Riley B. King, known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter born on September 16, 1925, near Itta Bena, Mississippi. He began his career as a disc jockey in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was dubbed "the Beale Street Blues Boy," later shortened to "B.B." ([biography.com](https://www.biography.com/musicians/bb-king?utm_source=openai)) King's distinctive guitar style, characterized by fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato, influenced countless musicians. His 1969 recording "The Thrill Is Gone" won him the first of 15 Grammy Awards. ([britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/biography/B-B-King?utm_source=openai)) King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._B._King?utm_source=openai)) He passed away on May 14, 2015, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire artists worldwide.