B. B. King was an iconic American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer, widely regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians in history. Renowned for his expressive guitar style marked by fluid string bends and vibrato, he shaped the sound of electric blues and inspired countless artists. Known as "The King of the Blues" and one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar," he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Born in the Mississippi Delta, King began his career in juke joints before rising to international fame, performing worldwide and playing hundreds of shows each year well into his seventies.