B.B. King

Latest about B.B. King

Blues masters Robert Jr Lockwood and B.B. King
“I’m responsible for him being what he is today”: The man who transformed B.B. King from “terrible” to legendary

By Jonathan Horsley Published

From the Archive How the stepson of Robert Johnson took B.B. King under his wing as he workshopped his chops in Memphis

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From the Archive
TC Electronic Ditto X4 Looper photographed on a pedalboard
10 great guitar looping songs that will help you hone your playing

By Amit Sharma Published

Looping these classic chord progressions will get you familiar with some fresh soloing concepts

Guitar Pedals
A classic black-and-white shot of B.B. King performing live in the mid '60s
Everybody knows B.B. King played a Gibson guitar named Lucille – but what model was it really?

By Tony Bacon Published

B.B. King will forever be known as the great bluesman who always played Lucille. But he had many Lucilles

Electric Guitars
Jerry Jemmott and B.B. King
“Working and being in his presence was magical”: Jerry Jemmott on playing bass with B.B. King

By Andrew Daly Published

When Jemmott was drafted to play on the Live & Well sessions in 1969, he would find himself in awe of the King, and joined a band that would produce three albums’ worth of material

Bassists
Billy Gibbons [left] plays a custom T-style; B.B. King takes a solo on Lucille.
Billy Gibbons on how B.B. King changed his life

By Andrew Daly Published

At the age of 7, seeing B.B. King lit the path for Gibbons as a blues guitarist. The ZZ Top legend discusses B.B.’s lasting impact

Guitarists
B.B. King takes a solo on Lucille in this black-and-white live shot from 1974
The life and times of B.B. King

By Henry Yates Published

To celebrate the King of the Blues' centenary, we rewind the reels of a life story that’s equal parts pain and redemption…

Guitarists
B.B. King pumps his fist as he performs with Lucille in 1979
B.B. King in his own words – the blues’ greatest guitarist on heroes, influences and his philosophy

By Guitarist editors Published

The King of the Blues on amp choice, T-Bone Walker, how he got his vibrato and more

Guitarists
B.B. King looks approvingly at Bobby Rush as the latter takes a harmonica solo
Bobby Rush salutes his old friend B.B. King

By David Mead Published

In his own words, Rush reflects on the brilliance of B.B. and what he learned from the King of the Blues

Guitarists
Jimmy Vaughan plays a Strat as he jams with his hero, B.B. King, who is playing his customary Lucille.
Jimmie Vaughan was a garbage man listening to B.B. King. Then he wound up touring with his hero

By Henry Yates Published

He once snuck into a B.B. King show aged 13. Now Jimmie Vaughan is part of Joe Bonamassa's all-star tribute to the King of the Blues – he explains how he approached tackling his hero's licks and what he learned from the master

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Guitarists
A still from Joe Bonamassa's BB King-inspired lesson in Guitar World issue 602.
How Joe Bonamassa and Slash channeled BB King and the Edge for an iconic cover of an iconic tune

By Joe Bonamassa Published

In his latest lesson for GW, Joe Bonamassa celebrates B.B. King’s late '80s collaboration with U2

Artist Lessons
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