B.B. King through the years: A life in pictures
Late blues musician's career took him from Memphis to stages as far away as China; snapshots of a blues legend's decades in the spotlight
By EW Staff Updated May 16, 2015 at 05:40 PM EDT
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Portrait, circa 1948, of future blues legend as a young man in Memphis
Portrait, circa 1948, of future blues legend as a young man in Memphis
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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King in the recording studio with his ''Lucille'' model Gibson hollowbody electric guitar, circa 1960
King in the recording studio with his ''Lucille'' model Gibson hollowbody electric guitar, circa 1960
Credit: Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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King on stage with "Lucille," circa 1968
King on stage with "Lucille," circa 1968
Credit: Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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King, with musicians John Lee Hooker (left) and Papa John Creach (right), performs 'Gettin' It Together' on ''The Midnight Special'' TV show in August 1974 in Los Angeles
King, with musicians John Lee Hooker (left) and Papa John Creach (right), performs 'Gettin' It Together' on ''The Midnight Special'' TV show in August 1974 in Los Angeles
Credit: Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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King receives an honorary doctor of music degree from Berklee College of Music president Lee Eliot Berk on May 18, 1985
King receives an honorary doctor of music degree from Berklee College of Music president Lee Eliot Berk on May 18, 1985
Credit: Photo by Wendy Maeda/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
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King performs on July 19, 1985, at the Nice Jazz Festival
King performs on July 19, 1985, at the Nice Jazz Festival
Credit: RALPH GATTI/AFP/Getty Images
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With fellow blues legend Albert King backstage in Cleveland on Feb. 20, 1991
With fellow blues legend Albert King backstage in Cleveland on Feb. 20, 1991
Credit: Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
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King in Beijing, China, May 14, 1994
King in Beijing, China, May 14, 1994
Credit: Photo credit should read MANUEL CENETA/AFP/Getty Images
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King backstage at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 21, 2001
King backstage at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 21, 2001
Credit: Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers
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King performs at the Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! at the Nokia Theatre on Dec. 3, 2008
King performs at the Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! at the Nokia Theatre on Dec. 3, 2008
Credit: Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage
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By EW Staff