B. B. King

The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to…

— B. B. King

I liked blues from the time my mother used to take me to church. I started to listen to gospel music, so…

— B. B. King

I gave you seven children, but now you want to give them back.

— B. B. King

Janis Joplin sings the blues as hard as any black person.

— B. B. King

It's going to be years and years before most people realize how greatly he contributed to American music.

— B. B. King

I would sit on the street corners in my hometown of Indianola, Mississippi, and I would play. And, generally, I would start…

— B. B. King

I think Ive done the best I could have done. But I keep wanting to play better, go further. There are so…

— B. B. King

Education is the one thing that no one can take from you.

— B. B. King

I guess you can look at me, and tell I'm the old man. My name is BB King.

— B. B. King

Growing up, I was taught that a man has to defend his family. When the wolf is trying to get in, you…

— B. B. King

Sometimes the proprietors of the little juke joints gave me a couple dollars. I loved that. I'd go back next Saturday.

— B. B. King

I'm self-taught. But I finally learned that they was having little shows or night dances or whatever you call them at little…

— B. B. King

When you don't have much money, you worry that they'll just put you in the ground someplace and your loved ones won't…

— B. B. King

Music is good for everybody. They say it soothes the savage beast. Well, I think theirs a beast in all of us.…

— B. B. King

I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I…

— B. B. King

I don't care for the music when they're talking bad about women because I think women are God's greatest gift to the…

— B. B. King

It just seemed to me that the way I played was nice. I could hear it myself.

— B. B. King

Ladies, friends, and music - without those three, I wouldn't wanna be here

— B. B. King

I never use that word, retire.

— B. B. King

I've put up with more humiliation than I care to remember.

— B. B. King

If T-Bone Walker had been a woman, I would have asked him to marry me. I'd never heard anything like that before:…

— B. B. King

I call myself a blues singer, but you ain't never heard me call myself a blues guitar man.

— B. B. King

Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do, and then…

— B. B. King

When people treat you mean, you dislike them for that, but not because of their person, who they are. I was born…

— B. B. King

When I was young, I didn't play like I do today. So these kids are starting at the height that I've reached.…

— B. B. King