|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Music Legend BB King Hosts Birthday Press Conference Sept. 12 in Washington Music Legend BB King hosts 80th birthday press conference (he officially turns 80 on Sept.16, stars at Wolftrap in concert on Sunday, Sept. 11). What becomes a legend most? How about his own museum? That's what music legend and 13-time GRAMMY(r) 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 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 On June 10, ground breaking for the $10 million B.B. King Museum was held in Indianola, Miss. The state of Mississippi recently declared "B.B. King Day" and has pledged funds to help build the long planned museum. King also recorded a new duets album that's due out Sept. 13. 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(r) 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(r) 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. 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. I've never learned to talk very well without Lucille, " says the Las Vegas based legend. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |