Article: THE THRILL IS STILL HERE FOR THE KING OF BLUES IT ALL BEGAN WITH $12.50-A-NIGHT GIG IN TENNESSEE.(U)

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

B.B. King is about to kick off his 60th Anniversary Tour on Saturday with a show at the Kodak Theatre, and the bluesman can't help but wax sentimental.

He still remembers the first time he took the stage at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill in West Memphis. Sonny Boy Williamson, a popular radio personality of the day, was supposed to entertain the crowd, but he couldn't make it. So he arranged for King to take his place. All that the young blues singer/guitarist had to do was keep the customers happy and dancing.

``I must have done a good job because the lady that owned the place said, `If you work for me, I'll pay you 12 dollars and ...

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