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TO RECOGNIZE RILEY B. "B.B." KING OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, FOR HIS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO BLUES, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO HIS ART AND SHARING HIS MUSICAL GIFT WITH US ALL, AND TO WISH HIM EVERY SUCCESS IN ALL OF HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, Mr. Riley B. "B.B." King was born on September 16, 1925, on a plantation in Itta Bene, Mississippi. He played his music on street corners in his youth for dimes and hitchhiked to Memphis in 1947 to pursue his music career; and
Whereas, Mr. King lived with his cousin Bukka White, one of the most celebrated blues performers of his time, who schooled him in the art of blues. His first big break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program, which led to steady engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis; and
Whereas, Mr. King began performing ten minute spots on Memphis radio station WDIA. "King's Spot" became so popular that it was expanded and became the "Sepia Swing Club." In search of a catchy radio name, Mr. King started out as Beale Street Blues Boy and was shortened to Blues Boy King and eventually to B.B. King; and
Whereas, while touring nationally in 1956, B.B. King and his band played an astounding three hundred forty-two shows and have since played at venues including juke joints, country dance halls, rock palaces, symphony concert halls, universities, resort hotels, and amphitheaters, nationally and internationally; and
Whereas, as one of the most renowned blues musicians of the past forty years, B.B. King has developed a uniquely identifiable guitar style that has influenced thousands of guitarists; and
Whereas, Mr. King has received countless honorariums, honorary doctorates, and awards from MTV, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, French Academie du Jazz, Grammy Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards and has appeared in movies, television shows, and commercials; and
Whereas, B.B. King has opened Blues Clubs across the country and continues to average more than two hundred fifty performances each year. South Carolina is fortunate to have B.B. King's presence at the 2003 Three Rivers Music Festival. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize Riley B. "B.B." King of Memphis, Tennessee, for his many contributions to blues, commend him for his lifelong dedication to his art and sharing his musical gift with us all, and wish him every success in all of his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Riley B. "B.B." King.
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