Today is a sad day for sure given that news has broken about the death of beloved blues guitar great BB King…certainly one of the top most influential blues guitar players of all time. Today is also bittersweet as we truly reflect on the influence BB has had on music and musicians well beyond Blues living and breathing fire inside the heart and souls of professional and amateur musicians alike.
The blues is about staying true to timing, feeling and evoking emotion above all else including your instrument, effects, scales, location, song choice, etc… like this performance at Sing Sing BB calls one of his best –
The measure of a great musician is when you instantly know who they are within 5s or less of hearing them play – and with BB there was no doubt having invented the soft sweet piercing sound of Lucille, the amazing string bending and vibrato that was vintage BB King.
Today we are seeing the massive influence this one man has had on the musician and fan community – there is no doubt as to his influence and impact.
It’s worth noting as well that BB is one of the last links to the original blues music in the United States – with one leg back in the days of T-Bone Walker (melody and string bending), Blind Lemon, Muddy Waters and a host of other original blues and gospel musicians and the other leg in modern day music creating a “time warp” tunnel that helped keep us all rooted in the revolution that was blues music in the 1940’s and beyond.
Here’s a great lesson from BB for those who want to hear how his influences and how they were put together as ingredients into his sound:
What always amazed me about BB was how he used his first finger to bend strings and then back-ended with his third, this is a “part” of what makes his sound.
I’ve watched BB King live, I’ve studied his various techniques and he is one of the guitarists that I always have in the back of my mind when I’m playing striving for the best note at any given time…that will be with me always as I’m sure it will be with you.
BB King lived his life to the fullest, was lucky enough to tap into a blessed gift having the courage to pursue that gift to its fullest until the very end…the message to us all should be to live up to that standard. R.I.P Riley (aka BB) King – god willing, will see you in the next life in that all-star Jam!
Filed under bb king, Blues Legends by on May 15th, 2015. Comment. 
There is such a massive legacy of recordings, interviews and performances from the King of the Blues – BB King that although we lost a shining light this past week, we will always be able to remember and rekindle the spirit of the MAN!
I absolutely cherish this performance at Farm Aid because it depicts so much about why BB King was such a terrific artist and performer…
- The first 1:30 he clearly struggles with finding the groove – either his E or B string is out of tune slightly and he hits some sour notes as every performer does, but he plays through it with the passion and determination to get to that special place where a higher power begins to flow through him toward his audience
- He hits that groove around 1:33 with a perfectly placed high note that electrifies the audience – such a terrific example of BB King being every bit the artist, just like Picasso or any genius artist that creates that amazing work, but he would do it night after night after night!
- Starting at 2:13 he shares notes with the horns – another staple of BB King’s amazing sound – where he shows his little-mentioned genius at overall production and orchestration. BB always had a big band with a big sound and that demands tight production – he certainly had that. In fact, it was because he demanded that big band that he had to keep working well into his 80’s – he could have trimmed his band and likely retired on 30-40 bigger dates each year, some collaborations and called it a day. Compromise wasn’t in his mindset however. The same intense persistence that allowed him to escape his poor childhood would continue unrelenting right to has last days.
- Somewhere around the 3:00 minute mark he breaks his E string, and then, not missing a single soulful note he continues to deliver the most important lyrics to the song while re-stringing his Gibson himself…showing once again this guy lets nothing stop him from winning over his audience.
All of this in a 5-minute performance, yes BB King is one of the best live performers of ALL TIME in any music genre and was the best blues guitarist right up there with the other King’s.
Enjoy!
Filed under bb king, Blues Legends by on May 17th, 2015. Comment.
Fitting tribute to BB King From U2 on what was a brilliant collaboration –
Man, when you miss the BB King monster guitar tone and shredding voice, just isn’t the same – but fitting tribute just the same.
Would have been great if he could have gotten Buddy Guy out to fill in and re-create the magic all over again?
Filed under bb king by on May 17th, 2015. Comment.
Until today, we had heard there will be a memorial service for the King Of The Blues held in Las Vegas this weekend (Saturday May 23rd) leaving us to wonder what of the wishes that his funeral take place near where he was born in Mississippi – Indianola.
Thankfully we see the Delta stepping up and welcoming their BB home with what will no doubt be a fitting funeral and celebration of his roots.
According to a report on American Blues Scene Magazine, following the May 23rd memorial in Las Vegas he will be flown to Memphis where on Wed May 27th at around Noon where a procession will flow through Beale Street with a tribute held in a local park.
Then on Friday May 29th there will be an opportunity for his beloved town of Indianola to pay tribute at a public viewing followed by the proper funeral celebration on Saturday May 30th at the Bell Grove MB Church in Indianola.
You can bet that BB’s memory, funeral and burial will be well taken care of – a quote from the long-time official at the museum stated:
From a practical standpoint, we feel comfortable knowing his final resting place will receive perpetual care at the Museum.
This should be a very fitting tribute to a true King – the King of the Blues.
Filed under bb king, Blues Legends by on May 21st, 2015. Comment.
With the passing of the King of the Blues, the importance of Buddy Guy keeping the blues alive has been elevated.
As he shows in this recent clip from his Ottawa show, he’s stepping up with some “on-the-job” training with the young guns – Quinn Sullivan and Ottawa’s own JW Jones
Filed under Blues Legends by on May 25th, 2015. Comment.
Local Memphis TV station reports on the incredible local support for BB King’s final return to Memphis –
Stars including Keb Mo, Tony Coleman (BB’s drummer for the last 37 years), Bobby Rush and Rodd Bland (son of late, great Bobby Blue Bland) payed personal tribute to the King of the Blues in a very heartfelt, small town way.
Particularly moving was the return of BB’s Lucille Gibson guitar down Beale Street one final time.
Wonderful tribute indeed. The funeral will be held this Saturday.
Filed under bb king by on May 28th, 2015. Comment.
