BB King's first big break wasn't in Memphis but at the legendary blues station in West Memphis, KWEM

The King of the Blues, B.B. King

Photo by Belinda Benavidez

There have been some very big stars in the music business that got there start right here in Arkansas. Many due to the legendary blues radio station in West Memphis, KWEM.

From 1947 to 1956 KWEM Radio Station helped launch the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton, Junior Parker, Albert King, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, Ike Turner, Reggie Young, Eddie Bond, Ace Cannon, Johnny Burnette and the Rock n Roll Trio, and many others....

Let’s start with a man who is famous for getting his start in Memphis who actually didn’t. Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King started recording in the 1940’s. In 1947, he hitchhiked to Memphis to pursue his music career. Memphis was where every important musician of the South gravitated, and the city supported a large musical community where every style of music could be found. B.B. stayed with his cousin Bukka White, one of the most celebrated blues performers of his time.

But B.B.'s first big break didn’t come from Memphis but across the mighty Mississippi River in West Memphis, Arkansas. It was in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson's radio program on KWEM. Sonny Boy was know for playing the blues on the harmonica, he started his show on KWEM that same year and remained there until 1950.

B.B.’s appearances led to steady engagements at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis, and later to a ten-minute spot on the legendary Memphis radio station WDIA. "King's Spot," became so popular, it was expanded and became the "Sepia Swing Club." Soon B.B. needed a catchy radio name. What started out as Beale Street Blues Boy was shortened to Blues Boy King, and eventually B.B. King.

That wasn’t B.B.’s only Arkansas connection though. I heard about it first hand from the man himself. In 1973 I was working at a radio station in Texas. KWIC was the first Album Rock station in Beaumont. The Station was making a name for itself not only in Beaumont but through out the whole region. I got a call one day to emcee a concert in Lake Charles, La. I knew the opening act was going to be War who had just released their debut album with Eric Burden. Their hit from it was "Spill the Wine". It was a Friday night and I was back stage talking to the promoter of the show when all of a sudden the headliners dressing room door opens and out walks B.B. King. I used to hear him on the radio when I was growing up. The promoter introduced me as a Program Director from Beaumont and B.B. stuck his hand out and said "What cha say, Mitch?" "WDIA" I replied. With an almost blank look on his face he said "You from Memphis?" "Yes sir, I used to hear you promoting your shows at The Peanut Club." We talked for about 45 minutes and he told me the story of how he named his guitar Lucille.

It seems he was playing a club in Twist Arkansas, a "Colored" club he called it. It was cold and the only heat in the club was a big barrel of burning oil. Two men were trying to get the attention of the same girl and got into a fight over her. In the struggle they knocked the barrel over and set the club on fire. B.B. got out safe and realized he left his $30 acoustic guitar in the burning building so he ran back in to get it. He barely got out before the building collapsed. I'm sure you have figured out by now the girl they were fighting over was named Lucille. Ever since, each one of B.B.'s trademark Gibson guitars has been called Lucille.