b.b. king
...as strongly affected by Charlie Christian, a soloist from the Benny Goodman band,and many other countrymusic guitarists. In 1946, after teaching himself how to play the guitar, B.B. hitchhiked to Memphis, Tennessee. Within three years he had developed a career playing in clubs, making records, and broadcasting on the radio. On the radio he identified himself as "The Beale Street Blues Boy" which was shortened to "Blues Boy" which was once again shortened and stayed B.B.. His song "Three O' Clock Blues"(1952) which hit the number one spot on the of Billboard magazine's rhythm and blues charts led him to his life full of national fame. Many years later around 1968, B.B. had once again topped the charts with the song "The Thrill is Gone", which ws his biggest hit on the mainstream popular music charts and in 1970 won his first Grammy Award. The following year Live at Cook county Jail became his best-selling album and identified him with the cause of the prisoners' rights. B.B. Kings singing and guitar playing style are a co...