Blues master King among U.S. medal recipients
Last Updated: Friday, December 8, 2006 | 1:57 PM ET
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Famed blues musician B.B. King is among this year's U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, the White House announced Thursday.
King, 81, is among 10 honourees to be recognized at a White House ceremony Dec. 15.
"It's been a long journey, but I've enjoyed every minute of it, bringing the blues to so many enthusiastic audiences," King said.
In announcing King as the winner of the prize, the top civilian award in the U.S., President George W. Bush said King has "influenced generations of guitarists" and "helped give the blues its special place in the American musical tradition.
"For more than half a century, the King of the Blues and his guitar Lucille have thrilled audiences," said Bush, referring to King's famous Gibson custom instrument.
King grew up in poverty in the Mississippi Delta region of the segregated American South before launching his professional career in 1947. The Grammy Award winner's 1964 album Live at the Regal is widely considered his seminal work.
Originally established in 1945 by President Harry Truman to recognize war service, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was reintroduced as a civilian award in 1963 by John F. Kennedy.
The other winners this year are:
- Recently deceased baseball legend John (Buck) O'Neil.
- Historians David McCullough and Paul Johnson.
- Human rights activist Natan Sharansky.
- Politician Norm Mineta.
- Nobel Prize-winning scientist Joshua Lederberg.
- Xavier University president Norman Francis.
- Columnist William Safire.
- Literacy activist Ruth Johnson Colvin.
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