BB King; A Quiz

1. B.B. King was born on a plantation in Mississippi in 1925. When he was in his 20s, he adopted the catchy radio name “B.B.” What do the initials “B.B.” stand for ?

A. Big Boy
B. Blues Boy
C. Bad Boy
D. Big Band


2. What was his actual birth name?

A. Luigi
B. Wayne
C. Riley
D. Billy

3. In 1947, King hitchhiked to which city to pursue his music career?

A. Memphis, Tenn.
B. Chicago
C. Schenectady
D. New Orleans


4. B.B. King and “Lucille” have a relationship that has lasted for 50 years. Where did Lucille originally come from?

A. It is his mother’s first name
B. From a woman who had “done him wrong”
C. From a woman who “done him right”
D. From a woman who was at the center of the attentions of a bar brawl-turned-fire
that almost killed him


5. In 1969, King and Ike and Tina Turner were selected to open a number of dates during the Rolling Stones North American Tour. It was eventually documented in the film “Gimme Shelter.” Which of the following other musicians has King collaborated with in film?

A. Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler
B. Celine Dion and John Coltrane
C. Luciano Pavarotti and U-2
D. Eminem and Elton John


6. What do Gregg Allman, Peter Frampton, Sonny Rollins and the Beach Boys all have in common with B.B. King?

A. They all performed with him on stage Live Aid in 1985
B: All have appeared at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York City
C. All have performed cover versions of “The Thrill is Gone”
D. Nothing. This is a trick question and the quiz is just dumb


7. This year’s version of the B.B. King Blues Festival Tour began on Aug. 3 in Oregon.
How many years has the tour run?

A. Third annual
B. Fifth annual
C. 11th annual
D. Has run six times, but not consecutively


8. Previous Blues Festival tours have included Dr. John, Etta James and the Neville Brothers. Who will be appearing on the SPAC stage on Friday?

A. Canned Heat and Obi-Wa-Kanobe
B. Chuck Berry and George Thorogood
C. Buster Poindexter and Johnny Thunders
D. The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Susan Tedeschi


9. B.B. King has released more than 50 albums, won 11 Grammy Awards, and been elected
into four different halls of fame. Additionally, he holds honorary doctorates from five
different American colleges and universities. How far did his schooling take him?

A. High school diploma
B. One semester of college
C. Didn’t complete high school
D. A bachelor of science degree in liberal arts

10. Bonus Question: B.B. King has appeared in films, television commercials and television shows - from Married with Children and The Cosby Show to General Hospital.
In 1991, he was designated a spot on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. In between what two other “stars” does King’s spot lie?

A. George Sanders and Bela Lugosi
B. Steve McQueen and Tom Waits
C. Vivian Leigh and Milton Berle
D. “Lucille” Ball and Little Richard


Answer key:
1. (B), 2. (C), 3. (A),
4. (D), 5. (C), 6. (B),
7. (C), 8. (D), 9. (C),
10. (C).

by Thomas Dimopoulos
published in The Saratogian , Aug. 29, 2002, in advance of BB King's
performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.