Most people know B.B. King as the King of the Blues. Few know the woman he married in 1958. Della Beatrice Howard Robinson was his third wife, a schoolteacher who lived a quiet life far from the stage.
Her story is one of sacrifice and silence. She endured years of King’s constant touring and infidelity before divorcing him in 1966. Yet she rarely spoke publicly about their marriage. Public records covering this story are gathered in Della Beatrice Howard Robinson Biography: Early Life, Music Career, and …
The Strengths and Weaknesses of a Private Life
Robinson’s greatest strength was her independence. She worked as a schoolteacher before and during her marriage, maintaining her own career. This gave her financial stability when the marriage ended.
Her weakness, from a public perspective, was her extreme privacy. She gave almost no interviews after the divorce. This means most of what we know comes from King’s biographies and the 2021 documentary B.B. King: The Life of Riley. The documentary offers a rare glimpse, but it’s filtered through others’ accounts.
You might wonder if her silence was a choice or a burden. Either way, it left her story incomplete.
How the Blues Lifestyle Shaped Her Marriage
B.B. King’s career demanded constant travel. He played over 300 shows a year in the 1950s and 1960s. That lifestyle made a stable home life nearly impossible.
Robinson, a schoolteacher, valued routine and stability. King’s world was the opposite: late nights, long roads, and groupies. The cultural roots of the blues — born from hardship and often celebrated in juke joints — clashed with her quiet domesticity.
This tension wasn’t unique to them. Many blues musicians of that era had strained marriages. But Robinson’s story stands out because she chose to walk away rather than endure.
From Schoolteacher to Mrs. King: The Origin Story
Della Beatrice Howard was born in 1917. She met B.B. King in the late 1950s, likely in Memphis or Los Angeles. They married in 1958.
At the time, King was already a rising star. He had hits like “Three O’Clock Blues” and was touring relentlessly. Robinson likely hoped for a normal marriage. Instead, she got a husband who was rarely home.
The couple had no children together. By 1966, the strain was too much. They divorced, and Robinson retreated from public life. She died on November 18, 2012, in Los Angeles at age 95. She is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
| Event | Year |
|---|---|
| Birth | 1917 |
| Marriage to B.B. King | 1958 |
| Divorce | 1966 |
| Death | 2012 |
Lessons from a Marriage That Couldn’t Survive the Road
Robinson’s marriage to B.B. King is a case study in incompatible priorities. She wanted a husband; he had a career that demanded everything.
The lesson is blunt: fame and fidelity rarely coexist in the music industry. King himself admitted his infidelity in interviews. Robinson chose dignity over drama. She didn’t write a tell-all or seek revenge. She simply moved on.
For you, the takeaway might be about boundaries. Robinson knew when to leave. That’s a strength worth remembering.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson when she died?
She was 95 years old. She died on November 18, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.
Why did Della Beatrice Howard Robinson divorce B.B. King?
The divorce was caused by King’s constant touring and infidelity. He was rarely home, and she could no longer tolerate the lifestyle.
Who was Della Beatrice Howard Robinson married to?
She was married to blues legend B.B. King. They were wed from 1958 to 1966. She was his third wife.
Did Della Beatrice Howard Robinson have children with B.B. King?
No, the couple had no children together. Robinson did not have any known children from any relationship.
Where is Della Beatrice Howard Robinson buried?
She is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
