B.B. King

B.B. King is the most influential pure blues guitarist of the 20th century, transforming single-note soloing into profound emotional expression. His trademark vibrato—shaking the string rather than bending it—and his beloved Gibson ES-355 named Lucille became iconic on recordings like *The Thrill Is Gone* and *Live at the Regal*, the latter of which sold over 1 million copies. King’s technique outperforms even #6 Keith Richards in emotional resonance, as his vibrato has been cited by Clapton as a primary influence. He earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006 and influenced every blues-rock guitarist from Clapton to Gary Moore, solidifying his legacy.