Buskers

‘Without music life would be a mistake.’

Friedrich Nietzsche

In most large cities in the world, you will see musicians on street corners playing songs for money. In English we call them street performers or, more commonly, buskers. The term ‘busking’ was first used in the 1800s in Great Britain. The verb ‘to busk’ comes from the Spanish word ‘buscar’ which means ‘to seek’— because buskers are seeking fame and fortune.

Ed Sheeran has won many awards for his catchy pop songs and he has even won an award from the Queen of England for his charity work. He is one of the most famous singer-songwriters these days. But, before he was noticed, he used to sleep on the London Underground and busk all over London.

Justin Bieber is a pop superstar who has had several number one songs and is estimated to be worth over £200 million. He has done very well considering that he started busking when he was thirteen years old to gain some extra pocket money. While he was busking, he was discovered by his manager and went to become world famous.

Riley B. King, or B.B. King as he is better known, was one of the most legendary blues musicians. He came from a poor family in the southern state of Mississippi. He was always interested in music and at age twelve he received his first guitar. As a teenager he travelled all over America playing guitar in the street and at jazz clubs. Although he started as a busker, he went on to win 18 Grammys as well as many other awards in his lifetime.