The bond between Elvis Presley and B.B. King was more than just a friendship—it was a testament to the unifying power of music. So close were they in their youth that B.B. King himself once called them the “original Blues Brothers.” Their connection, rooted in a shared love for music and a common background of poverty, became a defining chapter in the history of American music. This relationship was later immortalized in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 film Elvis, which portrayed their friendship as a product of their mutual passion and humble beginnings.
B.B. King’s Early Years: From Sharecropping to Stardom
Riley B. King, better known as B.B. King, was born in September 1925 on the Bear Creek cotton plantation in Berclair, Mississippi. His parents, Albert and Nora King, were tenant farmers who lived under the sharecropping system, a harsh arrangement where they had to give a portion of their crops to the landowner. Despite the hardships, music became King’s escape. As a young boy, he sang in the Baptist church gospel choir but was particularly drawn to the lively music of the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ. The minister, who played a Sears Roebuck Silvertone guitar during services, taught King his first chords, sparking a lifelong love for the instrument.
In his teenage years, King moved to Indianola, Mississippi, where he worked in a cotton processing factory. When World War II began, he enlisted in the U.S. Army but was soon discharged because his ability to drive a tractor classified him as an essential worker on the home front. By 1943, King was playing guitar with the renowned St. John’s Gospel Singers in Inverness, Mississippi. His talent quickly gained attention, and in 1948, he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio show on KWEM in Memphis, attracting a growing following.
King’s career took off when he began working as a singer and DJ at WDIA, a radio station in Memphis. There, he earned the nickname “Beale Street Blues Boy,” which was later shortened to “B.B.” Beale Street, located in Downtown Memphis, was a legendary hub for blues music, and it was here that King’s reputation as a blues musician flourished. In 1949, he secured a recording contract with RPM Records, with many of his early records produced by Sam Phillips, who would later found Sun Records. King often reflected that Beale Street was where his journey truly began, as he became a regular presence there in the early 1950s.
His recording contract led to extensive tours across the United States, performing at major venues in cities like Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Detroit. He also played at smaller clubs throughout the southern U.S., solidifying his status as a blues icon.
Elvis Presley’s Early Years: A Humble Beginning in Mississippi
Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, in January 1935 to Vernon Elvis and Gladys Presley. The family lived in a modest two-room house built by Vernon, and like B.B. King, Elvis’s early life was marked by financial struggles. His father frequently changed jobs and lacked ambition, forcing the family to rely on neighbors and government assistance. In 1938, Vernon was jailed for altering a check, and Gladys, along with three-year-old Elvis, had to move in with relatives.
Music was a constant source of joy for Elvis, inspired by his religious upbringing at the Assembly of God Church. He shared a close bond with his mother, a devout churchgoer, and his love for music began to blossom. His first public performance came on October 3, 1945, when he sang the country song Old Shep at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show. For his 11th birthday, Elvis received a guitar, which he took to school every day. Though he initially felt shy about playing in public, he gradually gained confidence.
In 1948, the Presley family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where they initially stayed in a boarding house before settling into a two-bedroom apartment at Lauderdale Courts, a public housing complex. Elvis’s musical journey took a significant turn when his neighbor, rockabilly singer Lee Denson, began tutoring him in guitar playing. In his free time, Elvis would frequent Beale Street, where B.B. King often performed, to immerse himself in live blues music. Despite having no formal musical training and being unable to read music, Elvis played “by ear,” developing a unique style that would later define his career.
In August 1953, Elvis walked into the offices of Memphis Recording Service, run by Sam Phillips before he launched Sun Records. There, he recorded a two-sided disc—That’s When Your Heartaches Begin and My Happiness—as a gift for his mother. Though Phillips noted Elvis’s name, nothing immediate came of the recording. Elvis returned to work at Crown Electric, driving trucks, but Phillips later invited him back to the studio. This time, Elvis was joined by upright bass player Bill Black and guitarist Winfield “Scotty” Moore, both handpicked by Phillips.
The turning point came on July 5, 1954, during an evening recording session. Elvis’s rendition of the 1946 blues song That’s All Right electrified the room. Phillips realized this was the sound he had been searching for, and the song was recorded with Elvis, Black, and Moore. Three days later, Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips played That’s All Right on his Red, Hot and Blue show. Listeners were so captivated that they flooded the station with calls, desperate to know the identity of the mysterious singer. Overnight, Elvis Presley became a star.
The Meeting of Two Icons: When Elvis Met B.B. King
Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic Elvis depicted Presley and King first partying together on Beale Street as young men. While the film sparked debate about the accuracy of their friendship, the general consensus, based on interviews with King after Presley’s tragic death in 1977, is that the portrayal was true to life.
King confirmed in multiple interviews that their friendship was genuine. Both men came from impoverished backgrounds in Mississippi and had to fight their way into the music industry, creating a deep bond. In a 2010 interview with the San Antonio Examiner, King revealed that he felt a real kinship with Presley. Their shared struggles and mutual love for music transcended racial and cultural barriers. King famously stated that they were both “born poor in Mississippi, went through poor childhoods, and learned and earned our way through music.”
Their friendship was also rooted in a shared belief that music belonged to everyone. King recalled that Presley often said music was “owned by the whole universe” and was not “exclusive to the black man, white man, or any other color.” This perspective was particularly significant given the racial segregation and prejudice that pervaded the U.S. during their early years.
Presley was acutely aware of the challenges King faced as a Black musician. In his autobiography, Blues All Around Me, King remembered how Presley helped him secure a major gig at the prestigious Hilton Hotel in 1972. Presley had personally called to book King for a performance in the hotel’s lounge while he himself was playing in the main theater. King noted that Presley did this for him several times, demonstrating his support and respect.
After their performances, the two would often meet up to talk and play music together. King would play Lucille on his guitar, and they would sing together. “It was his way of relaxing,” King explained. “We were the original Blues Brothers.”
Though Luhrmann’s film has faced scrutiny for its portrayal of their relationship, King’s interviews confirm that the bond between the two icons was real. Their friendship endured throughout Presley’s career, until his untimely death in 1977.
A Legacy of Music and Friendship
The chance meeting between Elvis Presley and B.B. King over half a century ago shaped their lives in profound ways. Their jamming sessions after gigs were not just moments of musical collaboration but also inspiring interludes where two legends connected through their shared passion. Their friendship transcended racial and cultural divides, proving that music has the power to unite people from all walks of life.
B.B. King, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 89, often spoke of the mutual respect and admiration he and Presley shared. He also remembered their shared love for what was once considered “black music”—until Elvis Presley came along and helped bring it to the world. Their story remains a testament to the enduring power of music and the bonds it can create.