American guitarist and singer B.B. King (1925–2015) was a principal figure in the development of blues, known for such songs as his first number-one hit, “Three O’Clock Blues” (1951), and the Grammy-winning “The Thrill Is Gone” (1969). Leading popular musicians drew inspiration from his style, and by the late 1960s rock guitarists were acknowledging his influence and priority; they introduced King and his guitar, Lucille, to a broader white public, who until then had heard blues chiefly in derivative versions.
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