B.B. King
Indianola, Mississippi King of the Blues whose Lucille guitar and vibrato-heavy single-string style defined electric blues and influenced virtually every rock guitarist who followed.
The Cultural Record
Discography
Indianola, Mississippi King of the Blues whose Lucille guitar and vibrato-heavy single-string style defined electric blues and influenced virtually every rock guitarist who followed


Awards & Recognition
15 Grammy Awards
View All 15 Grammy Wins →—
Riding with the King (2000
with Eric Clapton
Grammy)
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Case For B.B. King
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for B.B. King.
Often Compared To
Buddy Guy
#2Blues — Lettsworth, Louisiana · 1954–present
Lettsworth, Louisiana blues guitarist who influenced Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan — they all credit him as a primary inspiration.
Etta James
#3Blues — Los Angeles, California · 1955–2012
Los Angeles R&B and blues singer whose At Last is one of the most recognized wedding songs in history and whose voice combined gospel power with jazz phrasing.