helm and the Ramble on the Road
Ben Folds
O.A.R.
The Bluegrass Allstars Feat. Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Bryan Sutton
M.I.A.
Umphrey's McGee
Iron & Wine
Yonder Mountain String Band
The Swell Season
Talib Kweli
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi’s Soul Stew Revival
Gogol Bordello
Broken Social Scene
Robert Randolph’s Revival
Rilo Kiley
Mastodon
Lupe Fiasco
Against Me!
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Pat Green
Ozomatli
Tegan & Sara
Solomon Burke
Drive-By Truckers
!!!
The Avett Brothers
Israel Vibration
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck
Phil Lesh / Larry Campbell / Jackie Greene
Aimee Mann
Ladytron
The Fiery Furnaces
Orchestra Baobab
Ghostland Observatory
Jose Gonzalez
Dark Star Orchestra
Minus the Bear
Donavon Frankenreiter
Lez Zeppelin
State Radio
Battles
Jakob Dylan
Two Gallants
The Sword
Vampire Weekend
Little Feat
Nicole Atkins
The Felice Brothers
Mason Jennings
MGMT
The Lee Boys
Black Kids
Serena Ryder
Steel Train
Grupo Fantasma
Back Door Slam

Bonnaroo Comedy:
Bonnaroo Late Night Chat About with David Cross
Janeane Garofalo
Zach Galifianakis
Jim Norton
Brian Posehn
Mike Birbiglia
John Mulaney
Michelle Buteau

More artists to be announced!

B.B. King to be honored by NARM | B.B. King | News

BBK — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:28:00 GMT

BB King to be Honored by NARM

01/08/2008

Blues icon B.B. King, an American treasure who has recorded 150 albums and accepted 14 GRAMMY Awards, will receive the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) Chairman’s Award For Sustained Creative Achievement during the organization’s 50th Annual Convention, which will be held May 4 through May 7 at the San Francisco Marriott. King will accept his Award during the 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner, which will be Wednesday, May 7.

“NARM’s membership — on whose behalf we bestow this prestigious Award — applauds King’s amazing career and the way he has inspired and influenced so many musicians over the years,” said NARM President Jim Donio. “Today King is more popular, more cherished and more relevant than ever. At the age of 82, he is still out on the road, playing for the people, making TV appearances, and cutting tracks for his next album. We are honored to have B.B. King join us as part of NARM’s 50th Anniversary celebration.”

King will become a member of an exclusive and exceptionally talented club of artists who have received the NARM Chairman’s Award. Past recipients include Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Leonard Bernstein, Nat King Cole, Rod Stewart, Garth Brooks, Lena Horne, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers, Liza Minnelli, Carlos Santana, Quincy Jones, Kool & The Gang, and Chicago.
Over his 60-plus year career, King has developed one of the world’s most identifiable guitar styles. King’s sound is his signature, integrating his precise and complex vocal-like string blends and his left hand vibrato, both of which have become indispensable components of Rock guitar vocabulary.

He is still light on his feet, singing and playing the Blues with relentless passion. And, he has no plans for slowing down. Bowing February 19, 2008, is a new “B.B King Live In Tennessee” CD/DVD (Geffen/UMe) a live concert event recorded at his namesake clubs in both Nashville and Memphis.
He also just finished recording his 150th album that’s expected to debut in September 2008. Also set to open in September is a museum in King’s honor that is being built in his home state of Mississippi. A decade in the making, the museum is partially located within an existing abandoned cotton gin, Mississippi’s last one, where as a youngster, King once worked.

Holiday Wishes | B.B. King | News

BBK — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:27:00 GMT

To all my friends and fans---Season’s Greetings to all of you and thanks for making 2007 such a great year for me and my musical family—2008 promises to be even more eventful, so—as they say in radio—stay tuned! To all of you, I extend my warmest, personal wishes for a Happy New Year—may God bless us all with good health and happiness in the coming year!

Crossroads Guitar Festival DVD | B.B. King | News

BBK — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:10:00 GMT

The second staging of guitar hero and rock legend Eric Clapton's CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL found a sweet home in the Second City on July 28, 2007 when many of the world's greatest guitarists convened for a concert benefiting Clapton's Crossroads Centre rehabilitation facility in Antigua. Filmed live at Chicago's Toyota Park, the 2-DVD set CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2007 FROM CHICAGO presents four hours of world-class guitar masters, spanning multiple genre boundaries, performing incendiary solo sets and jamming in unison.

The 2007 festival, which Rolling Stone called “a marathon of solos and joy,” no doubt was the stuff of dreams for the fans in attendance as well as for Clapton and friends. The Festival featured a multi-generational array of talent spanning John Mayer to Jeff Beck to B.B. King that Modern Guitars Magazine dubbed an “incredible nexus of old-school electric guitar titans and younger upstarts.”

Shot in HD, the double-DVD set features 38 tracks, and also gives viewers an all-access pass with extraordinary behind-the-scenes footage captured backstage at this all-star, six-string summit. The audio is presented in 5.1 Surround Sound.

Buy the DVD Now

New Years Eve Concert | B.B. King | News

BBK — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 23:01:00 GMT

Spend New Years Eve with the King of the Blues!

B.B. King will be playing a New Years Eve concert on Dec 31, 2007 at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, NV (only 40 mins from Las Vegas!)

Fan Club Presale tickets for this exciting evening are on sale NOW and will end on 10.25.07 at 4pm EDT. Get your tickets now and plan on a great night of music!

Make it a complete night by booking a room at the Primm Valley Casino Resort by calling the reservation desk at 1-800-386-7867.

B.B. King receives honorary degree | B.B. King | News

BBK — Wed, 30 May 2007 00:05:00 GMT

Boston Herald
By Associated Press
Monday, May 28, 2007

PROVIDENCE - Blues legend B.B. King received an honorary doctor of music degree at Brown University’s commencement ceremony today and then took the microphone to serenade the graduating class.

“I didn’t bring Lucille; she’s asleep today,” said King, referring to the name he’s given his guitars that made him famous.

“I would like to do something I’ve never done before,” he said. “I’ve played in 90 different countries around the world, but I’ve never tried to do what I’m going to try to do for you, because I think you are the future, you are the ingredients that I think will make the world better.”

He then launched into an a cappella version of “Guess Who,” dedicating the song to the more than 2,000 graduating students, who responded by giving King a standing ovation.
Brown also awarded honorary doctor of law degrees to three New Orleans university presidents: Scott Cowen of Tulane, Norman Francis of Xavier and Marvalene Hughes of Dillard.

“These three beautiful people are helping, in incredible ways, the rebuilding of New Orleans. They’re here to say, ‘Do not forget this city,”’ said Brown University President Ruth Simmons, prompting another standing ovation from the crowd.

Also receiving honorary degrees were Brown medical school founding dean Stanley Aronson, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Samantha Power, and three Brown alums: sportscaster Chris Berman, actress Kate Burton and Craig Mello, who shared the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine.

Mello, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, helped discover a way to silence specific genes, a revolutionary finding that scientists are scrambling to harness for fighting illnesses including cancer and AIDS.

Win an Autographed BB King Lucille Edition Guitar | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:36:00 GMT

Join the Official B.B. King Fan Club and be entered into a contest in which one lucky person will win an autographed BB King Lucille edition guitar. Everyone who joins between Jan 1 - Dec 1 2007 will automatically be entered into the contest. New fan club members are automatically entered when they join. For more information and contest rules visit the Official Fan Club Website

» www.bbkingfanclub.net

Presidential Medal of Freedom | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:56:00 GMT

President George W. Bush today announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civil award. Established by Executive Order 11085 in 1963, the Medal may be awarded by the President "to any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." President Bush will honor these recipients at a White House ceremony on Friday, December 15, 2006.

Ruth Johnson Colvin has dedicated her life to helping the less fortunate gain the reading and language skills they need to succeed. She has worked to bring communities together to tear down the barriers of illiteracy and traveled the globe to promote the importance of literacy.

Norman C. Francis has served as President of Xavier University of Louisiana for nearly 40 years, demonstrating a steadfast dedication to education, equality, and service to others. As Chairman of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, he has played a vital role in helping the people of the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Paul Johnson is a brilliant historian and journalist whose powerful writings have captivated and educated people around the world. A citizen of the United Kingdom, he holds America in special regard, calling the creation of our Nation “the greatest of all human adventures.”

Riley “B.B.” King is one of the greatest blues singers and guitarists of all time. For more than half a century, the “King of the Blues” and his guitar “Lucille” have thrilled audiences, influenced generations of guitarists, and helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition.

Joshua Lederberg was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in bacterial genetics and has devoted his life to the advancement of human knowledge. He has also helped develop advanced computer technology, worked with NASA in the search for life on Mars, and served as a distinguished scientific advisor to our Nation’s policymakers.

David McCullough is one of our Nation’s most distinguished and honored historians. His books have earned him the respect of general audiences and scholars alike, and he is one of our foremost experts on the American Presidency.

Norman Y. Mineta has served his fellow Americans as a mayor, congressman, and Cabinet Secretary under two Presidents. The longest-serving Secretary of Transportation, he worked to improve the security of our transportation system and restore our confidence in air travel after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

John “Buck” O’Neil represented excellence and determination both on and off the baseball field. He was a talented player and manager in the Negro Leagues, became Major League Baseball’s first African-American coach, and was a co-founder of and inspiration for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.

William Safire has distinguished himself as one of our country's most talented writers and commentators. Using the power of prose, he has educated our citizenry, polished our language, and elevated debate on issues of the day.

Natan Sharansky was imprisoned in the gulag by the Soviet regime for his work to advance religious liberty and human rights. He remained steadfast in his defiance of tyranny and has continued to champion the principles that all people deserve to live iiiiiin freedom and that the advance of liberty is critical to peace and security around the world.

» www.whitehouse.gov

MUSIC LEGEND B.B. KING WINS 14th GRAMMY® | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 18:25:00 GMT

(Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 8, 2006)---Blues legend B.B. King (www.bbking.com), who recently turned 80, has won his 14th GRAMMY® Award.

King, who won his first GRAMMY® in 1970, again won the "Best Traditional Blues Album" prize at today's Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles for his "BB King & Friends-80" (UME/Geffen).

This is the ninth time that the "King of the Blues" has landed a GRAMMY® in the "Best Traditional Blues Album" category.

His "Live At The Regal" album was also inducted this year into the Grammy® Hall of Fame.
"The thrill isn't gone when you win an honor like this," said King, as he learned of the award while on his way to an engagement in St. Louis.

"Every time my peers recognize the work, it's an honor, a reason to go on.

"In my lifetime, blues music has certainly grown in its universal appeal and I'm forever grateful for that."

In honor of his 80th birthday last September 16, King celebrated the occasion with a few of his musical compatriots on the new studio album of duets.

Featuring some of today’s biggest stars--from Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, and Gloria Estefan to Roger Daltrey, Glenn Frey, Mark Knopfler, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Bland, and Daryl Hall—B.B. King & Friends - 80 is yet another landmark in the career of one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th Century and the blues’ greatest ambassador.

In 1987, King received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from NARAS, which produces the GRAMMY® Awards, and the veteran showman, who got his first break as a musician on a radio show in Memphis in 1948, last received a GRAMMY® Award in 2002 for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance.”

Among his many classics are “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss,” “Everyday I Have The Blues,” “You Don’t Know Me” and “Why I Sing The Blues.”

He’s preparing to headline an international tour, starting on March 29 with a swing through the UK, concluding with a concert at the famed Wembley Arena.

Long known for his prolific performance schedule, one time numbering as many as 250 stops in a year, King plans to make a "big swing” around the globe beginning this year.

King’s 2006 domestic tour gets going in earnest on Feb. 16 when he headlines a two night sold-out stand at the House of Blues in Chicago, amazingly, a venue in which he’s never before performed.

After so many years, live performances remain close to his heart.

» www.picayuneitem.com

B.B. King 80th Birthday Tour Auctions! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:00:00 GMT

Now is your opportunity to see B.B. King live in concert and meet the highly acclaimed Grammy Award winner in person after the show! These auctions also benefit several charities, so you'll be able to see B.B. King live and help out some worthy charities in the process!

The B.B. King 80th Birthday Tour Auction Package includes:

Two (2) tickets for the B.B. King 80th Birthday Celebration Tour
Opportunity for two (2) to meet and greet B.B. King
Bid now for a chance to meet the King of the Blues!

» www.ticketmaster.com

The reviews for '80' are rolling in! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 22:52:00 GMT

There are so many great reviews of B.B. newest CD '80' and news stories about what he's been up to lately, that we thought we'd put them all in one place for you.

Enjoy!

Rolling Stone

Orlando Sentinel

Blogcritics.org

NPR.org

Daily Chronicle

St. Louis Post Dispatch

Hampton Roads Daily Press

Reuters/Yahoo!

Win a guitar signed by B.B. King! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:56:00 GMT

Now is your chance to be entered to win a Black Epiphone Dot Studio Archtop Collection Guitar Autographed by The King of the Blues - B.B. King!Epiphone Dot Studio Guitar - Part of the Gibson family of brands, autographed by B.B. King features:

*Black body binding
*Black hardware
*No fingerboard inlay
*Die-case machine heads and open-coil Alnico-V humbucking pickups

» www.bbkingsweeps.com

New duets album of Blues standards | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 21:13:00 GMT

B.B. KING BRINGS TOGETHER ERIC CLAPTON, ELTON JOHN,
SHERYL CROW, JOHN MAYER AND OTHERS FOR B.B KING & FRIENDS - 80, NEW DUETS ALBUM OF BLUES STANDARDS TO CELEBRATE THE BLUES GREAT’S 80TH BIRTHDAY

In honor of B.B. King’s 80th birthday on September 16, “The King of the Blues” will celebrate the occasion with a few of his musical compatriots on a new studio album of duets, B.B. King & Friends - 80 (Geffen/UMe), released September 13, 2005. Featuring some of today’s biggest stars--from Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, and Gloria Estefan to Roger Daltrey, Glenn Frey, Mark Knopfler, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Bland, and Daryl Hall—B.B. King & Friends - 80 is yet another landmark in the career of one of the most influential guitarists of the 20th Century and the blues’ greatest ambassador.

Along with a new book (Treasures, published by Bulfinch Press on September 16) and a major nationwide tour this summer and fall (both solo and headlining the B.B. King Blues Festival), B.B. King & Friends - 80 finds B.B. both looking back and looking forward. For the man who has achieved icon status, along with his guitar Lucille, B.B.’s first new studio album since 2003’s Reflections finds him reconnecting with a dozen of the most significant standards of the blues with a little help from his friends.

With long-time admirer and recent collaborator Clapton, B.B. reinvigorates his 1970 Grammy-winning classic “The Thrill Is Gone.” He also gives new spins to other B.B. flashbacks from the ‘70s, “Never Make Your Move Too Soon” with The Who’s Roger Daltrey and the Leon Russell-penned “Hummingbird” with John Mayer. In what may be the album’s most unusual and intriguing pairing, Gloria Estefan duets on the Grammy-winning Doc Pomus-Dr. John song from the ‘80s “There Must Be A Better World Somewhere.” In another teaming with a female singer, Sheryl Crow is heard on Little Willie John’s “Need Your Love So Bad.”

Daryl Hall adds his Philly Soul to “Ain’t Nobody Home” while British blues giant Van Morrison partners on “Early In The Morning” and American blues staple Bobby Bland contributes to “Funny How Time Slips Away” and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons to B.B.’s ‘60s gem “Tired Of Your Jive.” Mark Knopfler, best-known for his work in Dire Straits, lends his trademark guitar sound to “All Over Again,” the Eagles’ Glenn Frey tackles Junior Parker’s “Drivin’ Wheel” and, in a raucous finale, pop superstar Elton John and B.B. bring down the house with their take on Jimmy Rogers’ “Rock This House.”

A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Kennedy Center honoree, and member of the Blues Foundation and Rock and Roll halls of fame, B.B. kicked off his birthday festivities in June with the groundbreaking for the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi, near his birthplace.

B.B. King Breaks Ground on His Museum | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 22:00:00 GMT

Blues icon B.B. King joined local and state dignitaries Friday for the groundbreaking of a $10 million museum honoring him in a Mississippi Delta town where he used to live.

King said he was "happy and nervous" about festivities and said he hopes the museum, as a whole, will inspire a new generation of musicians and artists.

"It will be a lot better for students to hear it from us ... to have something," King said.

Among those attending the groundbreaking were Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck, House speaker Billy McCoy and former Govs. William Winter and Ray Mabus.

» news.yahoo.com

Stretch of Highway Named for B.B. King | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 21:57:00 GMT

Motorists driving on a stretch of U.S. 61 in Tennessee will be traveling the B.B. King Highway. A ceremony noting a name change for the highway was held last week at the Beale Street nightclub that also bears King's name.

The 79-year-old famed bluesman was on hand, but without the guitar he calls Lucille.

"I'm not very good at talking and Lucille is asleep on the bus," King said. "Thank you Memphis. Thanks to all of you, God bless you."

King, whose given name is Riley, grew up in rural Mississippi. He began his career on Beale Street and took the stage name "B.B." for Beale Street Blues Boy.

» news.yahoo.com

Boss of the blues | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 16 May 2005 17:00:00 GMT

For B.B. King, the concerts have been reduced as the years -- almost 80 -- have piled up. But there's one thing that is as indisputable as his stinging guitar solos: He still rules.

B.B. King turns 80 this year, and he sounds every minute of it in the opening moments of a phone conversation from a New York hotel room.

"I'm doing very good," says the venerable bluesman in a weary tone that's not too convincing. He has been riding in a bus all day, finishing the trip with a nearly hourlong delay in a New York traffic jam.

He doesn't have big plans for his milestone birthday on Sept. 16, but it's a safe bet that he'll be on the road somewhere. Although he has trimmed back his ambitious touring schedule in recent years, he still does close to 200 dates a year, including a stop tonight at House of Blues at Downtown Disney.

And that's not all. Not content to rest on his laurels, King is starting work on a duets album and contributing ideas and memorabilia for the B.B. King Museum. That $10 million project in his hometown of Indianola, Miss., will celebrate its groundbreaking with a ceremony that King will attend in June. He was honored with the 2004 Polar Music Prize, bestowed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, and recently inducted pal Buddy Guy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On a Rolling Stone list of all-time greatest guitar players, King ranks third behind Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman. Oh, there's also a new greatest-hits compilation, B.B. King: The Ultimate Collection.

The thrill is gone?

No way.

"B.B. King is almost a religious figure in the blues," says Tommy Thompson, program manager for Smokestack Lightnin', the long-running blues show that airs Saturdays on 89.9 FM (WUCF) and also on-demand at www.smokestack lightnin.com. "B.B. is still the center post of the blues, and he has been for 50 years.

"He's one of the most important musicians alive today," Thompson says. "With the passing of Ray Charles, I think that leaves B.B. sitting on the throne by himself, and I'm not just talking about his longevity. His style, after all these years, is still crisp and clean and clear. Every album has two or three absolute gems on it, and I don't know many performers who have been able to do that so consistently for so long."

'Some good work'

After almost 60 years on stage, King takes it all in stride. His appraisal of his work is modest, even for the landmark 1965 Live at the Regal album that is considered an unparalleled blues classic.

"Of all the CDs I've ever done, I don't think I've made a perfect one," King says, energy rising with his interest. "But I do think in each of them there is some good work. If someone says that it's not so good, maybe they listened to the part that wasn't so good. But if they listen carefully, they will find some good work in each of them."

King acknowledges that he has "quite often been told that Live at the Regal is my best."

So is it?

King reacts with a gust of laughter and mock indignation:

"No! I just got through telling you I can't tell you which one is the best! I think there is some good work in it, yes."

The Regal album also is remarkable because of the unbridled emotion of the audience, an element that takes it beyond other concert recordings. "There was no direction to the people to applaud or not applaud. We just did a concert and that's what they did."

When he listens to it now, King still finds room for improvement. Same goes for every album and every show: "I miss notes every day," he says.

Museum is special

He has hit enough of the right ones to become an international icon, a status that will be celebrated at the B.B. King Museum in his hometown of about 12,000 people.

The museum will be built around a historic brick cotton gin where King worked for a time before hitching a ride to Memphis, TTTTTenn., to start his music career in the late 1940s.

King returns each summer to Indianola to play concerts and is pleased about the prospect of influencing young people about the life-changing power of music.

"I've seen the plans, and I like what I see," he says. "I'm very pleased with what's going on."

The museum's design combines memorabilia with an interactive studio, where visitors will be introduced to the basics of playing blues on guitar.

The final plans for the museum are taking shape, but there have been enough strange coincidences to make it seem as if the project is destined to be special, says Allan Hammons, the museum foundation's interim executive director.

Two teams of architectural students from Auburn and Mississippi State universities each independently recommended the same site for the project. When King made a visit, he reported that the museum was based at the same cotton gin where he once had worked.

"We were completely taken aback by it," Hammons says. "We have had more things happen that would appear to be almost unnatural. It's almost as if it were a project that was destined to take place."

Looking back and ahead

The memorabilia almost certainly will include at least one Lucille out of the 16 that King has used in his career. The guitar, of course, takes its name from a woman who inspired a fiery barroom brawl at a juke joint where King was playing in his early days.

Jim Abbott can be reached at jabbott@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-6213.

NEW $10 MILLION MUSEUM TO HONOR B.B. KING | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 19:56:00 GMT

Beginning in 2007, Last Brick Cotton Gin in Miss. Will House Blues Legend’s Legacy

(Indianola, Miss., April 4, 2005)

What becomes a legend most?

How about his own museum?

That’s what blues great and 13-time GRAMMY® winner B.B. King (www.bbking.com), renowned for his facile playing on the guitar famously known as “Lucille,” will get in his home state of Mississippi, beginning in 2007, when phase one of a new museum, The B.B. King Museum, finally opens, followed by phase two and three, as they become fully funded.

It’s an 80th birthday gift for Riley B. King, best known as “The King of the Blues.”
On Fri., June 10, King, the tireless music legend, will join officials, who are in the throes of fund raising for the project, to break ground for phase one---the restoration of Mississippi’s last brick gin mill ---of the planned, 2.3-acre B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Miss., near his birthplace.
Why Indianola, Miss.? According to King, “They asked to do it, and it’s where my roots are. Maybe it’s the same reason I go back year after year to do a free homecoming concert – there’s a sense of place that’s very powerful and I hope it can make a difference for the children of the Mississippi Delta.”

A decade in the making, the $10 million museum will be partially located within an existing, abandoned gin mill, where, as a youngster, King once worked.

The Bethesda, MD-based firm of Gallagher & Associates, which has helped design projects for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian, is designing the museum exhibits in conjunction with architect Stephen Perkins, who counts master planning for Tokyo Disneyland among his many assignments.

Different areas of the complex, to be developed and opened in phases, will feature various aspects of King’s 60-year career, many narrated and presented thru animation and recordings by King himself, including his difficult childhood in the Mississippi Delta and the early days in Memphis, where he launched his career in clubs and on local radio.

A Blues Studio, where visitors will be offered hands on experience at mixing an actual recording, and a number of other interactive exhibits, will also be featured.

A replica of the WDIA radio studios in Memphis, where the indefatigable musician discovered his first real success, will also be housed at the museum.

A major museum feature, the Delta Interpretive Center, will promote a curriculum of education and cultural outreach for at risk youngsters of the mostly poor Delta region.

The state of Mississippi recently declared “B.B. King Day” and has pledged state funds. Fund-raising is also flowing from individuals and corporate entities.
King’s actual 80th birthday is on Sept. 16, but he has already started celebrating a long and historic life, traveling as he will on one of his most extensive musical tours ever.

He will also start recording a new duets album that’s due out later in the year.

In 1987, King received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from NARAS, which produces the GRAMMY® Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors. The Presidential Medal of the Arts, among numerous other awards.

» www.bbkingmuseum.org

B.B. KING KICKS OFF 80TH BIRTHDAY YEAR | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 28 Feb 2005 18:15:00 GMT

MUSIC LEGEND, 13-TIME GRAMMY® WINNER B.B. KING KICKS OFF 80TH BIRTHDAY YEAR WITH A MUSEUM, CD, WORLD TOUR, TV SPECIAL

(Los Angeles, Calif., March 2, 2005)---What becomes a legend most?
How about his own museum?
That’s what music legend and 13-time GRAMMY® winner B.B. King (www.bbking.com) will get in his home state of Mississippi.
It’s an 80th birthday gift of sorts for the man born Riley B. King and best known as “the king of the blues.”
King, whose actual birthday is in Sept., has already started celebrating a long and historic life, traveling as he will on one of the most extensive musical tours ever undertaken by a music star, let alone one who is about to turn 80 years old.
During 2005, a number of milestone events are in the works.
In June, ground breaking for the $10 million B.B. King Museum will be held in Indianola, Miss., near his hometown of Bene.
The state of Mississippi recently declared “B.B. King Day” and has pledged funds to help build the long planned museum.
King will start recording a new duets album in March that’s due out later in the year on the Universal Music label.
Many performers over the years have been influenced by King’s trademark guitar style, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and George Harrison.
In 1987, King received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from NARAS, which produces the GRAMMY® Awards, and the veteran showman, who got his first break as a musician on a radio show in Memphis in 1948, last received a GRAMMY® Award in 2002 for “Best Pop Instrumental Performance.”
As in the past, King, renowned for his facile playing on the guitar famously known as “Lucille,” will star in concerts at a variety of venues, in the U.S., Canada and Europe, starting in March and continuing throughout the year.
During his career, he’s been known to play as many as 342 one night stands.
Among his many classics are “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss,” “Everyday I Have The Blues,” “You Don’t Know Me” and “Why I Sing The Blues.”
Bulfinch Press will publish a major book on the musician, titled B.B. King’s Treasures, due to coincide with his 80th birthday on Sept. 16.
A King autobiography, “Blues All Around Me,” was published in 1996.
These days, B.B. King isn’t just a headlining entertainer, he’s also the namesake for a string of successful nightclubs.
Clubs bearing his name now operate in New York, Memphis, Nashville, Los Angeles and at the Foxwoods Casino in Conn.
A London version is expected soon and airport cafes, in Atlanta and Detroit, also bearing his name, have recently opened.
On Sept. 20, a major gala will be held in Beverly Hills as a combination museum fundraiser and 80th birthday party and in late summer a birthday concert, sponsored by the Isle of Capri Casinos, Mississippi’s largest public company, also to benefit the museum, is planned.
I’ve never learned to talk very well without Lucille,” says the Las Vegas based legend.

The B. B. King Treasures | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 17:57:00 GMT

In 1947, with a two-and-a-half dollars in his pocket and his guitar on his back, Riley B. King, a sharecropper moonlighting as a blues and gospel musician, hitchhiked to Memphis from his home in Indianola, Mississippi. Today, after touring the world as an ambassador of the blues for more than half a century, B. B. King is a living legend.

Like a celebration thrown by B.B. for his countless fans, published for the occasion of his 80th birthday, The B. B. King Treasures brings remembrances, photos, and rare and personal memorabilia together in a magnificent collection from his life and career. Numerous illustrations throughout the book and 12 removable facsimile reproductions of items—among them a signed B. B. King business card from the 1970s and an official White House photo with a note of thanks to B. B. from President Clinton—provide the atmosphere for the party. The entertainment is a jam session, led by the King of the Blues himself, of rare and never-before-published quotes and stories from B. B., his friends, and people he worked with over the years. Also included is an audio CD featuring selected interviews, speeches and unreleased musical recordings of B. B King.

Available at bookstores everywhere in mid September or pre-order through your favorite online bookseller.

www.bulfinchpress.com
www.beckermayer.com

» www.amazon.com

BB King Weeps At Dedication | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 17:53:00 GMT

Blues legend BB KING broke down in tears in his native Mississippi on Tuesday (15FEB05) after state leaders declared the day BB King Day.

The THRILL IS GONE musician, 79, was honoured by the southern US state's legislative bodies in a ceremony held in the state capital Jackson's Senate chamber.

Referring to his black guitar, King said, "I never learned to talk very well without LUCILLE.

"But today, I'm trying to say only God knows how I feel. I am so happy. Thank you."

King admitted he hadn't wept since his pal RAY CHARLES' funeral in June 2004.

King explained, "That was tears of sorrow. Today, it was tears of joy."

» www.contactmusic.com

Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 17:31:00 GMT

B.B. King and Eric Clapton are inducting Buddy Guy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14th in NYC.

Paul Shaffer's band is the house band, and a performance by all three is scheduled.

» www.rockhall.com

Lightning In A Bottle | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:22:00 GMT

On February 7, 2003, renowned artists across multiple music genres and generations commandeered the stage at New York City ’s Radio City Music Hall to pay tribute to their common heritage and passion – the blues.

Shared with thousands of fans in attendance, legendary performers from roots, rock, jazz and rap joined forces for a once-in-a-lifetime “Salute To The Blues ” benefit concert whose proceeds went to musical education.

Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Paul G. Allen and Jody Patton, produced by Alex Gibney and directed by Antoine Fuqua, LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE captures the night’s magic and weaves a history of the blues through the juxtaposition of performances, backstage interviews,rehearsals and archival clips of some of the greatest names in American music, from blues royalty such as Buddy Guy and B.B. King, to their musical heirs ranging from John Fogerty and Bonnie Raitt to Mos Def and India.Arie.

» www.sonyclassics.com

B. B. KING & GYÖRGY LIGETI WINNERS OF THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 25 May 2004 22:00:00 GMT

The winners of the Polar Music Prize, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, for
2004 were unveiled on Wednesday the 15th of October 2003 at The Royal Swedish Academy
of Music in Stockholm. The Chairman of the Board and Award Committee, Mr. Åke Holmquist,
read the Award Committee’s citations.

"The Polar Music Prize for 2004 is being awarded to the American composer, singer and
performer Riley B King for his significant contributions to the blues. King’s total dedication
to his music, a rich recording history and tireless touring lasting more than half a century have
made him one of the most prominent figures within the blues. Through his achievements in
spreading the blues throughout the world, he has, as a leading proponent of his music,
proved of fundamental importance to the development of modern popular music."

During the announcement at the Academy, a short film with live performances of B. B. King
was shown and pianist Mr. Fredrik Ullén played Ligeti’s "Etudes no. 13, L´escalier du diable".

The prizewinners will receive the prize from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at a
gala ceremony in Stockholm to be followed by a celebratory banquet at Grand Hôtel on Monday
the 24th of May. Her Majesty Queen Silvia and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria will
be amongst the many other dignitaries attending.

As from 2004, the prizegiving ceremony will be held at the Stockholm Concert Hall,
which is also where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place.

The event, which is broadcast on national television (TV4), attracts international media,
members of the international music business, celebrities, artists, musicians, government
ministers, politicians and other leading members of society and industry.

On Saturday the 22nd of May, B. B. King will, together with the eight
members of his band, perform at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

It is the intention to continue with the successful collaboration with the Stockholm Cultural Centre
(Kulturhuset) in organising a "Polar Music Prize Week" of activities culminating in the prizegiving.
This project has now been enhanced with the participation of NGO for assisting in the development
and economic growth of Greater Stockholm, "Sydväxt".

The Polar Music Prize was founded in 1989 by the late Stig Anderson who was one of the true
greats in the music industry. As the publisher, lyricist and manager of ABBA, he played a key role
in their enormous success.

Stig Anderson made a generous donation to The Royal Swedish Academy of Music with the
aim of creating what was to become known as the Polar Music Prize. This is also why the prize
is administered within the Academy.

It is an international music prize and awarded to individuals, groups or institutions in recognition
of exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music. The prize breaks down
musical boundaries by bringing together people from all the different worlds of music.
It is completely independent of commercial interests, thereby guaranteeing its integrity.

Sir Paul McCartney, Dizzy Gillespie, Witold Lutoslawski, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Quincy Jones,
Mstislav Rostropovitch, Sir Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Pierre Boulez, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Ericson,
Ray Charles, Ravi Shankar, Iannis Xenakis, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Isaac Stern, Burt Bacharach,
Robert Moog, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Sofia Gubaidulina, Miriam Makeba and Keith Jarrett are the
individuals who have been bestowed with the prize since its inception in 1992. In 1992, the Baltic
States were also awarded the prize to encourage them in their work for protection of copyright.

The prize is now in its thirteenth year and is awarded in the amount of one million Swedish
Crowns (approximately equivalent to US$ 125.000 or € 110.000) tooooo each prizewinner.

» www.polarmusicprize.com

B.B. King Museum Development Team Hosts Planning Summit | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 05 Jan 2004 19:37:00 GMT

Indianola, Mississippi: Plans for a museum honoring international Bluesman B.B. King are well underway, guided by a development team with excellent credentials and input at a recent planning summit, according to Museum Foundation President Bill McPherson.

Members of the development team assembled in Mr. King's hometown of Indianola, Mississippi, on October 9 - 10 for the charrette. In attendance were team members including Architect Stephen Perkins of the Washington, D.C. and Dallas firm of ForrestPerkins; Patrick Gallagher, CEO, Deena Gift, Rob Malootian and Cybelle Lewis-Jones of the museum interpretive design and exhibit firm Gallagher and Associates of Bethesda, Maryland; Tom Moriarity and Leslie Smith of Economics Research Associates, international consultants to the entertainment and leisure industry with offices in Washington, D.C. and throughout the world; Paul Rosenthal, storyline consultant and Al Hillmann and Michal Carr of the film production company Hillmann and Carr, also of Washington.

Among those invited guests attending were blues historian and King biographer, Charles Sawyer, and Executive Director of the National Music Center and Museum, James Weaver, as well as founding editor of Living blues Magazine, Jim O'Neil.

The $10 million museum facility will be approximately 15,000 square feet upon completion and designed for an interactive and educational experience. The museum has been sanctioned by Mr. King and Floyd Lieberman, CEO of Lieberman Management, as the official B.B. King Museum. The facility is projected to open in 2005, during the international celebration of B.B. King's 80th year.

During the October planning summit, the development team and invited guests affirmed direction for the Museum. In addition to telling the B.B. King story, it will serve as a unique regional and national learning resource, committed to the creation of an innovative curriculum for K-12 and Lifelong Learning modules. Lesson plans and outreach initiatives will be created to encourage primary, secondary and continuing education groups from the region to visit the B.B. King Museum for tours and educational opportunities.

The B.B. King Museum will also seek to establish partnerships with other institutions. Its goal is to leverage resources in order to create greater museum exposure to potential visitors and students. The museum can thereby document best practices and understanding about the effectiveness and success of its outreach programs. The Museum will strive to create pathways to its resources through the development of digital media for internet and DVD distribution.

King visited Indianola, Mississippi, in early June 2003 to meet with the Foundation Board and perform his annual Homecoming concert. Upon viewing the museum site, he remarked that the vintage cotton gin building located there is the same structure in which he had worked as a youth. The site, located near the downtown district on Second Street, was donated to the B.B. King Museum Foundation by the City of Indianola. Current plans call for the early brick cotton gin building to be renovated as part of the museum campus, which will include new facilities as well.

The museum's connection to the place where Mr. King grew up and first played the blues is significant, according to Foundation President, Bill McPherson. McPherson sees the Museum as a way to showcase the origins of the Delta Blues, America's root music, as well as the accomplishments of a man who started life with few advantages, yet rose to become a musician recognized around the world.

"From bare beginnings, B.B. King has become legendary, performing in over 90 countries and influencing such musical icons as John Lennon and Eric Clapton," remarked McPherson. "The B.B. King Museum is the place where we can honor the talent and dreams of a Delta kid who became 'The King of the Blues'."

B.B. KING: WINNER OF THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE FOR 2004 | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 27 Oct 2003 20:30:00 GMT

B.B. KING & GYÖRGY LIGETI WINNERS OF THE POLAR MUSIC PRIZE FOR 2004

The winners of the Polar Music Prize, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, for
2004 were unveiled on Wednesday the 15th of October 2003 at The Royal Swedish Academy
of Music in Stockholm. The Chairman of the Board and Award Committee, Mr. Åke Holmquist,
read the Award Committee’s citations.

Extract from the B.B. King Citation
"The Polar Music Prize for 2004 is being awarded to the American composer, singer and
performer Riley B King for his significant contributions to the blues. King’s total dedication
to his music, a rich recording history and tireless touring lasting more than half a century have
made him one of the most prominent figures within the blues. Through his achievements in
spreading the blues throughout the world, he has, as a leading proponent of his music,
proved of fundamental importance to the development of modern popular music."

During the announcement at the Academy, a short film with live performances of B.B. King
was shown and pianist Mr. Fredrik Ullén played Ligeti’s "Etudes no. 13, L´escalier du diable".

The prizewinners will receive the prize from His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at a
gala ceremony in Stockholm to be followed by a celebratory banquet at Grand Hôtel on Monday
the 24th of May. Her Majesty Queen Silvia and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria will
be amongst the many other dignitaries attending.

As from 2004, the prizegiving ceremony will be held at the Stockholm Concert Hall,
which is also where the Nobel Prize ceremony takes place.

The event, which is broadcast on national television (TV4), attracts international media,
members of the international music business, celebrities, artists, musicians, government
ministers, politicians and other leading members of society and industry.

On Saturday the 22nd of May, B.B. King will, together with the eight
members of his band, perform at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

» www.polarmusicprize.com

B.B. King & Beck in Guitar One | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 27 Aug 2003 22:33:00 GMT

B.B. & BECK
Interviewed Together for the First Time
This month we caught up with titans of guitar B.B. King and Jeff Beck as
they kicked off their summer tour with a gig in New York City. Though B.B.
and Beck had met only twice previously, they sat down for an exclusive
interview, revealing not only vast six-string acumen but also sharp senses
of humor and mutual admiration. Plus, B.B. talks about his main influence,
and both guitarists give the scoop on their latest albums. A must-read! On
stands NOW!

» www.guitaronemag.com

Hendrix, Allman, King Ranked as Top Guitarists | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 27 Aug 2003 22:23:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Late rock musicians Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman lead the list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time in the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine.

Hendrix, who invariably tops such polls, received a glowing tribute from Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who wrote that he "made the electric guitar beautiful."

Townshend recalled that one of Hendrix's shows was "so profoundly powerful" that he found himself holding hands with fellow devotee and guitarist Eric Clapton.

Allman was hailed by the magazine for transforming "the poetry of jamming" with the Allman Brothers Band, the Atlanta rock group he founded with younger brother Gregg in 1969.

B.B. King, who turns 78 next month, came in at No. 3. "His string-bending and vibrato made his famous guitar, Lucille, weep like a woman," the magazine said.

Clapton landed at No. 4, followed by Delta bluesman Robert Johnson. Rounding out the top 10 were Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards.

The survey is featured in the next issue, which hits streets on Friday.

The No. 100 spot went to Kim Thayil of defunct Seattle rock band Soundgarden. Townshend himself was No. 50. Two women made the list: Joni Mitchell at No. 72 and Joan Jett at No. 87.

Stax session guitarist Steve Cropper, who was judged the No. 2 guitarist in a Mojo magazine survey in 1996, was good enough for only No. 36 in Rolling Stone's estimation. Two spots behind him was Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green, who had been No. 3 on the Mojo list.

» story.news.yahoo.com

Own a BB King, limited Edition Lucille Guitar | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 27 May 2003 22:32:00 GMT

City of Hope has a set of online actions set up. They have 25 exclusive or rare items of sheet music and memorabilia from, BB King, Sheryl Crow, U2 and Enrique Iglesias. Don't miss this opportunity to own a piece of music history!

Own a BB King, limited City of Hope Holiday Edition Lucille Guitar. Each 1 of 9 in the world autographed by BB King, Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from 8 Mile, framed original handwritten lithograph, or Avril Lavigne's framed original sheet music to "I'm With You" plus original words handwritten on the stationery from the W Hotel in New York City. Just a preview of some of the items that are available to bid on and at the same time you can help save a life!

Proceeds benefit City of Hope National Medical Center. For 90 years, City of Hope's medical discoveries have brought hope and healing to people everywhere. Many of the procedures used in medical centers throughout the world such as bone marrow transplantation were pioneered at City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Recent advances in genetic research and molecular medicine, combined with state-of-the-art facilities and an environment that nurtures the best and brightest thinkers, foretell an even more promising future.

» members.ebay.com

Licensing | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Sat, 10 May 2003 02:00:00 GMT

The Licensing Division of Kingsid Ventures is charged with the responsibility of protecting and preserving the integrity of B.B. King, B.B. King Blues Clubs, and other related properties. We accomplish this through the pursuit of the right commercial opportunities that fit with our financial strategies while maintaining desired branding and positioning for B.B. King and other properties.

We devote personalized attention to each of our more than twenty licensees and are sensitive to the unique situations and financial goals of each. Through years of experience combined with a true sense of support and responsiveness for our licensees distinguish LM’s Licensing Division as one of the best in the industry.

Please be advised that all costs and expenditures associated with artwork, concepts, samples, prototypes and proposals prepared and submitted by a prospective licensee to LM licensing division, in connection with a license, are to be borne solely by the prospective licensee.

Issuance of a license agreement for your product will depend greatly on the product, quality, creativity, sales projections and channel of distribution.

A guaranteed minimum royalty and an advance upon execution of the signed agreement is expected.

Contact us today and let us explore together how we can develop mutually beneficial merchandising and licensing programs.

Lieberman Management LLC
212-421-2021

B.B. King Salutes the Blues | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 27 Feb 2003 02:41:00 GMT

On February 7th B.B. King performed at Radio City Music Hall as part of the “Salute To The Blues” benefit show. Renowned artists across multiple genres and generations took the stage to celebrate their common heritage – the blues. Those appearing included Robert Cray, Bonnie Rait, Buddy Guy, Chuck D, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Venon Reid, Shemekia Copeland and many more. B.B King closed the show! The concert was filmed for theatrical distribution, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”) and executive produced by Martin Scorsese.

Net proceeds from the concert will benefit the Blues Music Foundation, a non-profit, international organization dedicated to the preservation of blues history, the celebration of blues excellence, support of music education (particularly the blues), and the provision of financial assistance to needy and worthy individuals who have made contributions to the blues.

The King Jams With Phish | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 20:08:00 GMT

B.B.King stunned several thousand Phish fans on 2/24/03 at the Continental Airlines Arena at East Rutherford, NJ, when he came out and played 50 minutes of classic King material with the kings of impovisational jamband music.
Here is a clip from a show review on www.phish.net:
"Now, I'm gonna warn some people again about expectations. To see Phish jam with BB for 50 minutes was an honor not a nuisance. This man seemed to be enjoying his first phish show, remember how floored you were too. He was just
having the time of his life as was I. As a guitar player myself this was just a dream come true, except I never dreamed this, its one of those moments where you're
totally caught off guard. Yes, the vibe was weird at times but there were some great moments too. Last songs of first set - Everyday I Have the Blues (23 min) -
The Thrill is Gone (12 min) - Rock Me Baby (12 min).
For the full show review from a Phishhead - check the link below.

» www.phish.net

B.B.King Wins Two Grammys! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 26 Feb 2003 18:47:00 GMT

The 45th Annual Grammy Awards were good to B.B.King.
B.B. added two Grammys this past Sunday to his previous 11 Grammy wins.
This years Grammy award wins were for the 2002 Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Auld Lang Syne" and
2002 Best Traditional Blues Album for "A Christmas Celebration of Hope".
BB King has been nominated for 27 Grammy Awards through 2002.
Congratulations B.B.!
To learn more about the Grammy Awards follow the link below.

» grammy.aol.com

B.B. King Celebrates 40 Years With Universal Music Group | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 21 Jan 2003 18:44:00 GMT

B.B. King recorded his first album for ABC Records (now part of Universal) in 1962 and will record another duet album for MCA/Universal in 2002 marking his 40th year with the parent company -- a mark few artists have accomplished. King's 2001 CDs for Universal have been ``...Here & There: The Uncollected B.B. King,'' which contained a previously unreleased track in the U.S., a previously unreleased version of ``Three O'Clock Blues'' and a previously unreleased song, and ``A Christmas Celebration of Hope,'' King's first seasonal album.

Busy B.B. | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 21 Jan 2003 18:42:00 GMT

B.B. King appears on the new Tony Bennett CD ``Playing With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues'' (RPM Records/Columbia) singing ``Let the Good Times Roll'' in duet with Bennett.
B.B. King is featured in the XM Satellite Radio ads in the campaign called ``Radio to the Power X.'' XM Satellite Radio is the first ever, national commercial radio service, which provides 100 channels of revolutionary programming, coast-to-coast coverage and digital quality sound. XM's 100-channel lineup features 71 music channels, more than 30 commercial free, and 29 news, talk, sports and entertainment channels at a free of $9.99 per month.

Foxwoods to Open The B.B.King Dance and Nite Clubs in Januar | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 21 Jan 2003 18:39:00 GMT

Foxwoods to Become Home to B.B. King Nite Clubs, With Dance, Jazz, Blues and Comedy
B.B. King and Foxwoods Resort Casino, the world's largest casino, plan to open the B.B. King Dance & Nite Clubs, featuring adjoining entertainment venues that will offer dancing in the larger of the two and a smaller jazz, blues and comedy venue on Jan. 11-12.
"It's a logical pairing of the world's best casino and the top blues artist on the planet," said Tom Cantone, vice president of entertainment at Foxwoods. "We already offer the most headliner entertainment of any casino in the U.S., and these two clubs will double the number of our existing clubs for the benefit of those who visit Foxwoods to club hop and take in the very best entertainment.
"In addition to opening the club, B.B. King will play several times a year, jamming with up-and-coming talent, Cantone said.
The entertainment agreement is a first for the award-winning casino owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which opened in 1992 on the tribe's reservation in southeastern Connecticut and quickly grew to become the world's largest.
"It's the first time anything at Foxwoods has carried an outside name," said Bill Sherlock, Foxwoods president and CEO. "Foxwoods is already synonymous with entertainment in the Northeast, and it's only appropriate that for our first venture with an outside name that it be with someone with the star quality B.B. King. He's a winner and we're proud to be associated with him.
Located on Pequot Trail in the heart of the Casino's Theater District, the clubs will accommodate nearly 700 patrons and will offer a combined 13,000 square feet of entertainment space. The Dance Club, the larger of the two, will feature an Art-deco motif, a theater-style entrance marquee. With a centerpiece, 700 square foot stage, the room will also have two bars, a d.j. booth and a dance floor. It will accommodate 429 patrons. The Nite Club portion of the complex is half the size of the Dance Club and will provide for 245 patrons. It will sport a converted warehouse design motif, a fiber-optic illuminated glass block along with a granite and copper bar. B.B. King memorabilia and a custom portrait will also greet fans.

Black Planet.com Rave Reviews for B.B. | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 21 Jan 2003 18:16:00 GMT

Black Planet.com comes out with a rave review of B.B's new album. Check it out at blackplanet.com

» www.blackplanet.com

B.B.King Touring the U.S.A. | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 21 Jan 2003 18:07:00 GMT

The King is on the road and rockin' a venue near you. Be sure to go to the tour dates page and see where B.B. is gonna hit next. Check it out at http://www.bbking.com/tour/

» www.bbking.com

B.B.King Nominated for 45th Annual Grammy Awards | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 08 Jan 2003 02:55:00 GMT

B.B.King has done it once again, breaking into The 45th Annual Grammy Award Nominations in two catagories.
B.B.King is nominated in Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Auld Lang Syne" from A Christmas Celebration of Hope, as well as Best Traditional Blues Album for A Christmas Celebration of Hope.
The Grammys air on February 23 on CBS. The show will be in New York this year. For a complete list of nominations please go to the link below.
Other MCA artists nominated for awards are Mary J.Blige, Femi Kuti, and Erykah Badu feat. Common.

» www.grammy.com

11th Annual B.B.King Blues Fest Is On | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 29 Jul 2002 08:00:00 GMT

ELEVENTH ANNUAL B.B. KING BLUES FESTIVAL TOUR BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

Santa Monica, California, July 29, 2002 – Well-known for maintaining a breakneck touring schedule that would bring most to their knees, the timelessly thrilling B.B. King will embark on his eleventh annual B.B. King Blues Festival Tour beginning August 3rd in Eugene, Oregon and continuing on to 31 other cities across North America through September 22nd (see below for a complete itinerary).

Joining B.B. King on tour this year are George Thorogood and the Destroyers, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Joe Bonamassa. There will be some special guests making an appearance or two during the tour. These guests include Susan Tedeschi, Shane Henry, Chuck Berry and Tower of Power.

Below is a complete list of dates for the Eleventh Annual B.B. King Blues Festival Tour:

8/3 Eugene, OR Cuthbert Amphitheatre
8/4 George WA Gorge Amphitheatre
8/7 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
8/8 Reno, NV Hilton Amphitheatre
8/9 Concord, CA Chronicle Pavillion
8/10 Mountainview, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/11 Sacremento, CA Sacremento Valley Amphitheatre
8/13 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green
8/14 Omaha, NE Westfair Amphitheatre
8/15 Chicago, IL Tweeter Center
8/16 Cleveland, OH Tower City Amphitheatre
8/18 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend
8/20 Rochester, NY Finger Lakes
8/21 Pittsburgh, PA IC Lite Amphitheatre
8/22 Knoxville, TN Civic Coliseum
8/23 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park
8/24 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park
8/25 Vienna, VA Wolftrap
8/28 Philadelphia, PA Mann Music Center
8/29 Detroit, MI Pine Knob
8/30 Saratoga, NY SPAC
8/31 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
9/1 Danbury, CT Ives Center
9/2 Manchester, VT Riley Rink
9/5 Manchester, NH Verizon Arena
9/6 Hartford, CT Meadows Amphitheatre
9/7 Boston, MA Harbor Lights
9/8 Wantaugh, NY Jones Beach
9/20 Fresno, CA Grizzlie’s Amphitheatre
9/21 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl
9/22 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl

* * * * *

B.B.King To Play Doheny Blues Festival | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 13 May 2002 08:00:00 GMT

From Billboard.com:
Blues legends B.B. King and Bo Diddley, as well as contemporary blues stars such as Jonny Lang and Marcia Ball, will be on hand for the
Doheny Blues Festival next weekend in Dana Point, Calif. Produced by Omega Events and sponsored by Miller Genuine Draft, the event will take
place May 18-19 at the 62-acre Doheny State Beach park.

The King Is On The Road | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 27 Feb 2002 08:00:00 GMT

B.B.King is out on the road and blowing up a venue near you. Be sure to check out the events page or hit up the link to see where B.B. will be next.

» bbking.com

Rolling Stone Approves! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 13 Dec 2001 08:00:00 GMT

Check out the great review of B.B.King's new holiday album in Rolling Stone magazine.

» www.rollingstone.com

Black Planet.com on Celebration of Hope | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 13 Dec 2001 08:00:00 GMT

Black Planet.com gives some props to B.B.King on his new album. Check out the review.

» www.blackplanet.com

You Could Have Had Your Own Lucille!!! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Wed, 24 Oct 2001 08:00:00 GMT

The MCA Records online auction to benefit the United Way Septmeber 11th Fund is over and one lucky fan now has a Lucille to call their own. Only ten of these authentic Gibson Lucille guitars were made. Hand-crafted, hand-painted, and signed by the great bluesman himself, this guitar is one of a kind. Thanks to everyone who participated in this great online event. Thanks to you, MCA raised over $30,000 for the United Way September 11th Fund.

A Christmas Celebration of Hope | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 24 Sep 2001 19:43:00 GMT

B.B. King realeases first ever holiday album, "A Christmas Celebration Of Hope," MCA Records donating proceeds of album sales to City Of Hope.
Santa Monica, California, November 6, 2001 - The King of the Blues, B.B. King, releases a new MCA holiday album "A Christmas Celebration of Hope", the beloved entertainer's first-ever Christmas album. In its thirteen tracks, B.B. puts a classic blues spin on a host of contemporary holiday favorites, including “Please Come Home For Christmas,” “Auld Lang Syne,” and many others. MCA Records is donating all profits from the sale of this album to City of Hope, a world renowned biomedical research and treatment center that brings lifesaving hope to those suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other catastrophic diseases.
B.B. chose the album title himself to reflect the charitable nature of the project. Said B.B., "It has been my long time dream to produce an album of Christmas music. Now the time has come for me to release with great pride and joy, ‘A Christmas Celebration of Hope.’ In addition, it is with pleasure that I dedicate this album to City Of Hope in support of their hard work to bring hope and healing to all people who suffer from life threatening diseases everywhere".
Blues music has long been part of the holidays, and here, B.B. and his guitar Lucille put a fabulous blues spin on many familiar tunes. Produced by B.B. King himself and recorded in Lafayette, Louisiana at Dockside Recording Studios in June of 2001, A Christmas Celebration of Hope includes Christmas classics in both popular and blues music genres as well as two B.B. King originals; “Christmas Celebration” (first released in 1960 on Kent Records) and the newly written instrumental “Christmas Love.” . Songs included on the album are: “Please Come Home For Christmas,” “Lonesome Christmas,” “Back Door Santa,” “Christmas In Heaven,” “I'll Be Home For Christmas,” “To Someone That I Love,” “Christmas Celebration,” “Merry Christmas Baby,” “Christmas Love,” “Blue Decorations,” “Christmas Comes But Once A Year,” “Bringing In A Brand New Year,” and “Auld Lang Syne.”
City of Hope is an internationally recognized biomedical research and treatment center whose groundbreaking research has led to such advances as the development of synthetic insulin which is used by people around the world who are suffering from diabetes. Today the center continues to advance biomedicine with its research and treatment programs in gene therapy, cell regeneration, T-cell therapy and cancer drug development. Motivated by its commitment to innovative medical research and quality patient care, a group of key music industry executives founded the Music and Entertainment Industry Chapter. In its 25 years of dedicated efforts, the Chapter has grown to include all the major music labels and their associated concerns and has raised well over $30 Million dollars to support programs on-going at City of Hope. This year, City of Hope will present the Spirit of Life Award to Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman of Vivendi Universal. The event will take place in Los Angeles on October 11, 2001.

Here & There - The Uncollected B.B. King | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 02 Jul 2001 21:20:00 GMT

Along with releasing his own albums and singles over the course of half a century of recording, the prolific B.B. King has contributed to numerous soundtracks and recorded duets for albums by artists as far flung as Willie Nelson, Albert Collins, Gary Burton and Grover Washington, Jr. Now, 11 of the best B.B. King recordings from 1983 to 2001 never before available on a B.B. King album have been brought together on Here & There - The Uncollected B.B. King (Hip-O Records), released August 21, 2001.

An illustrious assemblage of collaborators, songs and performances starring the legendary bluesman, Here & There - The Uncollected B.B. King offers B.B. fans their first and only opportunity to obtain all of these disparate recordings on one album. The album package also includes extensive liner notes by blues authority Bill Dahl.

Two selections culled from a 1991 session with Living Color leader Vernon Reid as co-producer are previously unreleased in the U.S.--“All You Ever Give Me Is The Blues” available only on a European compilation and the never-before-released-anywhere rocker “Yes Man.” Also making its CD debut is “T’Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness (If I Do),” produced by and featuring Robbie Robertson, from the soundtrack for the 1983 Robert DeNiro/Jerry Lewis black comedy The King Of Comedy. Another soundtrack contribution is the suave 1991 recording “Monday Morning Blues” first heard on the animated television special “Garfield: Am I Cool Or What?”

The honor roll of classic duets includes 1987’s “Caught A Touch Of Your Love” with jazz/R&B great Grover Washington, Jr. from his Strawberry Moon album; “Six Pack,” an instrumental with jazz vibraharpist Gary Burton from his 1992 album of the same name; “Frosty,” a remake of Albert Collins’ most famous instrumental hit from Albert’s 1994 Collins Mix collection, and “Stormy Monday Blues” with Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval, Ramsey Lewis, Tom Scott and the rest of the GRP All-Star Big Band from their 1994 All Blues effort.

Here & There’s most recent selections are the sprightly “Get You Next To Me” with blues singer-guitarist Arthur Adams from his 1999 album Back On Track; a new version of The King Of The Blues’ first hit, “Three O’Clock Blues” with jazz organ master Jimmy Smith from his 2001 Dot Com Blues release, and a remake of B.B.’s monumental “The Thrill Is Gone” with Willie Nelson from the latter’s 2000 album, Milk Cow Blues.

The recordings on Here & There - The Uncollected B.B. King result in, finally and truly, a B.B. King album.

B.B. King, Shemekia Copeland Top Winners At W.C. Handy Blues | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Sat, 26 May 2001 02:29:00 GMT

Etta James, Rick Vito, Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band among other winners.

» www.sonicnet.com

B.B. King to Bust Out on BET!! | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 21 May 2001 19:06:00 GMT

B.B.King to bust out with Jazz Special on BET! B.B. King taped a live concert at the BET sound studios in Washington, DC in front of a closed audience on May 29. This program will be broadcast on the BET on Jazz Concert Series over a three year period. In addition, it will also be distributed on home video, DVD and VHS by Image Entertainment. Look out for the blues man live. The only thing better than B.B. in audio, B.B. on the big screen..

» www.worldblues.com

More and More Great Blues from the Bluesman himself. | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 23 Apr 2001 19:04:00 GMT

Off you go to Guitar.com to read an interview with the man. A nice place to you both to get to know each other.

» www.guitar.com

The Grammy's Were Good to the King. | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 23 Feb 2001 01:14:00 GMT

The 43rd annual Grammy awards were held Feb 21st @ the Staples Center in Los Angeles. B.B., who had been honored with 3 nominations, walked away with with 2 awards.

» www.bbking.com

B.B. King, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash Score G | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 22 Feb 2001 04:47:00 GMT

Blues, folk, country greats honored, along with Taj Mahal, Dave Alvin, Béla Fleck, Alison Brown, Louis Armstrong.

» www.sonicnet.com

Riding With B.B. King #6: Rejuvenating Finish | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Sun, 17 Sep 2000 02:49:00 GMT

Castro band's leg of B.B. King Blues Festival 2000 tour winds up with an audience with the master.

» www.sonicnet.com

B.B. King, Eric Clapton Cruise On At #1 | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 08 Sep 2000 16:34:00 GMT

>Riding With the Kings roster ever since it was released in late June.

» www.sonicnet.com

Riding With B.B. King #5: The View From 'Das Bus' | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 01 Sep 2000 08:05:00 GMT

What drives grown men to spend weeks living out of suitcases?

» www.sonicnet.com

Riding With B.B. King #4: Spinning The Odometer | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Mon, 28 Aug 2000 21:15:00 GMT

En route from Portland, Ore., to Denver, Atlanta and Chicago, even days off can be grueling.

» www.sonicnet.com

Old-Guard B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson Stay At Top | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 18 Aug 2000 04:17:00 GMT

Shannon Curfman's has a resurgence.

» www.sonicnet.com

Riding With B.B. King #2: Lessons From The Masters | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Thu, 10 Aug 2000 22:09:00 GMT

Tommy Castro Band members are like kids in a candy store as they tour with blues legends.

» www.sonicnet.com

B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Steve Earle Settle In Atop Charts | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 04 Aug 2000 20:53:00 GMT

Blues guitarists' joint effort has been #1 in blues sales since its release.

» www.sonicnet.com

Review: B.B. King Lovefest Kicks Off | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Fri, 04 Aug 2000 16:42:00 GMT

Buddy Guy smolders before the elder statesman's ambassadorial set during stop with Susan Tedeschi, Tommy Castro.

» www.sonicnet.com

Lucille | B.B. King | News

Geffen — Tue, 09 May 2000 11:41:00 GMT

B.B. King had been playing Gibsons for over 40 years when he and Gibson officially joined forces in 1982. B.B.'s personal touches on his signature model include the fine-tuner tailpiece, the semi-hollow body with no soundholes and, of course, the name that has adorned his guitars throughout his career Lucille.

Body	Laminated maple, Maple center block Neck/Profile
Fingerboard/Inlay	Ebony/Pearl block
Scale/Nut Width	24 3/4"/1 11/16"
Binding	Multi-ply top and headstock , single-ply fingerboard and back
Bridge/Tailpiece	Tune-o-matic/TP-6
Hardware	Gold
Pickups	490R Alnico magnet humbucker 490T Alnico magnet humbucker
Controls	Two volume, two tone, three-way switch, six-position Varitone, stereo/mono jacks
Finish	Cherry, Ebony

» www.gibson.com