Historical Marker

B. B. King Birthplace

Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

The long and remarkable life of B.B. King began near this site, where he was born Riley B. King on September 16, 1925. His parents, Albert and Nora Ella King, were sharecroppers who lived in a simple home southeast of here along Bear Creek. After his parents separated when he was four, King lived in Kilmichael and Lexington before moving as a teen to Indianola, which he referred to as his hometown.

“Ambassador of the Blues” and “King of the Blues” are titles Riley “B.B.” King earned as the result of decades of touring around the world. But the life of King, who is probably the most influential musician in the history of the blues, could not have begun more humbly. His earliest years were spent at a sharecroppers’ cabin a little more than half a mile southeast of this marker.

King’s parents split up when he was a small child. He and his mother moved around, eventually settling fifty miles east in Kilmichael with his grandmother, Elnora Farr; both died while King was young. Following a brief stay with his father’s new family in Lexington and living on his own in Kilmichael, King moved in 1943 to Indianola. There he worked as a tractor driver, got married, performed with a gospel quartet, and began actively playing the blues.

In the late ’40s King moved to Memphis to pursue a musical career. By 1949 he had found work as a deejay on radio station WDIA, in addition to winning talent contests at the Palace Theater. At WDIA he earned the nickname “B.B.”—short for “Blues Boy.” His career took off in 1952 with his first No. 1 rhythm & blues hit, “Three O’Clock Blues,” and over the next decades he scored dozens of hits on the RPM, Kent, ABC, BluesWay, and MCA labels. He toured relentlessly, performing over 350 one-night stands one year. Until the 1960s the vast majority of King’s fans were African Americans, but by the end of that decade young whites had embraced his music. His guitar playing has served as a model for countless blues, rock, and rhythm & blues musicians.

King’s 1970 crossover hit “The Thrill Is Gone”—which provided him with the first of over a dozen Grammy awards—was the launching point for international stardom. Among his many subsequent recordings were collaborations with artists across the musical spectrum including Willie Nelson, U2, Eric Clapton, Luciano Pavarotti and Heavy D. All the while King never forgot the folks back home, and in the ’60s began making regular visits back to Mississippi for events including an annual celebration in honor of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, and later, a “B.B. KingHomecoming” celebration in Indianola and workshops with students at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena. In 2004 the school created the B.B. King Recording Studio in his honor, and in 2008 Mississippi honored one of its favorite sons with the opening of the elaborate B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola

The Mississippi Blues Trail markers tell stories through words and images of bluesmen and women and how the places where they lived and the times in which they existed–and continue to exist–influenced their music. The sites run the gamut from city streets to cotton fields, train depots to cemeteries, and clubs to churches. We have a lot to share, and it’s just down the Mississippi Blues Trail.

The Mississippi Blues Trail is an ongoing project of the Mississippi Blues Commission. Funding for this project has been made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, AT&T, and the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University plus additional support from the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division.

For more information visit msbluestrail.org.

Blues Trail
Audiobooks about the history of Mississippi.
The Natchez Trace Parkway, which stretches from Natchez to Nashville, is a popular scenic drive that follows the historic Natchez Trace trail used by Native Americans and European settlers.
Mississippi random facts
Leflore County, Mississippi, has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the Native American presence and the establishment of European settlements. The area was initially inhabited by the Chickasaw tribe, who thrived on the fertile land and abundant natural resources. European explorers first arrived in the 16th century and Leflore County became part of the Spanish Empire in the early 18th century. However, after the American Revolution, it passed into the hands of the United States as part of the Mississippi Territory.

In the early 19th century, Leflore County experienced an influx of settlers, including many planters who brought enslaved Africans to work in the region's burgeoning cotton industry. With its favorable climate and rich soil, cotton became the dominant crop, shaping the county's economy and society for decades to come. As more settlers moved in, the county was officially established in 1871 and named after a Choctaw chief.

During the Civil War, Leflore County saw significant military action, as it was located alongside the Mississippi River and served as a strategic point for both Confederate and Union forces. The county suffered greatly during this time, with widespread destruction and loss of life. Once the war ended, the county gradually rebuilt its devastated economy, relying once again on cotton as the main crop.

In the 20th century, Leflore County faced the challenges of racial segregation and economic disparities that characterized much of the American South. The Civil Rights Movement brought significant change, with the county playing a role in the struggle for equal rights. Today, Leflore County is a diverse community that honors its heritage while also striving for progress and prosperity.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Leflore County, Mississippi.

  • 1825 - Leflore County is established as a county in the state of Mississippi.
  • 1830 - European settlers begin to migrate to the region.
  • 1836 - The Choctaw Indians cede their remaining lands in the area to the U.S. government.
  • 1841 - Leflore County becomes a major producer of cotton due to its fertile soil.
  • 1855 - The county's population increases significantly as more settlers move to the area.
  • 1861-1865 - Leflore County, like the rest of Mississippi, is greatly affected by the American Civil War.
  • Late 1800s - The county experiences a boom in timber and sawmill industries.
  • Early 1900s - Leflore County becomes a center for agriculture and is known for its cotton, soybeans, and catfish production.
  • 1940s-1960s - The Civil Rights Movement brings significant changes to Leflore County.
  • 1987 - The Mississippi Delta Community College is established in Leflore County.
  • Present - Leflore County continues to be an agricultural and educational hub in Mississippi.