Fans to Sign Giant Birthday Card for B.B. King

Press release
Source: Rogers & Cowan (for Gibson Guitar)

WHAT: Giant 80th Birthday Card in Shape of Guitar for B.B. King To Be Signed by the Public...
WHERE: Universal CityWalk, in front of theatre multiplex
WHEN: FRI., AUG. 5, beginning at 6PM (continuing all evening)
OTHER: On Sat. nite (Aug. 6), the signed card will be presented to the legend himself, B.B. King, prior to his show at the Gibson Amphitheatre

(Universal City, Aug. 5, 2005)---What becomes a legend most on his birthday? How about a giant, 10 foot tall birthday card in the shape of the famous Gibson guitar? That's what music legend and 13-time GRAMMY(r) winner B.B. King (www.bbking.com) will get this week in Los Angeles.

The man born Riley B. King turns 80 on Sept. 16. Starting Fri., Aug. 5, the public is invited to come to Universal CityWalk and sign the unique Gibson Guitar birthday card, which will be located in front of the CityWalk multiplex theatres.

On Sat., Aug. 6, King, who performs at 8PM, at the Gibson Amphitheatre, will be presented with the signed card, fashioned in the likeness of his famous Gibson guitar, named "Lucille."

On June 10, ground breaking for the $10 million B.B. King Museum was held in Indianola, Miss., near his hometown of Bene. Gibson Guitar is one of the sponsors of the museum.

King has also recorded a new duets album, titled B.B. King & Friends-80, that's due out in Sept. via Geffen/UME featuring Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow and others.

Many performers over the years have been influenced by King's trademark guitar style, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and George Harrison.

In 1987, King received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from NARAS, which produces the GRAMMY(r) Awards, and the veteran showman, who got his first break as a musician on a radio show in Memphis in 1948, last received a GRAMMY(r) Award in 2002 for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance."

As in the past, King, renowned for his facile playing on the guitar famously known as "Lucille," will star in concerts at a variety of venues, in the U.S., Canada and Europe, continuing throughout the year.

Among his many classics are "The Thrill Is Gone," "Payin' The Cost To Be The Boss," "Everyday I Have The Blues," "You Don't Know Me" and "Why I Sing The Blues."

Bulfinch Press will publish a major book, titled B.B. King's Treasures, on Sept. 16.

MEDIA CONTACT:

For BB King: Jerry Brown, Jerry Digney, SOLTERS & DIGNEY, 323 651 9300
For Gibson Guitar: Jason Padgitt, Rogers & Cowan, 310 854 8140
For Universal CityWalk: Kelly Wheeler, 818 622 9504