B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center

  Riley B. King, the son of sharecroppers, was born on a Mississippi Delta plantation in 1925.  A $15.00 guitar that he bought at 12 years old became his ticket out of poverty and the never ending labor in the cotton fields. By age 18 he was working part time playing guitar with a local group and five years later he landed a job at WDIA in Memphis as a singer and disc jockey. This is where he picked up the nickname "Beale Street Blues Boy" which was shortened to B.B.. Record deals followed and soon he was booked in concert halls all across the country, playing for mostly black audiences. The color barrier was broken in 1967 when he performed at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco to standing ovations from the young, long haired, and predominately white audience. King's career spanned 60 years and his style influenced many musicians from Jimi Hendrix to Fleetwood Mac.

  The museum is very good with exhibits portraying B.B.’s early life and the conditions of the Mississippi Delta at the time; his musical career; and his generous and engaging personality.  Several listening stations allow visitors to explore the music of King and other blues artists.


 
  The museum is accessible.

  RVs will fit in the lot or along the street. This is Harvest Hosts site so members may stay overnight in the lot.  Museum  33.44946, -90.64488