Memphis is celebrating the 100th birthday of the late B.B. King, September 16, 2025. Join us in honoring The King of the Blues with 100 days of events starting June 8!
Memphis is celebrating the 100th birthday of the late B.B. King, September 16, 2025. Join us in honoring The King of the Blues with 100 days of events starting June 8!
“The Beale Street Blues Boy,” as he was known across the airwaves, got his start as a disc jockey for WDIA before playing clubs on Beale Street, where his career blossomed, leading King to record his first few records at Sun Studio. With a career spanning more than five decades, he left his mark on artists across the globe — Memphis’ own Elvis Presley often spoke of his admiration for The King of Blues, while the city’s current vanguard of musicians, including MonoNeon and the Sensational Barnes Brothers, have shared the power of performing at B.B. King’s Beale Street Blues Club .
While the 100 Days of Blues marks a formal celebration of B.B. King, his legacy and live music can be experienced year-round in Memphis.
Trace the history to the current moment of blues music at the Blues Hall of Fame, with exhibits featuring King, the artists who inspired him and those he inspired.
Learn about the Civil Rights Movement and how it intersected with King's music at the National Civil Rights Museum.
Browse the Memphis Music Hall of Fame's robust collection of memorabilia and Memphis music history.
Savor authentic Memphis barbecue and enjoy live music every single night at B.B. King's Blues Club, an homage to its namesake.
Don't forget to snap a photo in front of the vibrant B.B. King Mural, located off Lamar Ave.
FEEL THE RHYTHM IN YOUR SOUL IN MEMPHIS
Soul, hip hop, R&B and rock 'n' roll, they're all rooted in the blues, and there's no better place to experience these sounds than The Bluff City. From the inimitable B.B. King's Blues Club and Rum Boogie Cafe on Beale Street to Overton Park, The Orpheum Theatre and the soulful SugaShack, see how B.B. King's legacy continues to influence modern-day musicians in Memphis.
